Buttons was the guy we wanted to surf like; switch-stance, 360's, cutbacks, barrels. I think his style is more stylish than the new era.

I use to live in those house’s in front of V Land in 1980 and buttons would park this car he was driving in are carport come in the house and go from room to room waking us up to go surf we were are pretty hung over from the night before at Steamers God how I miss him you could hear him saying what none of you haoles own a fing bed you all sleep in sleeping bags on da floor dam sorry ass HAOLES you are now let’s go surf get up out the back door we went up and over the smashed down chain link fence and into the dirt parking lot at V Land the whole time buttons behind us saying come on bra pull yourselves together before we paddle out gave us a lot of time, Rest Peacefully Buttons I know you and Jay Boy Adams are up there in heaven saying I can’t believe that fool is still down there it’s my birthday today 1-26-60 I miss you and all the rest who went before me and I love you all

I met Buttons once on the Venice Boardwalk.....I didn't know him but what I remember is he reminded me of Jay Adams....they were both influential charismatic innovators of their sport Surfing and Skating....but there was always a sadness to them....also they both became Christians before they died Jay in jail and Buttons I think when he was sick......in any case I'll c ya in that big party in the sky soon......RIP

This little film made me happy and a little sad to see Buttons, smiling, looking back and looking forward too.

I use to go to Vland and surf with Buttons, me and his brother Ricky were friends from Waikiki. Buttons could do air 360s before anyone else, his style was ahead of his time - R.I.P. brother I will always miss you! ps. just found this video Mahalo for posting

My auntie said he used to come over and see us young groms sleeping and say “that’s a reason to stay clean”. RIP

People forget... Just try doing 1/3 of as crazy a turn on one of those old boards. Not a new retro, they have wayyy better materials, rocker, etc. But grab a 1972 or 74 single fin and try to put it on a rail like that. Him and Bertlemann really did start it, the modern imagination about what was possible. Hakman, Liddell, Lopez, Reno, all were greats. Legends. But Bertlemann and Buttons were on their own trip. RESPECT. R.I.P. I hope he got to be with his mom. (I hope the same for me.)

When we were kids surfing Waikiki I just remember how good he was and how much fun he had in the water! What a smile... 🎈

Buttons lived with my dad in San Clemente back in the early 80’s

He was My Friend. We learned to surf at the Wall on white foam boards from the drug store. I remember watching the Moon Landing in 69 at his Mother's apartment along with his brother Ricky. I asked him about Ricky last time we talked on the phone, he said Ricky passed away awhile back, I didn't press for details, seemed a bad subject.

Buttons is such a special human being, he will live in my memory forever. The purest Aloha !

Absolutely love Button’s style, true original.

Legends never die ....

Wow. Best clip I've seen for years. Childhood hero shows class, spirituality and grace. Kia kaha bra. Xx

🤣Well, speaking for the "frickin haoles" who were young and impressionable when Buttons was clearly the most naturally gifted surfer around, I soaked up lesson after lesson on rail surfing, spontaneity, and attitude. What a lot of guys were looking stiff and labored doing, Buttons made look not only easy, but sublime and impossibly fast at the same time. I'm happy to think of Buttons (and Bertlemann) as heavy influences on my surfing.

Buttons is the guy that made me quit the bicicross and sold my bicicle and get me a surfboard like 30 years ago..surfed boya in dominican republic..and it was everyday like 5 to six footers..big ones

Legends never die!

Buttons was also a really great Hawaiian artist( painting)!

I first met Buttons at Sportsman Pier in Atlantic Beach, NC.He was with another incredible surfer, Buddy Pelltier, while they were paddling out I pulled off a near carving 360 in the shore break which was 3 or 4 ft, I had known Buddy for quite some time at that point, anyhow I got to know Buttons and we shreded AB, North Carolina! Such great memories, cancer took both!

A timeless style and pure raw energy! Rest In peace uncle Buttons I hope you feel the love! Your stamp on the surfworld will forever be felt. True pioneer and innovator of surf.

The one & only, geez I miss him, fly high bruddas, see u on da other side ❤

I’ll never forget my first surf movie experience in the late 70’s. My stepfather took me to see it at the Kaimuki Theater (we lived up at Lilinoe Pl then). Buttons stood out more than any other surfer in it. I remember, more clearly than anything in that film, Buttons dropping the longest, craziest floaters at Honolua Bay. He’s always been one of my favorites from that moment. I see a little of him in every great surfer to come along since. Buttons and Dane ripping and charging together in the world hereafter🌊✊🏾✊🏾

RIP, true soul and legend

I had the pleasure of surfing at Kaiser Bowl with him out there. He put on a clinic. That epic layback of his inspired me to enjoy surfing backside. RIP bro.

i don't know if Buttons will read comments, but, from Australia, as a grommet in the 80's, you were known and admired by myself and many others.

