Dave Kalama isn’t defined by one sport. He’s one of those rare athletes who has spent a lifetime mastering the ocean while helping reinvent how the rest of us experience it; I’ve been watching Dave and his crew and their contributions, in awe, for decades.
Born with deep Hawaiian waterman roots, Dave grew up with the ocean in his blood. His father, Ilima, was an early U.S. surfing champion, and his grandfather, Noah, was instrumental in the growth of outrigger paddling on the U.S. mainland. That heritage became the foundation for an extraordinary career built around chasing fun; surfing, towing, paddling, windsurfing, SUP, foiling and more, while experimenting and innovating, in the name of fun and adventure, all along the way.
But… believe it or not, Dave started as a competitive skier in California. When that didn’t pan out, he made his way to Maui, immersed himself in surfing and windsurfing, and quickly developed into an elite windsurfer competing at the highest levels. And that got the flywheel spinning.
Dave and his incredible waterman friends became the legendary “Strapped Crew.” Together, they pioneered tow-in surfing, unlocking massive waves at places like Pe‘ahi (Jaws) on Maui and forever changing big-wave surfing.
Dave then became a central figure in the modern development of stand-up paddleboarding, helping transform SUP from its Hawaiian Beachboy roots into an international sport. He went on to win the Molokai-to-Oahu SUP World Championship, proving innovation and elite athleticism could go hand in hand.
Then came foiling, and ultra distance paddling adventures, and anything else that got their juices flowing. Dave and his friends continued experimenting with creative new ways to have fun in the ocean and explore what was possible.
Dave hasn’t just helped innovate these sports, he’s competed and excelled across them at the highest levels while helping others master them too. As a long time coach, he developed Kalama Kamps to help others chase their fun on the ocean.
In recognition of all of his contributions, exploits, and what he’s provided to the ocean community; Dave was inducted into the Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame in 2018. What a well deserved honor.
I think it’s safe to say Dave’s goal of chasing fun and somehow making a career out of it has worked out pretty damn well.
0:00 – Introducing Dave Kalama & His Life on the Water
7:20 – Growing Up, Ski Racing & Early Athletic Influences
15:40 – Discovering Windsurfing & Moving to Maui
24:10 – The Evolution From Windsurfing to Big-Wave Surfing
32:35 – Pioneering Tow-In Surfing at Jaws
41:25 – Fear, Preparation & Performing in Extreme Conditions
50:10 – The Rise of Stand-Up Paddleboarding
59:05 – Racing, Training & Building Endurance
1:08:15 – Discovering Foiling & Pushing New Ideas Forward
1:17:20 – Designing Equipment Through Experimentation
1:26:10 – Reading the Ocean & Staying Present
1:37:05 – Longevity, Life Lessons & Final Reflections
