History
Rabbit Kekai: Waikīkī Beachboy and Surfing Legend
Jun
Rabbit Kekai: The Last of the Waikīkī Beachboys
If you’ve ever felt the freedom of sliding down a wave, you owe something to Rabbit Kekai.
Born in Waikīkī in 1920, Rabbit was more than just a surfer—he was a living bridge between the ancient Hawaiian tradition of wave riding and the global surf culture we know today. He grew up under the guidance of legends like Duke Kahanamoku, learning not just how to surf, but how to live aloha—with humility, humor, and heart.
A Surfer Raised by the Sea
Rabbit was paddling out on a koa board before most kids today learn to swim. By the time he was a teen, he was charging the powerful outer reefs of Oʻahu, inventing new moves like the drop-knee bottom turn and hotdogging in ways that were decades ahead of their time. He wasn’t just keeping up with the sport—he was rewriting it.
They called him “Rabbit” because of his speed and agility, both on land and in the water. But his real gift wasn’t just his talent—it was how he shared it.
Waikīkī Beachboy to World Ambassador
As one of the last original Waikīkī beachboys, Rabbit carried on the tradition of surf instructors who taught tourists, entertained with ukulele, and kept the stoke alive for everyone who came to the beach. He could be seen at Canoes, smiling and joking between sets, still paddling out well into his 80s.
Rabbit was a mentor to generations of surfers, including many of the biggest names in modern surf history. He didn’t care where you were from—if you loved the ocean, you were family.
More Than a Legend
Though Rabbit passed away in 2016 at the age of 95, his legacy lives on in every surfer who drops into a wave with style, respect, and soul. He was inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame and the Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Classic, and yet he remained humble to the end.
He didn’t surf for fame or fortune—he surfed because it was who he was.
Rabbit’s Legacy
At hawaii.surf, we honor Rabbit Kekai not just as a surfer, but as a cultural icon who carried the torch of Hawaiian surfing through war, tourism booms, and changing tides.
His message to young surfers?
“Don’t ever forget where it came from. Surfing is Hawaiian.”
Mahalo, Rabbit. You’ll always be part of the wave.
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