Buttons Kaluhiokalani: The Surfer Who Changed the Game

[@rastagideon8236]

I met Buttons a few times before he passed. He would be at Foodland across from firehouse showing much aloha to everyone he encountered. One time I saw Buttons at Chun’s putting on a charity surf event and he was smiling ear to ear with the youth. We won’t let you be forgotten Buttons!!!

[@allensarlo]

Simply the best surfing with the best style having the most fun. So good and a great friend. We miss him every day.

[@connorm3457]

Grew up surfing Kaisers, and constantly got to witness his mastery, and immense talent. Doing things never seen before, and rarely again in most instances. True waterman.💪💪💪❤️❤️🤙🤙

[@ericortiz9327]

Buttons!! Changed surfing for everyone else to feel free!! People like Buttons are the true embodiment of what humans are capable of feeling and passing onto others.

[@AndrewLaidlaw-w5i]

Inspired my life of surf & skate since the seventies .❤ God bless Buttons . Best style ever 🙏 RIP.

[@sheepeck]

That stance-switch in 2:12 is like Matrix glitch. 😀 Awesome.

[@craigrumbal6811]

Stoked to have surfed with Buttons in the 90's. He was fun to surf with, and he showed us Kiwis a lot of Aloha. Buttons forever ❤.

[@robertpanico6531]

I met Buttons in 1986 in Fiji on Tavarua. He was there with Mark Lydell and Johnny Boy Gomes. They were there filming Ticket to Ride. A very big swell hit and we were surfing Restaurants as Cloudbreak was too big and narly. Set waves at Restaurants were double over head. Buttons ripped! He was so cool in the lineup. Easy going and just smiling. I was sitting near him and he gave me wave after wave. I told him to take the bigger ones and he said "bro you go". Aloha. RIP. thanks for the memories.

[@jorge1960fn]

Moro no Brasil, mas gostava de ver o Buttons surfar, via filmes e lia as Revistas Surfer e Surfing, conversei com o Keone Downing, sobre o Buttons Kaluhiokalani, durante o Waimea 5000. Tinha um amigo aqui muito parecido com o Buttons. Era o Buttons Brasileiro. RIP BUTTONS. LENDA HAVAIANA DO SURF MODERNO. ALOHA

[@ozdog822]

No one then or now can switch like Burton's..Just insane..Not even Slater..Legend!🤙

[@robertpanico6531]

Saw him switch stance in Fiji at Restaurants in 10'+ faces. He would drop in backside. Make that big Hawaiian bottom turn and switch foot on the way up to the top and bang the lip frontside.

[@marvinkamei7007]

what a character and ripper. Good guy that got caught up into the other world!!

[@ugocdf7706]

We all surf some waves in that " other world" at times.... Aloha forever

[@hman7236]

Shot out to the Legend of Legends Mr. Buttons..

[@joeyorourke530]

I surfed with him and his cousin Titus at a home break before a local contest and saw them out at night at a club and shared beers and surf talks.

[@williamwilson9283]

Buttons was my childhood hero. Always saw him on the surfing mag covers and surfing in some surf films. Rip My braddah,”Buttons”.🤙🏽

[@jdcrawford]

Radical expressive surfing at its best. Prefer watching that than mechanical wacks!

[@sharkking8077]

King of 360s

[@chrisrae4401]

Surf n skate style king R.i.P beautiful. 😊

[@aeronautekBC]

Beautiful surfing!

[@KaiserSoze-dp1hw]

Legend !!!

[@mikehemens9359]

Good work!

[@kt-tu6jl]

Nobody did it better than Buttons

[@ugocdf7706]

....and it HAD to be reggae! Rubber man will not be forgotten... Long live the aloha spirit Mahalo and respect the keiki even if they are all grown up

[@Salba_sauce]

Fire spirit jah bless !!!

[@Unknown-x2n4g]

One of the most unique treasures of time.

[@rayvelasco2059]

Most Excellent ¿

[@yh-yd8ku]

Speaking of Buttons, the switch stance with the huge pipeline is very cool!

[@scottmcwave9479]

Original rubber man! 🤙🏄‍♂️😎

[@softhotty]

Watched him in surf films put on by Aqua East Surf Shop in Jacksonville Florida late 70's. The guy stood out from the others by the way he ripped. Rodney Mullins as a kid got on the stage once during intermission (changing film reels) at the venue and melted minds back then too. Both those guys were so advanced for the times. Coming up on 50 years ago(47) already...damn!

[@Mike-b1o9o]

Buttons,bertleman,lydell got me into my first stinger,18 inch fin box . What a change

[@pandstar]

Back in the 70's a bunch of Hawaiians, including Buttons, came to Southern California for a contest, probably Huntington. Either before or after the contest, they showed up at Malibu on a pretty good swell, and just dominated. The difference between the Malibu locals, even the best, and the Hawaiians was like night and day. And Buttons was the standout. We talked a few of them to go to Drainpipes and they followed us. It wasn't as big as Malibu, but it was seriously hollow. And once again, Buttons put on a clinic. I have my own movies playing in my head of that day!

