Orchid Land Surfshop is celebrating 50 years in business this month.
Stan Lawrence, who founded the business in 1972 and still owns and operates it with his wife, Maud Lawrence, said others had opened surfboard shops in Hilo before him, but none of his predecessors stayed in business.
“I’m the oldest running surf shop,” Lawrence said Tuesday. “When I opened up my shop, there was nobody else at that time.”
Orchid Land bills itself as “The Big Island’s Complete Surf Center Since 1972.” But Lawrence acknowledges his shop, located at 262 Kamehameha Ave. in the Hilo Bay Building downtown since 1998, had humble beginnings at the K. Yogi Building at 832 Kilauea Ave.
“We had 10 custom boards that were made here, ones that I shaped and glassed. And we a box of wax and some some homemade rice-bag baggies,” he said, referring to a type of surf shorts. “That was it, basically.”
The shop now features custom surfboards by Hawaii’s top shapers and also stocks body boards and surf apparel, what Lawrence calls “surf shop boutique.”
And a half-century in, Lawrence still sells surfboards he shaped and glassed.
“My shaping room is at my house, so I can work whenever,” Lawrence said. “Usually in the morning, if the waves are not that good, I’ll jump into my shaping room and get some work done. I call it my man cave. That’s my most productive time, in the morning before work at the shop.”
Lawrence, a lifelong surfer who still catches waves at 74, describes surfing as “a limited sport here on the Big Island,” especially when compared to Oahu, which boasts a litany of fabled surf spots, especially on the North Shore. He quickly adds, “But it’s still popular.”
“We have the most amount of coastline but the fewest amount of places you can get into the water for recreation,” he said. “After 1991, when we lost Kalapana (to lava), we were in a depressed mood. But we still have Pohoiki, which is really nice.
“Since then, I’ve been trying to convince people we should make reefs. The politicians, the council members, the senators, we have to think out of the box. Definitely, making reefs hasn’t been a mainstream idea. But it’s something that would be good for the environment, mitigating global warming if you get corals to grow, a habitat for juvenile fish, shoreline protection — and, of course, recreation which this island really needs.”
Lawrence’s recognition extends beyond the tight-knit surfing community as he’s written and voiced surf reports on the radio daily for decades, first for now-defunct KHLO-AM and later for KWXX-FM and B97/B93-FM. Some radio wags have introduced him as “Stan the Man from Orchid Land” although he plays it straight on air.
Lawrence has also been active in the community, including taking an instrumental role in making Kaipalaoa Landing, the small peninsula with a lighthouse by the Singing Bridge, into a county park, and also founding and organizing the Big Island Pro-Am Surfing Trials.
Lawrence said the small downtown park “needs to be repaired right now, but the county has a lot of stuff on its list of things that need to be fixed.”
As for Big Island Pro Am, Lawrence said he’s thrilled it will have it’s 36th annual edition in August, having been on hiatus after the 2019 event due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve stepped down from being the main contest director to just being part of the help — and a sponsor, of course,” he said. “Randy Kurohara from Creative Arts has taken it over, and we have a lot of new blood, new energy.”
Lawrence does have another pair of eyes, ears and an extra mind to help with the store, Maud Lawrence, a woman of many talents.
“She helped me open up the shop. She’s here when I need her. She does displays. I get advice from her all the time,” he said.
Lawrence will be celebrating with 50th anniversary sale featuring 25% discounts and a drawing with a modest qualifying purchase. The prizes will include three surfboards, a bodyboard, a skateboard, and a couple pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. Call the store at (808) 935-1533 for details.
“Thank God for the community. They’ve kept me going, especially during COVID. It could’ve been lights out,” Lawrence said. “It feels awesome to do what I love for 50 years. I’ve been blessed and I’m very grateful.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.