Editing Donald Takayama

{{Infobox surfer 
| name               = Donald Takayama
| image              = <!-- example.jpg -->
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = Donald Moke Takayama
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1943|11|16}}
| birth_place        = 
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2012|10|22|1943|11|16}} 
| death_place        = [[Waikiki, Hawaii]], United States
| residence          = [[Waikiki, Hawaii]], [[Oceanside, California]], United States
| nickname           = {{plainlist|
* Fuzzy
* Ehu-Hair
* Bird's-nest
* D.T.}}
| height             = {{height|ft=5|in=3}}
| weight             = {{convert|130|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| best_year          = 1966 and 1967 U.S. Surfboard Championships (runner-up) 
| career_earnings    =
| sponsors           = Velzy/Jacobs
| major_achievements =  Renowned [[surfboard shaper]]
| stance             =  [[Goofy foot]]
| shapers            = [[Dale Velzy]], [[Renny Yater]], [[Pat Curren]], [[Mike Diffenderfer]], [[Ken Tilton]], [[Hap Jacobs]], Joe Quigg
| quiver             =
| favorite_waves     = <!-- or favourite_waves for "favourite" -->
| favorite_maneuvers = [[Nose ride]]
| website            = 
}}

'''Donald Moke Takayama''' (November 16, 1943 – October 22, 2012) was an American professional [[surfer]] and [[surfboard shaper]]. Originally a [[Longboard (surfing)#Longboard|longboard]] surfer, Takayama won the [[U.S. Open of Surfing|Master's division of the United States Surfing Champions]] in 1971, 1972 and 1973. Hawaiian born, Takayama learned to surf at [[Waikiki Beach]] and moved to [[California]] in the mid-1950s. Takayama died of complications from heart surgery; he is survived by his wife and four daughters.<ref name=latimesObituary/>

== Early life and childhood ==
Takayama started surfing during his kindergarten year at [[Waikiki|Waikiki Beach]] on the south shore of [[Oahu|Oʻahu]], [[Hawaii]]. At 45 pounds, his 95-pound redwood surfboard was too heavy to carry home.<ref name=latimesObituary /> Takayama decided he would have to keep his surfboard at the beach, so he buried it in the sand for safe keeping.

{{Quote| Well, the next day I was digging holes everywhere, and the oldtimers who played checkers in Kapiolani Park were looking at me, shaking their heads. I looked like a sand crab. Finally, I found a hole in the seawall and stuffed my little board in there. That's where I kept it all summer.|Donald Takayama|''SurfMuseum.org'', written by Guy Motil <ref name=surfmuseum /> }}

[[Dale Velzy]] discovered Takayama while surfing at [[Mākaha Beach Park|Mākaha Beach]]. Velzy noted that none of the young surfers where attending school and told Takayama that if he ever got to the mainland, there would be a job waiting for him.<ref name=surfmuseum /> Takayama bought a plane ticket to Los Angeles, at twelve years of age, with money saved from a newspaper delivery route.<ref name=ESPN/> Takayama worked for Velzy/Jacobs Surfboards and lived in the loft of Dale Velzy's [[Venice, California]] surf shop.<ref name=surfmuseum />

{{Quote| After a harrowing ten-hour flight that landed at pre-L.A.X. Burbank Field, Takayama realized he'd landed on "a pretty big island." He made his way to Velzy's shop, and the rest is shaping history. Velzy recalls that his star surfer of the time, Dewey Weber, was "jealous as hell" of all the attention the young Hawaiian garnered upon his arrival, and Velzy's immediate worry was "Shit, I've wounded my team!" The two eventually became famous friends. D.T. worked his okole [butt] off for the Velzy/Jacobs label, and at the time, there was no heavier house. For that time and place, Donald was the equivalent of an artisan's apprentice in High-Renaissance Florence. In between frequent surf trips up and down the coast, Donald's only job was to shape balsa boards and surf with the crew at Hermosa Beach's 22nd Street.|Donald Takayama|''SurfMuseum.org'', written by Guy Motil <ref name=surfmuseum />}}

