Nuderiders is a clothing label and was founded in summer 2005 on the shores of the French Atlantic. Its name comes from the ancient Hawaiian tale about Prince Kohana that is still told these days.
Inspired by this tale we started this label and have tried to project it's philosophy on our products (klofs?). They are meant to be worn by people on a journey, if in the geographical or philosophical sense, always searching for the ultimate freedom.
For surfers, as ourselves, this freedom consists in searching and riding waves. Because the oceans and its waves need protection we donate one percent of our profits to 'Surfers Against Sewage'

Extract from the Historical Archive of Honolulu HI (Volume II, p 133):

Nuderider, the ;
Modern name for Prince Kohana, an important character in Hawaiian mythology.
A Nuderider is a person with a positive view of the world who is virtually always in a good mood. This mood comes from the particular feeling one gets by doing what one likes best. It might be performing in a sport or on an instrument, spending time with a person of Darwinian interest or eating the best food on the planet.

More conveniently this feeling can be compared to the sport of surfing. The feeling a surfer gets, even by the only passing a ride on a wave trough his mind, is the one that inhabits a Nuderider. For a surfer waveriding stands for the freedom of mind and freedom of duties, it stands for the ultimate concentration and pure pleasure. This sensation can only be beat by the idea (1) of riding a wave naked, which next to the psychological freedom also ensures physical freedom.

The ancient Hawaiian tale about Prince Kohana

A long, long time ago a prince by the name of Kohana was born on the island of Nihoa, Hawaii. Growing up as a prince, Kohana had everything he could wish for. He was always taken care of, had the most beautiful toys and could ask for whatever he wanted. As the prince grew older, he got bored with all this luxury and comfort. He realised that he had no goal in life and became very angry and sad. As the king saw how unhappy his son was, he told his people to do everything possible to comfort him. But no matter what was tried, they did not succeed.

One day, prince Kohana decided to leave the village. He wandered through the forest, over hills and lava fields, finally reaching a beautiful beach. On a rock under a palm tree prince Kohana discovered an old man who looked very wise and satisfied.

Kohana had heard people in the village talk of this old man with mysterious voices, but never quite believed he really existed. Feeling that the old man would have some advice for him Kohana sat down and told him of his grief. After a moment of silence, the old man started speaking. He told Kohana that in order to be happy, he should find a challenge in life and seek for mental and physical freedom.
With the old man's words ringing in his ears, Kohana looked out on the ocean and saw perfect waves breaking over the sandbars a short distance out in the ocean. He imagined what it would feel like to ride one of these waves. More and more, the prince became motivated by the idea of surfing. He walked to the close forest and built what would be the first surfboard. The prince went back to the water, lay down on his wooden board, paddled out into the ocean and caught his first wave. Standing up on his board while riding the wave he felt a rush of excitement and freedom.
This experience changed the prince's attitude of life. From that day on, even long after having become king, Kohana surfed whenever possible. And despite his growing experience surfing never lost its fascination.

Nowadays, surfing is still known as the sport of kings and on Nihoa, Kohana's story is being passed on from generation to generation. Under the right conditions, the wave that Kohana first surfed, still brakes on the shores of Nihoa. But only a few local Hawaiians know where this surf spot is and when it's on they gather there and surf in honour of King Kohana - naked as it was custom for their ancestors.