NOTE: This event was actually held in early 1956. Because there were two Makaha Championship contests in 1956, the first four iterations of the event are listed as having taken place in the year before they actually occurred.

"Downing, Ethel Kukea Retain Paddling Titles," Honolulu Advertiser, Jan 16, 1956

George Downing and Ethel Kukea, both of the Waikiki Surf Club, successfully defended their surfboard paddling championships as the International Surfing Meet opened at Makaha yesterday.

Kona winds and choppy seas marred surfing conditions and the surfboard riding events were postponed to next Sunday. Several thousand spectators lined the beach throughout the day and cars were strung out almost bumper to bumper on the road to Makaha.

Downing retained the mens senior surfboard paddling title by winning over two strong California entries, Joe Quigg and Hobie Alter, who finished second and third, respectively. Time for the approximately half-mile distance was 7 min. 51 sec.

Ethel Kukea repeated as women's surfboard paddling champion. Cynthia Hemmings of Outrigger Canoe Club was runnerup and Mozelle Angel of WSC took third place. The time was 10 min. 37 sec.

"Whaley - Nancy Boyd Tandem Wins: Surfboard Title Event Postponed," Honolulu Advertiser, Jan 23, 1956

Ed Whaley and Nancy Boyd won the mixed open tandem acrobatic surfboard riding championship of the third annual International Surfing Meet at Makaha yesterday before several thousand spectators.

Only one other championship was decided yesterday, Alan Gomes retaining his Junior Surfboard riding title.

Heat races were held in several other events, including the men's open surfboard riding championship but due to circumstances beyond the control of officials, the finals were postponed to a later date.

Herb Case of the Waianae Lions Club, general chairman of the meet, said the date for the finals will be announced following a meeting of sponsoring officials. The Waianae Lions Club and Waikiki Surf Club are the co-sponsors of the meet.

Whaley and Miss Boyd captured the mixed tandem event after stiff competition. Rabbit Kekai and Gwen Davis took second place, with Buddy Young and Connie Leong gaining the No. 3 position.

Whaley and Miss Boyd represented Bobby’s Surfing School. Kekai-Davis, Hui Nahu, and Young-Leong, Waikiki Surf Club.

Waves were big and good but a Kona wind whipped up the waves, making it choppy and tough for the surfboard riders to negotiate.

“The contestants deserve a lot of credit for the way they handled their boards under such severe conditions," stated David Klausmeyer of the Waianae Lions Club, one of the meet officials.

"The contestants took a terrific beating," he added.

In the Junior surfriding event, Joseph Raydon was runnerup and Wilfred Lopez took third place.

Gomes represented Waikiki Surf Club, Raydon competed unattached and Lopez represented Makaha Surf Club, Bobby Ah Choy, Bobby's Surfing School, was fourth and Perry Woodhall, Waikiki Surf, was fifth.

Klausmeyer said the finals of several other events could not be held because the low afternoon sun blinded the officials and they were unable to follow the surfboard riders.

Qualifiers for the finals of the men's open surfboard riding event were George Downing, the defending champion; Blue Makua, Ken Carvalho, Cal Wilson, Conrad Cunha, Ed Whaley, Bobby Krewson, Sam Steamboat Jr., Francis Williams, Rabbit Kekai, Joe Maunakea, and Wally Froiseth.

"Kekai Surfing Champ; Injured Downing 2nd," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Feb 6, 1956

Rabbit Kekai of Hui Nalu took top honors in the final day of the International Surfing Meet yesterday at Makaha Beach by beating an injured George Downing of the Waikiki Surf Club in the senior men’s open surfing event.

Wally Froiseth of WSC took third, followed by Ken Carvalho of Hui Nalu and Joe Maunakea of WSC.

Downing took second by paddling with one hand. He suffered bone chips in his collar bone before the final event after getting hit by a board.

Waves were good for the final day of the meet but the crowd was smaller than appeared for events earlier in the month.

Meet chairman Herbert B. Case said Froiseth was originally declared the second-place winner until judges re-checked their scoring.

Ethel Kukea took the women’s open surfing final. Placing behind her in order were Esther Kalama, Christy Donaldson, Mozelle Angel, and Violet Makua. All women were from the Waikiki Surf Club.

Francis Williams of the Makaha Surf Club won the body surfing event. Second place went to R. Kruger of the Makapuu Surf Club, Buddy Kahoonei of the Police Activities League was third, followed by Noel Kalama Jr. of the PAL, and Charles Todd of Makapuu.

Bud Browne of WSC won the mat surfing event. Froiseth and Kalama placed second and third.

1955 Makaha International Surfing Championships

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