Rocky McKinnon looks around Huntington Beach and feels a kinship with Hawaii: in the countless surfers riding waves, the bronze statue of surfing icon Duke Kahanamoku greeting passersby near the pier, and the nearby restaurant “Dukes” that bears the Hawaiian’s name.
McKinnon, a former pro surfer and board builder, hopes his latest idea — an outrigger canoe program called “Bold As Love” set to launch on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier Friday, Feb. 9 — will add to the aloha vibes in Southern California.
“We embrace surfing as a culture so much here,” said McKinnon, who can be found riding waves on his surfboard or stand-up paddleboard on any given day near the pier. “I think what I’m bringing here now is just expanding on that. It’s giving more people the opportunity, in a different way, to enjoy the ocean.”
The four-seat outrigger – called “ama” in Hawaiian – isn’t new to local waters. But McKinnon’s “Bold As Love” program, which twice a month will take people on rides in waves, is the first-of-its kind in California, he said.
“The only other place you can do this is if you jump on a plane for five hours and go to Hawaii, and you have to pay for those seats,” he said. “This is truly a unique experience.”
Outriggers were used as early forms of Hawaiian water transportation. Locals used them as early as 800 A.D. to head to warm waters to fish for their meals or to move among islands, according to Bud Hohl, a historian for the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association.
In the late 1800s, the boats were used for competition, a sport enjoyed mostly by royalty.
Outrigger canoes were brought to Southern California, in part, by surfing pioneer Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison, who was a frequent traveler to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1930s.
Most outriggers off California are used for long-distance adventures or races.
McKinnon’s vision for outrigging is different that what currently exists in Orange County. He sees it as a way to give people the thrill of riding waves.
He was first introduced to outrigger canoeing while on the Hawaiian islands about 15 years ago.
“Fortunately, I have many great Hawaiian friends over there who shared with me their passion of the ocean and different wave-riding disciplines,” he said. “It just sparked a passion for me to bring that form of wave riding here to Surf City, to Huntington Beach, which is my own backyard.”
McKinnon tried to launch a program like this about 12 years ago, but came across road blocks.
Last spring, he was able to buy a custom-built outrigger meant specifically for the surf. He’s spent the past year training, making sure he’s a good “steersman,” and fine-tuning techniques for training people to paddle and steer the vessel.
McKinnon said traditional surfing can be an individualistic sport, while outrigger canoe surfing is all about teamwork and camaraderie.
“You get to share your victories with your teammates,” he said. “For me, riding a wave in an outrigger canoe is exhilarating. You’re taking this big 23.5-foot boat, catching waves with it under your own power. You have all this momentum, but when you kick out and you’re done with the ride … you’re high-fiving everybody and you’re stoked. It’s a way of surfing you get to enjoy with others. I can bring people together with different walks of life.”
He said it’s a great way to get people with special needs, elderly water enthusiasts, or people nervous about the ocean, out on the water.
McKinnon said “Mother Nature calls the day,” and rides will happen for two hours, twice a month on weekdays, depending on conditions – with small surf preferred.
And it’s free.
He hopes sponsorship with advertising on the boat will help offset costs of permitting and upkeep. Duke’s restaurant already has signed up as a sponsor. If the community embraces it, he hopes to expand the program in summer months, perhaps to weekends.
“It’s all about bringing the community together and having a fun experience,” he said. “A lot of people have never had the opportunity to do something like this.”
McKinnon said he hopes this will serve as his contribution to the surf town he loves.
“I want it to be my legacy to the community, to unite and give back and do something special,” he said. “It’s so much fun, and I get to share it and spread those smiles with everyone else. I hope it catches on and everyone is stoked on it.”
The first official launch day is booked. Go to the Bold As Love Outrigger Surf Canoe Facebook page for announcements on when sign-ups take place for the first public session in a few weeks. About 15 to 18 people can ride during a two-hour period.
