Donald Takayama began surfing and shaping boards as a young boy in Waikiki. At twelve, he left Hawaii for California and began working with legendary shaper Dale Velzy.

Over the decades that followed, he became a world-class competitive surfer, master shaper, and one of the most influential figures in longboarding. Renowned worldwide for pioneering high-performance longboards and classic noseriders, Donald created Hawaiian Pro Designs and a collection of iconic shapes that continue to define his legacy.

Surfboards by Donald Takayama carries that legacy forward, representing his commitment to design, craftsmanship, and surfing heritage while continuing to set the benchmark for quality, innovation, and style in surf culture.

Today, four of Donald’s most iconic designs are built utilizing Thunderbolt Technologies’ proprietary Red and Black constructions. Using hand-laminated EPS epoxy, advanced composites, and proprietary AVT flex technology, each model is designed with flex profiles engineered to optimize flex, twist, and rebound for performance and durability that only Thunderbolt can deliver.