Besides his work in business , Macfarlane became a sailing enthusiast . In Spring 1906 he sailed his 48-foot schooner , the '' La Paloma '' . from Honolulu to San Francisco in 28 days where he expected to join other San Francisco sailors in a race back to Honolulu . However , upon arriving in San Francisco on April 19 , 1906 , he was shocked to discover the devastating effects 1906 San Francisco earthquake that occurred the day before . He then sailed south to Los Angeles and enlisted sailors in Los Angeles Yacht Club to join him in the first transpacific ( Transpac ) LA-Honolulu race that started on June 11 , 1906 . This transpacific ( Transpac ) race is still held every two years from Point Fermin off San Pedro , Los Angeles and ending off of Diamond Head in Honolulu , covering a distance of 2,223 nautical miles . It also claimed he was the first Caucasian to master the traditional Hawaiian sports of surfing and sailing the outrigger canoe . He was later admitted to the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame for his pioneering contribution to yacht racing
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Clarence W. Macfarlane