== Career ==

Takayama may have been the world's first professional surfer. "[[Dale Velzy]] recalls that Donald's only job was to shape boards and surf at 22nd St. in [[Hermosa Beach, California]]... Velzy would give him five dollars and a T shirt with the company logo to go surfing."<ref name=surfmuseum /><ref name=SurfersChoice/> Takayama started shaping his own surfboards at nine years old and the purpose for the move to the mainland was so that he could establish himself as a [[surfboard shaper]] for Velzy/Jacobs Surfboards, "the undisputed leader in retail surfing".<ref name = "Encyclopedia Of Surfing" /> Takayama made a move to [[Jacobs Surfboards]] when Velzy bought Jacobs out of the partnership; ''Longboard Magazine'' named the 1965, Jacob's ''Donald Takayama'' model surfboard, "one of the most functional and aesthetically appealing boards ever made."<ref name=latimesObituary /> According to Valerie J. Nelson of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', "Takayama-designed boards that once sold for as little as $100 have turned into sought-after collectibles that can go for $10,000 today."<ref name=latimesObituary /> Takayama designed the ''[[David Nuuhiwa]] Noserider'' while at [[Bing surfboards]] in 1966, before moving on to [[Weber surfboards]], where he and [[Harold Iggy]] created the ''[[Dewey Weber|Weber]] Performer''.<ref name=Surfline/>

Takayama shaped at Surfboards Hawaii in the late 1960s, and founded Hawaiian Pro Designs in the late 1970s in [[Encinitas, California]], Takayama was shaping some shorter surfboards in the 1960s and could be seen riding his 5'10" any day it was breaking at Stone Steps in Encinitas, California, along with 1984 [[Pipeline Masters]] champion and Hawaiian Pro Designs' featured surfer [[Joey Buran]].<ref name=BoardRoom/>  As the [[Surfboard#Shortboard|shortboard]] era progressed, Takayama refocused on [[Surfboard#Longboard|longboards]], creating the ''[[David Nuuhiwa]]'' and ''[[Dale Dobson]]'' models.<ref name=Surfline/>

Takayama's career was interrupted in 1985. Takayama, along with more than sixty other persons, were charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine. After serving a little more than a year in Federal prison,<ref name=Surfline/> Takayama was released in 1987, and resumed his career as a surfboard shaper and manufacturer.<ref name=latimesObituary/>

{{Quote|"It was a major tragedy, and yet it was the best thing that could have possibly happened to me. It saved my life. The period of abusing myself had ended. The most horrible part was what it did to the people I loved … I had let them down." Donald recalls not the loneliness of the cell, but only the guilt of having hurt the ones he cared for most, people that had depended on him. "If I could say anything regarding drugs, it would be this: before you make the casual decision to use, take a minute and think about your friends."|Donald Takayama|''Surf museum.org'', "Daily Stokes", written by Guy Motil<ref name=Surfmuseum2/>}}

In 1990, Takayama introduced Surfer's Choice, a teriyaki sauce derived from a family recipe. Takayama commented to ''Los Angeles Times'', "Some people dunk doughnuts in it, others put it on their hash browns and eggs. One of my friends can't eat cottage cheese without it, and one guy wrote me saying he even drinks the stuff," Takayama said. Most people use it with fish, poultry and meat dishes either as a sauce or marinade. The Surfer's Choice label featured a graphic of Takayama [[Nose ride|nose riding]] a wave.<ref name=SurfersChoice/>

In the 1990s, [[Longboard (surfing)#Longboard|longboards]] made a re-emergence. Now under Takayama's [[Hawaiian Pro Designs]] label, and located in [[North County, San Diego]], Takayama along with eight time [[U.S. Open of Surfing|World Longboard]] champion, [[Joel Tudor]] produced functional and also collectible surfboards.

Among collectable boards was a series of wood [[alaias]] designed by Takayama and built by Floridian Brandon Russell in Oceanside, California from 2008 to 2010. Less than 50 of these functional replica surfboards were made, making them particularly sought after by collectors. Nearly half of this collection was shipped to Japan in 2009, and many of the others were built for team riders.

Hawaiian Pro Designs currently has dealers and offices in [[California]], [[Texas]], [[Hawaii]], [[Europe]], [[Taiwan]], [[Australia]]  and [[Canada]].<ref name="HPD" /><ref name="HPD2" />

==Surfing celebrity==

=== Surfing cinema ===

According to Matt Warshaw, author of, ''[[The Encyclopedia of Surfing]]'', writes that Takayama was, "...cited as the sport's original, and perhaps greatest, child phenomenon."<ref name=CoastalWatch/> Warshaw estimates that Takayama was in about a dozen surf movies,<ref name=latimesObituary /> some surviving films are, [[Bruce Brown (director)|Bruce Brown]]'s, ''[[Surf Crazy]]'' in 1959, and ''Barefoot Adventure'' in 1960, feature appearances continued with ''On Safari to Stay'' in 1991 and Thomas Campbell's, ''The Seedling'', in 1999.<ref name = Safari/><ref name = seedling/>

