The Kook origin story—it's complicated

Welcome to kookery class! In this episode, we unpack the surprisingly complicated origin of "kook," one of surfing's most beloved insults. Is it beatnik slang for "crazy"? Or does it come from the Hawaiian word for… well, poo? From Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz's outdoor toilet at San Onofre to Wilbur Kookmeyer cartoons, kookboxes, and the infamous Cardiff Kook statue—this one's got history, language, and a whole lot of surfer side-eye. And no, I will never write "how to avoid being a kook." Promise.