DARYL Barnett is never sure what he will come home with when he goes to the Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction.

There is interesting stuff in the main auction, or in the market that runs alongside the event, but Mr Barnett can't forget a surfboard he saw perched on the veranda of a local house when he visited last year.

It was a surfboard used by one of the Bronzed Aussies on a trip to Hawaii in their prime. Mr Barnett knocked and knocked on the door to the house last year, trying to make an offer, but no one was home. He will knock again this year.

Whatever he and other Gold Coast collectors bring home, it will benefit the Gold Coast Surf World Museum at Currumbin.

“Hopefully we can pick out a few gems but you never know what comes up,” Mr Barnett said.

“I've got my eye on one or two.

“I can't wait to get over there, it's great, unbelievable. We always have a ball.”

More than US$1 million is expected to trade hands during the July 22 and 23 event and the Hawaiians are expecting plenty of cashed-up Australians keen to take advantage of the high value of the dollar.

The most expensive board at this year's auction is expected to be one owned by former movie star Steve McQueen and it will be sold for well over $10,000.

Mr Barnett holds the record for the highest-priced Australian item to sell at the auction, a George Greenough board sold for US$20,000.