PIPELINE, OAHU HAWAII

SURFING ARCHIVES

PHOTO:SONNY MILLER
NALU FILM FOUNDATION

Surf Film Archives

Preserving the World's Most Significant Surf Film Archives

The Nalu Film Foundation is committed to preserving, protecting, and sharing the world's most significant surf film archives. Our collection includes rare 16mm film reels shot on Hawaii's North Shore during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, as well as landmark surf films from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. These archives serve as an irreplaceable record of surfing's cultural history, highlighting the athletes, filmmakers, and communities that have shaped the sport.

What Are Surf Film Archives?

Surf film archives are collections of historic surf footage, photography, and production materials created by pioneering surf filmmakers and photographers over decades of work. These materials, film reels, videotape masters, and photographs. Capture surfing's evolution as a sport, an art form, and a global culture. Without active preservation, film degrades, videotapes deteriorate, and this history disappears forever.

The Nalu Film Foundation exists to make sure that doesn't happen.

Our Surf Film Archives

We are proud stewards of some of the most important surf film archives in the world. Explore our filmmaker collections:

  • Sonny Miller Archives — Landmark surf films and cinematic footage from one of surfing's most prolific filmmakers.
  • Herbie Fletcher Archives — Rare surf films from the legendary surfer, filmmaker, and Astrodeck founder.
  • Larry Haynes Archives — Decades of Hawaii water cinematography, including the iconic Fluid Combustion film series.
  • Col Albert Benson Archives — Historic cinematography from the golden era of 1970s and 1980s surf films.
  • Jeff Hornbaker Archives — Nearly five decades of award-winning surf photography, cinematography, and filmmaking.

  • Chris Bystrom
  • Don King
  • Beverly Noll
  • Jimi Berlin
  • Dave Homcy
  • Derek Hoffmann
  • Pete Hodgson
  • Chris Rust
  • Chris Klopf
  • Phil Wilson
  • Tom Boyle
  • Jason Lau
  • Jeff Mana Wathall
  • Reid Inouye

Why Surf Film Preservation Matters

Surfing is a culture, a lifestyle, and a deep connection to the ocean that has been passed down through generations. The films and photographs in our archives capture this culture in its truest form: showcasing surfers, waves, communities, and the pivotal moments that have shaped its history. Many of these materials are unique and, if lost, will be gone forever.

The Nalu Film Foundation is dedicated to digitizing, cataloging, and preserving these collections, ensuring that surfers, historians, educators, filmmakers, and future generations can access and learn from them.

Hawaii's Surf Heritage

Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing, and Hawaiian surf culture is at the heart of our mission. Many of the archives we preserve were shot on the legendary breaks of Oahu's North Shore — Pipeline, Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay, Makaha and Waikiki — capturing the surfers and moments that defined big wave riding and surf filmmaking for the world. Protecting this heritage is not just our mission — it is our responsibility.

Support the Nalu Film Foundation

Preserving surf film archives is costly, time-consuming work. Digitizing film reels, maintaining climate-controlled storage, and cataloging decades of materials requires ongoing resources. Donate to the Nalu Film Foundation to help us protect this irreplaceable piece of surf history for future generations.