Lloyd Godman - archive - © Lloyd Godman
Lloyd in the tree house at Taylor Camp 1974 - photo Shelley Taft
Lloyd in the tree house at Taylor Camp 1974 photo Shelley Taft
Our plastic Tree house, Taylor Camp, Haena, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, The tree house was the closest to the road and on the highest ground from the ocean
1974 many of the Paw Paw trees were planted by us and other residence. |
In 1973 I decided to surf Hawaii with Chris Brock who was a good friend of the legendary George Greenough. George’s footage for the last 13 minutes of the movie Crystal Voyager is a knock out – Pink Floyd composed the music in exchange for the footage for a light show. After the Hawaiian experience, Chris sailed from California to Australia with George, so I was very informed about his work. George has always been a huge influence on me; he is so innovative and focused on his work.
As Ha‘ena State Park was coming into being with the break-up of the Hui Ku‘ai ‘Aina, actress Elisabeth Taylor's brother purchased a parcel of coastal land in the area. As Carlos tells it, Howard Taylor went to acquire building permits to construct a home on the property. However, the State would not grant him such a permit, since they were planning to condemn the land. At the same time, however, they insisted that he still pay full taxes on the land. In disgust, Taylor turned the land over to the "flower power people." Drifting young drop-outs from the outside world came to this piece of land and gradually came to form a makeshift community that took the name "Taylor Camp."
This is where I Ivied with Chris Brock, Shelly and Fish, Robbie Giles and in Hawaiian winter of 1973-4.
While in Hawaii, we lived for 9 months in a tree house constructed of clear plastic and bamboo that wound its way up three stories to the tree’s canopy. The grove of trees was on Elizabeth Taylor’s brothers land close to the beach. The developers were just building the first Condos along the beach front at Hanelei around this time. Coming from suburban Dunedin in the South of New Zealand, a place where walls and roofs were thick and insulated to keep out the cold, and windows were glassed, I was suddenly immersed deep in a tropical nature. It was fantastic!
There were no streets, lights, electricity, etc and for many people it might have been threatening. But I delighted in the sounds of rain on the thin transparent roof, thunder – lightening, the wind through the mesh windows, the sound of the ocean, the wing beat and call of the passing cardinal birds, every leaf falling on the roof and the plop of the falling Java Cherries hitting their mark. The moist scent of flowers and leaves passed though the house with every rainfall. At this time I also began a small vegetable and herb garden out the back of the house. The total experience further strengthened my connections and sensitivity with nature. Some of the work from this period was published in Australian Photography magazine Oct 1978. And best of all we surfed every day.
Without doubt this amazing experience was fundamental to the evolution of my work as an artist and my current projects with sustainable living plant works. |
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Typical Taylor Camp Tree house close to the beach, we would walk down through these houses to check the surf every morning..
Chris Brook sitting on a stone wall of my garden, with our 3 storied plastic tree house in the background, Taylor Camp, Haena, Hawaii, 1974 -- On the right the plastic green house protects cannabis plants. After a time these were stolen and we later heard on the grape vine that the thief was later caught by the police and charged with possession. photograph Lloyd Godman
areal view from Makana Peak, Bali Hai, the mountain above Taylor camp Haena, Hawaii, 1974 - our house is on the right of the track leading into the bush. Photo Lloyd Godman
A close up of our house in the bush from the image above.
