By IJfke RidgleyBy IJfke Ridgley|January 24, 2023|People, Lifestyle, Play, Shop,
Everything old is new again for the Lloyd family, who started their new, eye-catching surfboard line Lloyd Boards (lloydboards.com) inspired by the traditional Hawaiian wooden alaia board design.
The Lloyd family with its first collection of boards. PHOTO BY IKAIKA PIDOT PHOTOGRAPHY
They call the North Shore of Kaua‘i home, and for them, surfboard-making is a family affair. Jeremy Lloyd paired the skills learned from his cabinet-maker and carpenter father with the teachings of mentors in the Hawaiian sailing canoe world to craft his first alaia board with his sons. Together he and wife Ivory, along with daughter Emmalani and son-in-law Colby, created the board brand using wood that is grown, milled, cured and shaped on the island. “As a ton of industries are shifting toward these more regenerative and sustainable models, we saw a way to be a part of that,” says Lloyd. Albizia, a local “junk wood” but Lloyd family favorite, is invasive and abundant in Hawai‘i, and is used along with woods like koa, kukui, lychee and mango to create its sleek designs. O‘ahu fans can pick up a board at Aloha de Mele studio, while Kaua‘i surfers should head to Sway Island Living in KÄ«lauea or ‘Ohana Shop in Hanalei, the latter of which sold out of their gorgeous, handpainted floral boards—a collaboration with Maui artist Amanda Mizner of Leis fo Deis—in record time. “We have noticed through making alaia and getting them in the hands of our keiki how it is shaping the next generation to honor the rich history of surfing in Hawai‘i,” says Jeremy. “It is hands down our favorite part of this business.”