[@mikeuptegrove]

He lived down the block from me in Waikiki for some years.

[@TheArts19]

Buttons ripping. A few pictures is all it took to become a fan. Bertlemann right there. Larry being a little more influential. Both changed all surfing and skateboarding. It takes naivety, youth and weed minimally. Then go liquid and express. Then the drugs, Health issues. Partying w JayBoy...RockStars...the words of Bertlemann laughing knowing he was amazing. A cryptic smartass. Buttons at Ala Moana later on lurking. Doing drugs along with JayBoy. All three mentioned iconic in our beloved surfing and skateboarding world.

[@jonmorgan1987]

❤BUTTONS

[@CurtisIopa]

Miss this true Hawaiian surfing Oahu finist

[@datapusher-]

😎🤙

[@Soquel-JTS]

What if Buttons grew up on modern equipment? He blew minds on a single fin!

[@ugocdf7706]

Can U imagine that? I also believe him as a surfer kept riding and did surf evrntually thrust ers, mini mal and what you could throw at him, a door some wood....he would rip on it nonetheless That flow my brother is legend Aloha Remember? Pass it on

[@rayvelasco2059]

Great sound track ¿

[@ugocdf7706]

Agreed and felt the same, aloha spirit from a legend no less....pass it on! One love

[@ugocdf7706]

Holding me, won't let go....

[@marcshelstead5355]

Def the first guy to tail slide ripping

[@ugocdf7706]

And a few other moves my friend! Haven't you eyes for the footage right here? Do NOT try to DEFINE a soul like him just with ONE signature maneuver,even if you want to relate to SURFING, He is a legend These other surfers here mention kaianapuni, abellira, bertleman....if you know just a bit of " our" history you would not dare to do that! Pass it on ....aloha

[@MrRobinski]

He was over powering those single fins.

[@ugocdf7706]

You can sure write that......but,as the footage here shows YOU, at the same time he would also finesse through backside 360 ' and BBarrels Understand what LEGEND mean s Aloha....pass it on

[@ugocdf7706]

I had been trippin on that too, my brother Can YOU imagine? But believe me as a human being he was much more than that Aloha .....pass it on!

[@ironphil62]

👍🍺🏄🏼

[@ralph100pct]

Respect 🔧 shootz ♡》lov you vland ralph onehundreadpersent

[@BertoBoyd]

Wish more of the modern guys would take some tips from him, mainly on stance. His narrow stance was so stylish and loose. All the guys today are practically stink bug style wide stance. It’s pretty annoying lol

[@RealSurfStories]

I love Buttons stance as well. I hear you on the squatty style a lot of dudes have these days but there are a lot of steezy rippers out there as well!!

[@BertoBoyd]

@ I think it’s mainly because aerial surfing. Probably the guys that don’t skate either

[@paulakiu5793]

Yes yes yes, he was a very hot progressive surfer, he spent some time with Jeff Cutrer and me on a farm in the Lualualei valley area, Jeff helped Buttons get his car fixed and working on other projects.One day out of the blue sky Buttons asked me if our friend Guy Pilago was still surfing, I told him that Guy was living & working in Washington state for 10 years and then he asked me if I still keep in touch with Craig Wilson.Craig doesn’t surf, he’s a one man canoe paddler for quite a few years. He just looked at me with a big question mark frown on his face.A lot of the surfing public don’t know important these 2 guys were in the Hawaiian surf community ! Ask Larry , ask Mark Lindell,Craig Sugihara,Clinton Blears,the Aussie Michael Peterson,Johnnie Boy,Brian Keaulana,Dennis Gouveia ,Bird Mahelona, Rusty Keaulana and a few more others but time to say Aloha

[@surfscab]

Go with the fro

[@Joe-pc1ju]

MAHALO BUTTS YOU AND MARK LIDAT WERE THE KINGS OF KIASERS BOWL I WOULD WATCH YOU BOTH AND NOW YOU ARE HOME WITH KING JESUS BRAH SEE YOU SOON ALOOOOOHAAAAA MY BROTHER IN CHRIST .

[@Nsurob]

Is he black or white?

[@MitchellHarter-e3d]

Half black half white asked his mother... Grew up with buttons.. sharing the same waves back in the day all the way from walls to Kaiser's.. Velzy land,Back door... As memorable as inspirational every session The same 🏄⚡🏄

[@ugocdf7706]

He is AND ALWAYS wii BE Hawaiian ( royalty) , if you never met him just watch this video and no more with these kind of question s please! Only a few like him on the earth throddin on , give respect where respect is due Aloha