Santa Cruz, California didn’t get its nickname, “The Surf City”, for no reason. Originally incorporated in the year 1866, the area has a long and rich history dating back thousands of years. Part of that history, of course, includes the sport of surfing—now a popular pastime for both locals and tourists alike.
Santa Cruz has cultivated its surf culture for over a hundred years, starting out, perhaps, in a surprising way. Discover how Santa Cruz became The Surf City below.
Santa Cruz: A History, In Brief
Located on the north end of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a beautiful city recognized for its vibrant culture and luxury (sometimes oceanfront) properties.
With a population of around 63,000, the Santa Cruz area was originally home to the Ohlone, who lived as far north as the Bay area, and as far south as Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. They lived in different groups, speaking a variety of (similar) languages. This is often glossed over by historians, who prefer to begin the area’s history with the arrival of European colonizers.
In 1769, the Spanish explorers landed in the region, and expanded their settlements over a period of many years. Additional information about Santa Cruz’s history can be found here.
The Three Hawaiian Princes
Santa Cruz’s exceptional location on the Pacific Ocean, with its towering cliffs and sandy beaches, have helped make this the perfect place to catch some gnarly waves. How long have surfers been in the area? Longer than you think!
In the 1880s, three members of the Hawaiian royal family—David Kawānanakoa, Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonu, and Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole—were sent away to further their academic studies. The three were brothers through adoption and they attended a school located in San Mateo. Together they enjoyed traveling south to surf in the city of Santa Cruz.
According to the legends, they would take surfboards made out of solid redwood (carved from area trees) out on the water. Soon enough, Santa Cruz locals took interest. Although there are conflicting dates for this, this was recorded to have happened in the summer of the year 1885.
Following the death of Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui, the two brothers would later go abroad to study in England. Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole would become a delegate to the Congress, while David Kawānanakoa would have his own political career. There is now a plaque dedicated to the three of them at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum.
Santa Cruz Surfing Today
The influence of the Hawaiian brothers was great, and a strong surf culture was starting to build in Santa Cruz. However, historians agree that surfing in the area was still in its infancy until the Santa Cruz Surfing Club was formed in 1936.
From there, interest grew exponentially, exploding again in the 1950s. Surfing the Santa Cruz waves was a little bit off-putting because of the cold winds and colder water temperatures, especially during the winter months. Jack O'Neill—a resident of San Francisco at the time, but he would later move to Santa Cruz—founded a surf gear and wetsuit company that would cause the second boom in the area.
Presently, there are a number of surf shops and spots around Santa Cruz, from the beginner-friendly Cowell Beach to the world-renowned Steamer’s Lane. More information about the best spots for different levels can be found here.
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