ALOHA-BUTTONS : Why I'm making this docu. 

I had the luxury and pleasure of meeting this man trying surfing for the first time! I was ignorant to the legend of a human being I was meeting at the time but I’ll never forget how warm and welcoming this treasure was! RIP Buttons you are a beautiful man! Respect and aloha!

I remember him so fondly. I met him on the north shore when I lived there back in ‘77. He was the nicest and friendliest guy out of everyone I met there.

I met him once for a brief moment in my early teens... I was in the Local Motion Surf shop with a friend on Kapiolani blvd and this guy just pops out of nowhere and surprise us... I forgot what he said to us but it was funny... I just remember his big smile and happy face... Me and my friend knew he was Buttons... after that encounter with him I could see his aloha spirit.. He was cool and so friendly... I didn’t know he was hooked on drugs and passed away until recently seeing him on youtube... Like him I was also on ice since late 80s on and off and did some time in Halawa and the Philippines... I want to thank everyone who uploaded videos of Buttons. To me Buttons was awesome. Aloha Uncle Buttons!...

Mahalo plenty Chris I’m sure Uncle Buttons and Uncle Noble are thankful for all your kind words and efforts 🤙🏾❤️

Of my (13 year old learning to surf in Florida) life, way back in 1973, with magazine subscriptions full of pictures, then plastered on my bedroom wall, I was given the dream life of a far away paradise this Haole has never been to, and has no right to transgress. He was part of that dream world, that Aboriginal concept of perfection, that melts away with time.

Buttons influenced a lot of surfers to stop just standing there and do something. Thanks Buttons for opening ALL our eyes with your gift so freely given. You are a straight LEGEND!!!

He deserves this, the coolest surfer that i ever see. I'm proud to have made the first surfboard for one of his kid's. Aloha ambassador.

So happy i get to meet him and live with him and his wife, when i had nowhere to go on thé north shore... Always in my heart.

If you ever had a chance to meet Buttons you would know he was more than just an amazing surfer. He was a funny man. A very funny man.

I used to hang out and party once in awhile with his brother Ricky (also passed), and after that I would run into Buttons in Waiks here and there. Buttons was always full of Aloha, with a wonderful warm smile. Aloha guys!

Good video~. Actually Ben Aipa taught Buttons the 360 when Butz was a kid and Buttons made it popular. I surfed with Butz and Ben.. Legendz!! RIP!!!

I had a Buttons poster in my room all through the 80s. Sickest off the top in glorious neon !

1st saw Buttons in the mid 70s @ " back roads" Waikiki Jungle near Jefferson school , and Kaiser Bowl . Then I was star struck . Years later I my girlfriend happened to be Buttons niece . I finally got to know and talk to my surf hero . I hung with him a few times at wave Waikiki night club and cruised around partying. Buttons truly was the nicest humblest guy I know despite being a surf star . Treated people with true aloha , I love you my bradda. Rest in peace .

God wants the best People on His side always. We all love you Big Brother. 🙏🙏

Mahalo brother I miss buttons buttons was a friend of mine I've known him for many years since the 80s bra I'm from Encinitas California he would come visit over here to the mainland and bring his Aloha spirit and that big smile we rode for the same sponsor gravity

Buttons is one of my favorite surfers to watch...still...he had such charisma on the waves...

I'm was a Paramedic with the City and County of Honolulu and I used to pick him up when he would overdose. I'm not trying to degrade his memory but he didn't get sick from lung cancer and get skinny but he got skinny because of drugs. He was living on the streets and you could sometime's not recognize him because of the drugs however even when he was really sick he was humble, funny and still a great guy. My main memory of him was that he was extremely gracious for the help and he loved to tell stories on the way to the hospital. If you make another documentary it should be what happened for his whole life and who cares if he was hooked and living on the street. I think it tells more then his surfing exploits, it tells that even when he was at his lowest he was still a great guy and was fun ttto hang out with him. Drug Abuse is a bitch but it can snare anyone and I mean anyone

its a shame that theres so much money in the surf industry and a story like this doesnt make daylight

Legend. Didn’t know you bro but I always lived for surfing and remembering guys like this.