===Competition===

Takayama placed 4th in the 1964 United States Surfing Association's year-end ratings, 3rd in 1965 and 1966, and 5th in 1967.<ref name=Surfline/>  Competing with the best surfers in the world. Takayama finished runner up to champion, [[Corky Carroll]] in the 1966 and 1967 [[U.S. Open of Surfing#United States Surfing Champions|United States Surfboard Championships]].<ref name=NCTimes /> Takayama won the Master's division of the [[U.S. Open of Surfing|United States Surfing Champions]] in 1971, 1972 and 1973 <ref name=SurfersChoice/>

== Honors and acknowledgement ==

Takayama was a well regarded waterman, an artist in his craft, and an ambassador to the sport of surfing.<ref name=TWsurf/>

* Takayama was hailed as one of the "25 Surfers Who Changed the Sport" in ''Surfer Magazine''.<ref name=NCTimes />  
* Takayama was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991.<ref name=NCTimes />
* Takayama was honored and inducted into the Surfer's Walk of Fame in July 2007 <ref name="HallofFame" />

Eulogies, with ceremonial paddle-outs were held on November 4, 2012 in Kugenuma, Japan,<ref name=PaddleOutJapan/> on November 10, 2012 at Kuhio Beach, [[Waikiki, Hawaii]]<ref name=PaddleOutHawaii/> and at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater, in [[Oceanside, California]].<ref name=PaddleOut/> Guest speakers attending the Oceanside, California memorial services included, [[Paul Strauch]], [[Nat Young (surfer)|Nat Young]], [[Skip Frye]], and [[Joel Tudor]].<ref name=surfer/>

<br />
{{Quote|
Surfing has been my life. It's all I've done. It really doesn't matter how big or small the waves are. When you are out there surfing you are really competing with yourself. Let's say you are in a bad mood and you go out surfing, you catch one good wave and it makes your whole day – heck, it makes your whole week.|"Donald Takayama"|''Liquid Salt Magazine'', by Glenn Sakamoto <ref name=LiquidSalt />}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=latimesObituary>{{cite news|title=Surfer known for longboard designs
|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-oct-25-la-me-donald-takayama-20121025-story.html|access-date=16 November 2012
|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=28 October 2012|author=Valerie J. Nelson
|quote=One of the greatest child phenomenons in surfing history...}}</ref>

<ref name=LiquidSalt>{{cite news|last=Sakamoto|first=Glenn|title=Donald Takayama|url=http://www.liquidsaltmag.com/2010/08/donald_takayama/|accessdate=24 January 2013|newspaper=Liquid Salt Magazine|date=9 August 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622070417/http://www.liquidsaltmag.com/2010/08/donald_takayama/|archivedate=22 June 2013}}</ref>

<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Donald Takayama, 1943-2012
|url=https://www.espn.com/action/surfing/story/_/id/8539494/iconic-surfboard-shaper-donald-takayama-dies-heart-attack |publisher=ESPN Action Sports|access-date=16 November 2012|author=Jake Howard|date=25 October 2012}}</ref>

<ref name=surfmuseum>{{cite web|title=Donald Takayama|url=http://surfmuseum.org/surfnotes/?p=1340|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416011120/http://surfmuseum.org/surfnotes/?p=1340|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2013|publisher=SurfMuseum.org|accessdate=16 November 2012|author=Guy Motil|date=29 October 2012}}</ref>

<ref name=NCTimes>{{cite news |title=Donald Takayama, 68, skilled surfer, legendary board shaper |url=http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/obituaries/donald-takayama-skilled-surfer-legendary-board-shaper/article_5249d8dc-049a-58f7-a462-ae1c8ffd6a2b.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411130231/http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/obituaries/donald-takayama-skilled-surfer-legendary-board-shaper/article_5249d8dc-049a-58f7-a462-ae1c8ffd6a2b.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 April 2013 |accessdate=16 November 2012 |newspaper=UT-San Diego: North County Times |date=27 October 2012 |author=Tom Sheridan |location=Southern California |quote=Surfer Magazine named Takayama one of the "25 Surfers Who Changed the Sport" and he was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991. }}</ref>

<ref name = "Encyclopedia Of Surfing">{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia Of Surfing|publisher=Mariner Books|isbn=0156032511|author=Matt Warshaw|edition=Reprint|page=668|date=7 November 2005}}<!--|accessdate=16 November 2012--></ref>

<ref name = "HallofFame">{{cite web|title=Donald Takayama plaque, Surfer's Walk of Fame, Hermosa Beach, California, 2008.05.22 08:00 |date=22 May 2008 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/disneywizard/4445218423/ |publisher=Flickr |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=HPD>{{cite web|title=Dealers|url=http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com/dealers/|work=Hawaiian Pro Designs|publisher=HawaiianProDesigns.com|accessdate=24 January 2013}}</ref>

