Surfing's most significant
surf archives
The Nalu Vault holds more than 20 surf archives: rare 16mm footage of Hawaii's North Shore and Makaha in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, worldwide surf footage from the 1980s, 90s and 2000s, 15 years of RED digital cinema footage from Larry Haynes, and original film reels, videotapes, slides and photographs documenting generations of surfing history.
These irreplaceable surf archives are recovered, scanned, digitized and cataloged in the Nalu Vault, safeguarding the visual legacy of surfing and action sports for future generations.
Above: Pipeline, Oahu · Photo: Sonny Miller (1988)
The filmmakers and
photographers
More filmmakers and
photographers
Have film, videotape or photographs that belong in the Vault? Tell us about your archive.
A first look
Sonny Miller Archives
Larry Haynes Archives
Decades of film, tape
and photographs
Surf film archives, or simply surf archives, are collections of historic footage, photography and production materials created by pioneering surf filmmakers and photographers over decades of work: film reels, videotape masters, digital cinema footage, slides and prints.
Together they capture surfing's evolution as a sport, an art form and a worldwide culture. Without active preservation, film fades, videotape breaks down and this history disappears for good.
Still Images and Movies
Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing, and Hawaiian surf culture is at the heart of our mission. Much of the Vault was shot at Pipeline, Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay, and Makaha, capturing the surfers and moments that defined big wave riding and surf filmmaking for the world.
Protecting this heritage isn't just our mission. It's our responsibility.