Mahalo ‘ Chris A . Nice Jay A & Buttons always gave msg SoCal & beyond 7mile’ Larry B, also, Wish History Channel new what there missing

Love buttons honor his memory on every wave call on his great Aloha to protect you on the water and you'll be safe

Thank you Mr. buttons!!!! Legend!!!!

Bobs Hawaiian restaurant Gardena, Ca. We remember.

Aloha Chris! this is killer... I'm hanging w/Button's cuz on Oahu this week. I GET IT! Button's transformed my surfing.. PURE ALOHA.. michelle

Mahalo Chris, Aloha oy buttons

Always loved watching this guy rip in surf movies and any vid I saw. Seemed like a good soul. I know he succumbed to drugs later on but that doesn’t take away what he was in the water . Tore me up when I saw an episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter and he happened to be one of the people Dog had to deal with. Hope he found peace somehow.

I was Skate 1rst Surf during the fall, winter . 1rst Gen Bertelsmann. 2nd Button K. Me. Thanks. J.INSCO Soquel Ca.

Da legend

Much respect 🙏

touching, thank you :)

Buttons Forever!!

RIP, thanks

Rest in peace.

Just came across this video, well done. F'k Cancer!

R.I.P. Buttons.Legend!!!!!!!!

Thank you Chris 💜

Mahalo 🌺 nui for this tribute!

Thanks brother for this video!

Aloha buttons amazing person

Alobrah BUTTONS, MISS YOU SO MUCH BRAH. STEVO 🌴🙏🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🙏🌴

Heart of a gold and a lion at that! I have several interviews with him, one with Jay Adams. Let’s get in touch 🤙🏼

Where is the documentary

When i met Buttons through close friends in 2002, we hit it off so well. His wife Hiriata and him insisted i stay with them from then on anytime i went to the N. Shore. Can't even count and their Aloha Alobro spirit of hospitality towards me always put a tear to my eye and still does. May he rest in peace with Neptune and the Ocean Gods. Stevo. Sanur Bali. 🌴🙏🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🙏🌴

God how I miss my friend Buttons

He will be missed

The surf industry does not recognize the contribution. Only fixed in the people dark side.

129 likes since Oct. 2016... the aloha spirt is dead?

Buttons and Mark Lidell were My idols !!!! I was surfing Kaiser Bowls one day and those 2 Guys came out for about half an hour and totally blew My Mind !!! Frickin Killing it !!! Radical and Smooth at the same time !!! God Bless them 🙏🙏🏼

Yeah brah 🤙🏽👍🏽

He came to Galveston Texas back in the Day stayed at my house he went surfing with my dad and Dad best George

Mahalo

...skate move crossover wizard...Buttons... aloha...Bra...

Aloha Spirit.

Hi kana go surfing 🏄‍♂️ 🌊.mmhmm

What's the latest with the documentary?

He was a good friend

Is this project still on the works?

What ever happened to this doc?

How can we help make it?

rookies should look forward to KANE like Buttons and jay Adams, real surfers ....

...Yes, and His COMPLETE Family Background/Genealogy is?........why is it so often conveniently omitted? ...Hmm?

Has anything happened with your dream

My special memory was he was a chronic I used to see at Walmart. Don't try to make him a superhero. At least teach people about his struggles.

Jeeze if you care about the project why don’t you talk about it instead of whispering. Terrible spokes person for the project. Show buttons some respect by getting a real spokes person to actually speak instead of wispy guy. I know you love him but you are bad at talking. I’m a sales guy, you get 4-6 seconds to get people excited about what you are saying and if they can’t hear you then you get a strike. Pass the torch man.

Wow this Hawaiian was a great human being 🤙🌴🌊😎🗣️ CHEE HOO

My older brother and Buttons both passed at away at the same age of the same cancer disease. I was closer to Buttons though since him and Hiriata always were overly generous with me. May he rest in PEACE. Stevo. 😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪 🌴🤙🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🤙🌴

Buttons still is my super hero. Stevo Bali. 🌴🤙🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🤙🌴

Is Hiriata still doing Buttons Surf School?? Stevo in Bali I hope so. 🌴✌✌✌✌✌✌🌴

Buttons never got the recognition he deserved in the early days, 2022 December 27 and he is still my hero, a friend i truly miss Him and Hiriata i will always cherish. Stevo. Thailand/ Bali. 🌴🙏🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🙏🌴