Surfing was born here, and now it’s getting a museum to match.
Surf Museum Hawaii is set to open in 2026 at Waikīkī Beach, the South Shore birthplace of the Sport of Kings (and Queens). Its permanent exhibit will trace wave riding from its earliest recorded history in Polynesia to Hawaiʻi’s influence on surf culture around the world today.
What’s coming
- Permanent exhibit: The full story of surfing, from ancient Polynesia to modern surf culture
- Quarterly exhibits: Rotating shows on surf art, culture, lifestyle and history
- Surf Cinema: Weekly surf film screenings
- Retail center: Surf art and artifacts for sale
Explore now
You don’t have to wait for the doors to open. The museum’s virtual exhibitions are already online, including Mark Cunningham’s found-art fins collected from Hawaiʻi’s reefs, classic surfing magazine covers, Oʻahu’s early 1900s resorts and vintage surf contest posters. There’s also a Talk Story blog on surf history, a Hawaiʻi contest schedule, and an online shop for surf art and collectibles.
Location: Waikīkī Beach, Honolulu, Oʻahu (opening 2026)