Col. Albert Benson
Archives
A U.S. Army officer turned surf filmmaker, Col. Benson shot 16mm on Oahu's North Shore through Hawaii's golden age of surfing, 1960s to 1980s.
Col. Albert Benson
In 1967 Col. Benson was stationed at Schofield Barracks and moved his wife and five children to Oahu's North Shore. He made sure his kids loved the ocean, buying them surfboards and embracing life around Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. The Benson family became part of the fabric of the North Shore, and several of his children became well-known surfers.
With his 16mm Bolex, he captured the waves, the families, the community and the emerging talent of the era.
Scott Dittrich's
man in Hawaii
Benson's footage appeared in more than a dozen surf films, most notably with filmmaker Scott Dittrich, including Amazing Surf Stories (1987), featuring a young Tom Curren, and Follow the Sun (1980/1984).
After retiring from the Army he lived in Pupukea, covered the North Shore daily, hosted visitors like Simon Anderson and was a key local contact for mainland filmmakers.
Filmed from
the lineup
His 16mm footage, often filmed right in the lineup at Pipeline, brought an authentic, in-the-moment perspective to a transformative period on the North Shore.
Col. Benson's 16mm archive is preserved in the Nalu Vault thanks to the Benson family, who entrusted his films to the Nalu Film Foundation. Additional stills and film from his collection are held by the Lost and Found project.
Clips from the
archive
Col. Albert Benson Archives
Support or
license
Save the archive
$250 scans one 1,000-foot reel of 16mm film. Every gift goes straight into preservation.
Use the footage
Authentic archival footage and photos for films, series and brands.