Cheers to John Morgan a sixth-generation resident of Hawaii and president of Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa Ranch was started 175 years ago when Johns great, great, great grandfather bought the land from King Kamehameha III. His family have been the stewards of this land ever since.
John started surfing when he was about 11 years old, starting at Shark Hole (now Kewalo’s), Flies, Kaizers and In Betweens on the South Shore, and graduated to surfing the North shore in the early 1970’s, before leashes. During the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s, Pipe and Sunset were Morgan's go-to spots. Then as luck would have it, a good friend of his bought a house at Laniakea. Laniakea and Chuns became Johns go to spots on the North Shore in the 2000’s up to now, but he still has a go at Sunset once in a while.
However, Kahana Bay, Crouching Lion, Rainbows and Kualoa Point remain as favorites. Morgan says, "there is something special about low-key local & family surf spots. Kahana Bay is one of those places and when it breaks, the whole community comes out to have fun."
He started preferring SUP surfing when good friends started the company, C-4 Waterman. It has been over 15 years and HE still perfers their C-4 model SUP. John dabbled in doing the downwinder thing for a few years on a 14’ Naish paddling Hawaii Kai to Diamond Head and the Molokai to Oahu with some friends as a 3-man relay.
Morgan says, "Some of my earliest memories surfing was when I was surfing at Kualoa point on my 7’2” Greg Noll in the late 60’s. I would see this old Hawaiian man sitting way outside. He seemed to be in harmony with the world and would catch just the right waves that came to where he was sitting, way outside. He was my idol. Healthy, happy, at peace and enjoying the ocean late into life. I can see myself still doing that in 15 or 20 years. Thanks for everything, I love Session Magazine!"
