Kauaʻi’s Tanner McDaniel was recently named the 2023 World Bodyboarding Champion. He's the fourth bodyboarder from Hawaiʻi to claim the crown, It's a short list that includes the very first world champion in 1982 — Daniel Kaimi.
Kaimi grew up in Kāneʻohe and spent years charging big waves around Oʻahu. In those days, the bodyboard was known as the boogieboard, which explains Kaimi’s nickname: the Boogieman.
Over 40 years later, he's still paddling out to the lineup. Kaimi owns a couple of successful businesses and splits his time between boogie-foiling at his favorite spots and snowboarding on the continent. The Conversation caught up with Kaimi on Monday.
This story aired on The Conversation on Dec. 12, 2023. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
