Buttons with his wife Hiriata and youngest children.
Hawaiian Surf Legend – “Buttons”
Montgomery Ernest Thomas Kaluhiokalani
(March 30, 1958 – Nov. 2, 2013)
“Buttons” Montgomery Kaluhiokalani was born March 30th, 1958, to a military father and a Hawaiian mother. He was raised on the North Shore until age 5, when jobs in the country became scarce and his mother moved him and his brother to town. At age 7, Buttons learned to surf in Waikiki following the lead of his Uncle Buddy, a Vietnam Vet who rode a 10 log at “Ins and Outs.” By age 9, Buttons and his brother were each carrying one end of the 10 board, hoisting it over their heads as they made their way to the beach. This, along with a round nose single fin wooden Piper board, were the boards Buttons was riding as he developed his style as a young surfer in Waikiki.
Buttons came of age during a very exciting time in surf history, when everything was new and surfers were pushing the limits of waveriding and surfboard design. During this time, Buttons’ best friend was Mark Liddell. A local Beach Boy, Zoobadee Lau, would take him and his friends to contests around the Island. Buttons’ major influences were Larry Bertelmann and Ben Aipa. Soon, Buttons found himself in the company of the influential people who helped shape modern surfing, and he surfed with them every day. Buttons considers himself lucky to have surfed alongside fellow legends Reno Abellira, Rory Russell, Jock Sutherland, Jeff Hackman, Eddie Aikau and Larry Bertlemann, among others.
In 1973, at the age of 13, Buttons traveled to the US Championships in Malibu, California, as an amateur, where he placed second. Seven years later, Buttons won the Sunkist Open at Malibu.
During the 70s Buttons really perfected the progressive style of surfing he is so well known for. Uncle Eddie Rothman calls him “the Innovator of Modern Day Surfing.” Buttons was the first to perform a carving 360 on film. A true Style Master, Buttons is renowned for his pocket surfing, switch foot and skateboard inspired maneuvers.
“Buttons” Montgomery Kaluhiokalani died on November 2, 2013 due to complications from lung cancer. He was 55 years old
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Kaluhiokalani