View from Makana Peak, Bali Hai with a large swell
looking down from the upper tree house at Taylor Camp to Shelly Taft
Australian Chris Brock diving on one of the reefs in front of Taylor Camp, Haena, Kauai, 1974 Lloyd Godman photograph
Chris Brock checking the swell at the big house where Robert Scotland lived for sometime, Hanalei Bay which is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii, 1974 Lloyd Godman photograph
In 2021 Robert Scotland sent me an email:
Hey Lloyd I'm trying to reach you but maybe the last em went to spam. I am not real adept on the computer. Anyways Lloyd you took some pics of me at Cannon's and gave them to me in 73 or 74 but I have since lost them. If finding them would be too difficult then never mind. But if you could find it in yourself to send them to me it WOULD MEAN SO MUCH TO ME. I WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL. I w pay any fee you ask as you should be paid for your efforts. I am a musician and I know how hard it can be to make a living. Anyways I am a goofyfoot. My board was either yellow or a Lightning Bolt w green rails. I always surfed w Freddy who had white hair and a VW bug. OK Lloyd please please get back to me. I w pay you for you time. Mahalo
Hello Robert
How cool to hear from you. Those days in Hawaii were really amazing. I have put the photos of this time on this page - https://www.lloydgodman.net/archive/Hawaii/Hawaii.html
check and see if you are there - I suspect you are. If you can identify the images I can email you the images. Don't worry about paying, it would be great to get the images to you. What music are you playing and where are you living? I am based in Melbourne and still getting a few waves on the air mat like this one at the new wave pool. I have worked as a fine art photographer, artist and now ecological artist - You can check out all my work here - click the green text box to download.the PDF - https://www.lloydgodman.net/Publications/E_books.html
You will find all my photographs of musicians at the bottom of the page including Led Zep Rolling Stones . - trust you enjoy
keep in touch Cheers Lloyd
Lloyd - you have a pic of Chris (Brock)at the "big house" in Hanalei. Our family lived in that house 70,71.72. We moved and it became known as "The Dolphin House". I am pretty sure cuz he's sitting in the back yard looking out at the bay, with the big grassy field at Pine Trees to his left. It was a 2 story. I lived up stairs and my room had a panaramic view of the Bay and M O T Bay. Mike Love of the Beach Boys moved next door. The guys who came to work at the Dolphin and Rice Mill were Hugh and I can't remember the other names. The Cannon's House was real cool. A guy name of BJ lived there while he was building his house next to the Pavillion. I remember you and another guy from either OZ or NZ name of Bert. We went to a movie at Kilauea once,,,a bunch of us...maybe you came too. Anyways...a bit foggy as I was rather befuddled at the time.
Hi Robert
Great memories. That is Chris Brock at the big house - we would call in quite often and get a hot shower when it was the dolphin house. Actually I washed dishes at the restaurant for a few weeks to fill in. People would leave joints as tips between the plates and I had to make sure they never went into the dishwasher. I would bike back to Taylor camp in the dark which involved a real skill to avoid the wild dogs that rushed out of some houses in the dark. Must have been amazing to live in the big house during that time. I do remember Hugh - actually I think I have a photo of him at Tunnels somewhere. The other guy was Robbie Giles who now lives in California and has just become a new father at 68.
I do remember the Movie at Kilauea - that was a great night- there was a whole crew there.
Cheers Lloyd
Lloyd - i lived at Camp for a year or so. First house from the road/parking lot/caves. A friend of mine, a batik artist name of Francoise lived there, Randy and his chickie, me upstairs. I was friends w Paul, Roger , and John ...third house down from road/parking lot. It was called the Smack Shack, and they were not very popular w most of Camp, but they were closer to my age and they surfed...but they were outlaws....which appealed to me in some strange Rock n Roll Way. I knew so many people but was closest to Bobo n Hawk Minka n Alpen. About the pics,,,the only one I recognize is Freddy about to be covered on his yellow pintail,,,might be me..as we had the same style. Anyways Lloyd I am glad you have such a good life. Good on ya Mate!! I w be retiring to Bali soon..part time anyways. More waves there IMHO esp for an old goofy foot. Robert
Hello Robert
Chris and I ended up living in the same house at Taylor Camp
Have a great time in Bali
Cheers Lloyd
Tunnels surf break Haena, Hawaii, 1973 - 4
Chris Brock surfing Makua "the protector" (Tunnels) Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 - Photo Lloyd Godman
Chris Brock surfing Makua "the protector" (Tunnels) Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Tunnels Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Lloyd Godman
Surfing Tunnels Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 - Photo - Lloyd Godman
Surfing Tunnels reef, Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 - Photo - Lloyd Godman
In the tube Tunnels Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
In the tube Tunnels Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Chris Brock at Tunnels - with kneeboard and hodgeman air mat
Marty sailing us from Haena to Hanalei Bay, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Todd walking at sunrise to Haena from Taylor Camp, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Makua "the protector" Canons, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii
Hollow Tube, Makua "the protector" Canons, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Canons surf break, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Surfing BoBo's, north shore of Kauai island in Hawaii 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Hawaiian surfer Jimmy Lucus surfing Bobos break in 1974.
Australian surfer Chris Brock surfing Bobos break in 1974. |
I lived at Taylor Camp 1973-4 and knew BoBo well. I have fond memories of her. She was an amazing body surfer - always did this naked with fins - I had huge respect for her surfing.