<ref name = Safari>{{cite web| title=The Safari Series Surf DVDs|url=http://www.safaritownsurf.com/surf_dvd_the_safari_series.html|work=On Safari to Stay|publisher=SafariTownSurf.com|accessdate=20 November 2012|year=1991|quote=On their quest, they meet longboard legends Skip Frye and Donald Takayama.}}</ref>

<ref name = seedling>{{cite web|title=The Seedling|url=http://www.woodshed.com/film-catalog/the-seedling|publisher=Woodshed Films|accessdate=20 November 2012|year=1999|quote=...and special guest riders Skip Frye and Donald Takayama|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721054435/http://www.woodshed.com/film-catalog/the-seedling|archive-date=21 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=SurfersChoice>{{cite news|last=Ditler|first=Joe|title=Big Fish Now Has Teriyaki on the Side : Business: Surfing pioneer Donald Takayama is chairman of the board again--and this time his success includes the food industry.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-03-nc-574-story.html|access-date=24 January 2013|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=3 May 1990}}</ref>

<ref name=HPD2>{{cite web|title=Hawaiian Pro Designs|url=http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com.au/Welcome_-_HPD_-_Surfboards_By_Donald_Takayama.html|work=Surfboards by Donald Takayama|publisher=Hawaiian Pro Designs|accessdate=24 January 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116202546/http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com.au/Welcome_-_HPD_-_Surfboards_By_Donald_Takayama.html|archivedate=16 January 2013}}</ref>

<ref name=PaddleOut>{{cite web|last=Kinnear|first=Kevin|title=Donald Moke Takayama November 16, 1943 – October 22, 2012|url=http://www.surfmuseum.org/DT_paddle-out_program.pdf|publisher=SurfMuseum.org|accessdate=25 January 2013|date=10 November 2012}}</ref>

<ref name=surfer>{{cite news|title=Donald Takayama Paddle Out|url=http://www.surfermag.com/features/donald-takayama-paddle-out/|accessdate=25 January 2013|newspaper=[[Surfer Magazine]]|date=15 November 2012|author=Surfer}}</ref>

<ref name=CoastalWatch>
{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Tim|title=Donald Takayama 1944 - 2012|url=http://www.coastalwatch.com/news/article.aspx?articleId=11008&cateId=3|accessdate=5 March 2013|newspaper=CoastalWatch|date=5 Mar 2013|quote=Sharing surfing with other people is such an awesome feeling. I get turned on by it. It keeps the stoke going."}}</ref>

<ref name=Surfline>{{cite web|last=Pruett|first=Matt|title=DONALD TAKAYAMA (1944-2012)|url=http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/donald-takayama-1944-2012_77823/|publisher=[[Surfline]]|accessdate=5 March 2013|date=23 October 2012}}</ref>

<ref name=BoardRoom>{{cite web|title=Donald Takayama|url=http://www.boardroomthemovie.com/Legendary_Surfboard_Shapers/Shaper-Donald_Takayama.html|publisher=[[Boardroom]]|accessdate=5 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226073304/http://www.boardroomthemovie.com/Legendary_Surfboard_Shapers/Shaper-Donald_Takayama.html|archive-date=26 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=PaddleOutHawaii>{{cite web|title=Memorial paddle out in Hawaii|url=http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com/rip-dt/paddle-out-hawaii/|publisher=Hawaiian Pro Designs|accessdate=5 March 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617175720/http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com/rip-dt/paddle-out-hawaii/|archivedate=17 June 2013}}</ref>

 <ref name=PaddleOutJapan>{{cite web|title=Memorial paddle out in Hawaii|url=http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com/rip-dt/paddle-out-japan//|publisher=Hawaiian Pro Designs|accessdate=5 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617175839/http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com/rip-dt/paddle-out-japan/|archive-date=17 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=TWsurf>{{cite news|last=Coté|first=Justin|title=RIP DONALD TAKAYAMA|url=http://surf.transworld.net/1000153765/news/rip-donald-takayama/|accessdate=5 March 2013|newspaper=Transworld Surf|date=23 October 2012}}</ref>

<ref name=Surfmuseum2>{{cite web|last=Motil|first=Guy|title=Donald Takayama|url=http://surfmuseum.org/surfnotes/donald-takayama-2/|work=Daily Stokes|publisher=SurfMuseum.org|accessdate=5 March 2013|date=29 October 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218041546/http://surfmuseum.org/surfnotes/donald-takayama-2/|archivedate=18 December 2012}}</ref> 
}}

{{Surfing}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.hawaiianprodesigns.com/ Hawaiian Pro Designs]
* [http://www.liquidsaltmag.com/volume1/#/2010/08/donaldtakayama/ Donald Takayama Interview, Liquid Salt]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takayama, Donald}}
[[Category:American surfers]]
[[Category:Surfboard shapers]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hawaii]]