I met Buttons when I was 14 years old. He was doing a tour and visiting various surf shops to discuss Town and Country Boards if I remember correctly. Very cool guy.

Buttons was my favorite surfer growing up. I had pics of him all on my wall from surfer magazine. Always wish I could surf like Buttons.❤

I got to watch Kanaka slide Ala Moana Bowls. What a creative surfer! Rest In Love Hawai'ian 🫡

I loved this man his energy reached to the far side of the world , influenced me greatly in my surfing as a grom . Rest in liberation and may you be riding the cosmic wave now with the ancestors connected back to true source .

a fucking legend and as humble as they come….

Butttons surfing was so far ahead of it’s time.

Sou brasileiro Buttons foi minha inspiração na minha opinião o mais Radical do seu tempo

Alpha Buttons!!!! You’re a childhood mentor!

Buttons world class Hawaiian 🤙👊

Sooo much INSPO to all surfers and skateboarders. Spontaneous and loose. Da Kine style.

Style and Soul 😎🤘🏼🌊

i knew Buttons in the early 70's. jim mckay introduced him to me. i had just gotten back from an elk hunting trip with Kurt Gowdy and Johnny Bench but Joey Heatherton was coming by that night so i had to blow out my perm and slap on the HiKarate

One of a kind and one of the best

I use to have a non-stop every month ....surfer & Surfing Magazine...subscriptions. I always loved seeing pics of Buttons inside the tube....plus amazing effortless sprays & maneuvers that weren't possible.....but Buttons was doing....them😊🎉🎉🎉

Wish he was still here he would love those electric skateboards for sure and still be ripping those waves.😁

This is so good.

great video, Buttons is a legend

Nice looking back to the days

Pure legend. Legend!

Mahalo, much Aloha!

MAJOR DUDE!! Warms my heart to see this.Thank you so much for this channel.

When Buttons took me to surf with him at some local Hawaiin break. I was the only white guy in the water midget size to the locals. Pre paddling out i asked Buttons if its safe cause i didn't want any problems with anybody. He said hey Stevo. Don't worry, your with me. Buttons. Can't argue that. Once out in the lineup with like 30 guys in the water. Buttons pushes the tail of my surfboard for me to take a wave, theirs like 10 other guys paddling for the wave and Buttons yells out, go Stevo go. Everyone paddling backed off to let me ride the wave and i was so nervous not to fuck up as the only white guy in the water to look foolish. I made the wave and when i got back in the lineup, all of Buttons friends paddled up to me and said any friend of Buttons is welcome. They were all so cool to. When i would go to Tennis courts on the beach in Honolulu on the weekends alone to paddle around and read my book on the beach. The Hawaiians cooking and barbecuing in the park their, and Buttons not being their, those guys remembered me and always asked me to come join their party. What an awesome Aloha Alobrah spirit the Hawaiians have. I respect those people alot. Peace up ya all. Stevo. U are all welcome to the Rip Curl School of Surf in Sanur Bali and we will style u out. Peace up ✌✌ 🌴😃🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️😃🌴

Great interview and footage.

I looked up to your surfing Buttons! It was a compliment when a friend would say that I shredded and looked like Buttons

What a beautiful soul brother.self infliction is mans greatest trial.you are always to be remembered as a proper wateman and spiritual warrior.love and massive respect. From Western Australia

My favorite

❤ true LEGEND . ❤ .

I love the water and I'm scared of the water to be out there by my self I don't want to die trying to do something I want to love

Unko Buttons legend

Mana!

BUTTONS 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

Best style😊

Legend

🙏🏾 ❤️

GO BUTTONS 🤙🏼

You watch, you copy, you expand on all. ..

🙏🏾🤙🏾 ❤

I miss you Buttons more then words can express. Stevo Thailand/ Bali. 🌴🙏🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🙏🌴

Knew him.. it was a sad ending..

thing I remember from Buttons is his big butt in my face everytime he cut me off. Every time.

Very nice

So many good surfers these days all have the same style, not Buttons!

a man of aloha,

🤙

You get the feeling his dad may not have been a positive influence on buttons

1:16 A thumb that curves back is a sign of a person's generosity. Look out for people with stiff thumbs that have zero reverse curve......

B K fun

aloha buttons

Nice guy but ice ruined his life.

ALOHA...

Buttons and Mark Lidell Made surfing Radical !!! Not the frickin Haoles