Leilani’s on the Beach recognizes Abraham ‘Snake’ Ah Hee as its 2026 Pioneers of Surfing Honoree

Leilani’s On the Beach recognized Abraham “Snake” Ah Hee as its 2026 Pioneers of Surfing honoree during a private award presentation at the restaurant on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Ah Hee is an accomplished surfer, fisher, diver and paddler known for his water skills and humble personality. He has sailed with the Hōkūleʻa on seven voyage legs, including the return from her inaugural voyage to Tahiti in 1976. Through his work, he has contributed to the surfing community, the renewal of Polynesian voyaging traditions, strengthening cultural pride and Hawaiian heritage and a global movement inspiring future generations through voyaging, sustainability and ancestral knowledge.

The Pioneers of Surfing award was established in 2022, coinciding with Kimo’s Longboard Contest at Māla Wharf in Lahaina, as a way to recognize the men and women whose contributions have propelled the great sport of surfing. Past recipients include Laura Blears (2022) and Neal Norris (2023).