Every year or so she would swim with the fins on naked from Haena - Ke'e Beach all the way along the Napali coast to Polhale State Park Beach Kauai - I think she had a few beaks along the way - and hitch-hike back to Taylor Camp which always meant she got arrested by the cops and had to be bailed out. I talked to her about her fears of sharks on this swim, only once she said she was surrounded by Barracuda, scary but she just kept going. Because of these antics she gained the name BoBo - ( crazy)
One reef spot to the north-west of Canons surf break at Haena was another more radical wave which became known as BoBo's named after her. It was a bit bigger, faster, hollower, did not line up as often or well as Canons and it was not quite as predictable. The name of the break referenced that you had to be a little crazy to ride it. |
Surfing Canons, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii- 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Wave, Canons surf break, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Canons surf break, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Canons surf break, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Canons surf break, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Hanalei Bay, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii
Wave, Hanalei Bay, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
surf, Wainiha bay, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Makana Peak, Bali Hai, From Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - Taylor camp is on the far left - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Makana Peak, Bali Hai, Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - Taylor camp is on the far left - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Kilauea, Kauai, 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Net fishing Wainiha bay, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Mamalahoa from Hanalei Bay from the water 1974 - Photo Lloyd Godman
Taro Fields Hanalei Bay 1974 - Photo Lloyd Godman
Face wave Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii - 1974 - Lloyd Godman
Makana Peak, Bali Hai, from the ocean, Haena, north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii - Taylor camp is on the far left - 1974 photo Lloyd Godman
Spent a day net fishing with the locals - the kids on the right are Lyon & Liard Hamiltion.
Where the stream runs into the ocean at Taylor Camp - Photo Lloyd Godman 1974
Chris Brock, Sheley Taft and Fish sitting on the beach near Heana, In the background Martys boat.
John Taylor
Robbie Gilles -
Ben - made these amazing boards from a local wood.
One of the Taylor Camp kids throwing snad into the stream.
Kilauea, Kauai, 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Lloyd and Greg at Polhale State Park Beach - notice the hodgeman air mat by Lloyd's right foot
1973, Robbie Giles and Greg talking to Vinny Bryant at Polhale State Park Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, about the jet chambers - the idea of the holes in his board was that they suck air from the deck under the tail and give extra drive - Notice the asymmetric nature of the board chimes and the single jet chamber - so the board was specifically designed to straight and fast on rights. only ever seen one of these boards and it went like the clappers.
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Vinny Bryan Polhale State Park Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Vinny Bryan Polhale State Park Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Polihale State Park Kauai, 1974 Photo Lloyd Godman
Nov 2012
just got back from NZ no waves with the new fourth gear flyer air matt I got from Paul Gross yet -
but I found this shot when I was in NZ of me paddling up a wave in Heana Hawaii on a hodgeman air mat. I got out the back caught the next wave in the tube but got hammered in the shore dump
Lloyd on the shore break Heana, Kauai, Hawaii
Beautiful conditions - 1974 I witnessed this huge clean swell hit Hanelai Bay Kauai. It was the largest ridable swell of the 73-4 season.
So we checked it from the cliff top before paddling out ourselves
with the waves at 15-18 feet my old mate Chris Brock and rode his stand-up stick and I rode it on an air mat - without doubt the largest waves I have ever ridden on a mat
Chris Brock sanding the fin on his board - Fish on the right
Christmas dinner Taylor Camp 1973
Christmas dinner Taylor Camp 1973 - when we were more hair than there - left to right - Robbie Giles - ? Rev John Taylor - ? , Robin, Kenny
Chris Brock biking back to Taylor Camp from a surf at Hanalei Bay, March 1974. Hanalei Bay pumped every day for 32 days in a row, so we would leave the boards at the big house to save bring them back every day.
Robert Giles after our paddle along the coast from Ke'e beach to Hanakapi ai Beach
Hi Lloyd,Nice web site!I was on Kauai in nov.2011. My Girl friend and I walked thru Taylor camp site. Monk seals on the beach!
We took a photo of our first tent site which is signed "ancient Hawaiian burial site".No wonder we were so fortunate to see
things on our raft trip to Hanakapi.Hope all is well,just wanted to keep in touch.Best regards to you and yours,your friend, Robbie.
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