Fred Hemmings

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Fred Hemmings
Hemmings in 2018, discussing his book Local Boy: A Memoir
Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 25th district
In office November 2000 – November 2010
Preceded by	Whitney Anderson
Succeeded by	Pohai Ryan
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 24th district
In office November 1985 – November 1990
Preceded by	Byron Baker
Succeeded by	Jane Tatibouet
Personal details
Born	(1946-01-09) January 9, 1946 (age 78) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Children	4, including Heath, Meaghan, Kaui Hart Hemmings, step son Gordon Kowalkowski

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Fred Hemmings Jr. (born January 9, 1946) is an American surfer, author, businessman, and politician.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Fred Hemmings attended Punahou school where he was co- captain of the Honolulu league championship football team in 1964. Hemmings won the Makaha International Surfing Championships,(2x senior and 2x junior) the Peruvian Championships and won the World Surfing championship (Puerto Rico 1968). Hemmings retired from competition and created the first major pro surfing events including the Pipeline Masters, 1971. Along with Randy Rarick he Co founded the first pro surfing circuit operated under the banner of International Professional Surfing. The Pro surfing circuit is now operated by the World surfing league, WSL. Hemmings served as a Republican member of the Hawaii Senate from the 25th District from 2001 to 2011. Hemmings is credited with the founding of Papahanaumokuakea the world largest marine sanctuary created by presidential Executive order by President George W. Bush. The NW archipelago was part of Senator Hemmings district. Elected in 2000, he served as Senate Republican Leader from 2002 to 2010. Previously he was a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1984 through 1990.

During the 1960s, Hemmings won the Mākaha International Surfing Championships four times, two Junior division and two Senior wins, He also won the Peruvian International Surfing Championships in 1964, and then from the surf of Rincon, Puerto Rico, Hemmings won the World Surfing championship in 1968. Hemmings is credited with being the “father of Professional surfing”. He inaugurated the Pipeline masters in 1971, and owned and produce all the events in the Triple Crown of Surfing. All three major television networks had contracts with Hemmings to cover his events. Fred Hemmings cofounder along with Randy Rarick of Hawai’i the first world pro tour of surfing which is now operated by the World Surfing League. Hemmings was also a steersman on four Molokai to Oahu Outrigger Canoe racing Champion teams, and to this day is a pioneer canoe surfing steersman. He attended Punahou School where he is an inductee of the Punahou School Athletic Hall of Fame. Hemmings was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame, and in 1999 the Hawaii State Sports Hall of Fame.^[1]

He was the Republican nominee for Governor of Hawaii in the 1990 election. He had lost the general election to incumbent Democratic governor John D. Waiheʻe III.

Hemmings has authored several books including his best seller Local Boy: A Memoir.