Robby Naish, Tracy Phillips Darling, and Kai Lenny: the Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame Class of 2019 | Photo: Naish

Robby Naish has been inducted into the Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame.

The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation honored the windsurfing, kitesurfing, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) pioneer, as well as Kai Lenny and Tracy Phillips Darling.

Robert Staunton Naish was born on April 23, 1963, in La Jolla, California.

Naish learned to surf at the age of three and started windsurfing on Kailua Bay when he was 11 years old.

Since then, the waterman has won 24 world windsurfing titles, helped shape the kiteboarding industry, and pioneered foiling and SUP products through his brand Naish.

Robby Naish: surfing his first waves at Kahana Bay, Oahu, circa 1966 | Photo: Naish Archive

A Prestigious List of Inductees

Naish attended the induction ceremony surrounded by his mother, Carol, and father, Rick, both of his brothers, Randy and Rolly, his daughters Nani and Christina, granddaughter Likikoi, Robby's girlfriend, Julia, and friends.

"I am stoked to join a long list of Hawaiian watermen and women and to raise funds and awareness for the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, which provides scholarships for outstanding young athletes here in Hawaii," expressed Naish.

The Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame was established on August 24, 2010.

Its main goal is to honor noteworthy achievements in surfing, paddling, swimming, oceanography, canoe surfing, Polynesian voyaging, ocean safety, bodysurfing, life-saving, spearfishing, and windsurfing.

The first inductees were Duke Kahanamoku, Eddie Aikau, Buffalo Keaulana, Wally Froiseth, Keo Nakama, Fred Hemmings, Nappy Napoleon, Rabbit Kekai, and Rell Sunn.

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