The royal family of Hawaii paid tribute to Santa Cruz by donating a bronze plaque honoring the three princes who first surfed here in 1885. According to the story, three Hawaiian princes visited the coast that year while on vacation from St. Matthew’s Hall military school in San Mateo. When they saw the waves, they ordered three 15-foot, 100-pound surfboards to be made for them from the local redwoods. They paddled them out of the San Lorenzo River, and surfing history was made.
In the past, Huntington Beach has claimed the title of the real Surf City. In fact, a 2006 court ruling seems to support their claim. On the other hand, Santa Cruz now has the royal imprimatur by the princes’ family—and a bronze plaque to prove it. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
