I met Billy Hamilton and Laid in the summer of '73 when they came to Coronado to visit a friend and we all surfed North Beach in Coronado and Sunset Cliffs together, Laid was 11 or 12 years old and a terror (in an non-stop energetic way). I ended up moving to Kauai that September to surf and since there were absolutely 'NO JOBS' I ended up having to scrape by to make ends meet! Coming from a big Family (13 kids) I knew how to take care of household chores and watch, feed, and entertain kids. I ended up taking care of Laid and his brother Lyon quite a bit when his Mom and Dad wanted to go out and spend some time together dancing at the Anchorage, or the Dolphin. I had it wired and watching kids was no problem for me so once the word went out that I was responsible and reliable watching Laid and Lyon, I started to get non-stop requests to babysit and that became my main job in Hanalei for the next 6 months. It was actually a good job, I was living on rice, beans, and peanut butter until I finally got a job dishwashing at the Rice Mill restaurant!! I was in paradise because I got to eat whatever I wanted and worked with some of the good local surfers so that opened up a few set waves for my at Hanalei, middles, and Cannons. STOKED. I spent a lot of time with the Hamilton's and got to know his Mom well, she was one of the most beautiful souls I've ever met, smart, kind, and caring. Joanne always took the time to check up on me and made sure I was doing OK as an solo 18 year old blond haired Haole surfer in a very intense local environment. I never surfed more in my life in the biggest most challenging waves I had ever experience at that point in my life. I was hooked and ended up living in Hawaii 12 years, living, visiting and surfing Oahu, Kauai, and Maui and coming back every year after I moved back to San Diego the next 25 years. I always follow what Laird is doing and I ran into Lyon in Fiji a few times in the nineties when he was a boatman and lifeguard at Tavarua Island. Lyon is an amazing surfer in his own right and we had a lot of fun surfing, talking story, and drinking some whiskey after some great sessions. Both of us do not drink alcohol anymore and I'm still surfing and building custom surfboards here in San Diego!

Never met Laird Hamilton but he’s still one of my heros. An oceanic warrior. Fearless, trustworthy, and genuine to the core.

Shockingly personal questions, answered with grace and candor.

Laird Hamilton is absolute HONESTY with amazing humor and unique smartness. My RESPECT! This man is one of a kind.

Forgiveness is always stronger than revenge or hatred. Thanks for sharing

I am a man. I’m a stepdad. I will always take care of these kids. I will never leave these kids. I do not, and will not beat them. I strive to be better to teach them how to be the best they can be. I am their father. I am a man.

I wanted a Dad, such a heavy comment.

The world would be such a better place if even 1 out of every 50 adult men were like Laird. This dude is definitely one of the better role models out there.

the most intense 8 minuite and 40 second interview I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing, Laird. Thanks for the interview, Graham

I don't care if you surf or not he is a man's man. Always, when he speaks it's with intelligence and grace.

Much respect to Laird - no doubt, a true warrior on both land and sea. It's easy to hold on to resentment and it's such a challenge to forgive those who have hurt us. It takes courage to open up and freely share what we've been through in this life, and Laird does it much grace and forgiveness. Respect...

He's got such grace and humility. A real man.

Heavy stuff. Laird is an absolute legend and hearing stuff like this puts my respect for him at another level

My father was a violent man & I still hate his guts. There are a few things more evil than child abusers, but not many.

Good job Graham. Your interviews are national treasures.

Laird always has such an open and real personality, and to talk so personally to an interviewer about his life and still maintain the strong, positive integrity that he has is just amazing.

Been fascinated by Laird since the '90s. I'll never be anything like him, but I'm a better person for the inspiration he provides.

This dude is an icon.

So interesting to hear Laird talk about his father and his step-father, Billy. I would never have guessed that his stepfather had an anger management problem. In high school and at the beach (Laguna), there was no greater a gentleman than Billy Hamilton. He was like a younger version of surfer Phil Edwards. Many thanks for the interview.

Dude sounds pretty solid for having so much turmoil in his life.

I've recently been watching interviews of Laird and his wife amd I havee to say that they are amazing people. Are they perfect? No, but they work on themselves everyday with much love and for those around them. They are truly inspirational

Laid Hamilton is one of my big hero’s. I love him

I get where he’s coming from. My father was there but he wasn’t a dad and had a volatile temper . My dad left the day after I was born to go on a surf trip to Bali so clearly spending time with his first son wasn’t too appealing. I spent years wishing he would’ve just left because it was worse with my parents being together for years and having him not care about his family. It would’ve been easier having him gone than constantly in and out of my life. Even when my parents split, he moved a mile down the road to our other house and I saw him maybe 3or4 times a year. He was just too busy doing his own thing to be involved. I remember telling my dad when I was 25 that the only things he did for me was teach me to surf at 4 years old and teach me how not to be a father and that really took him down a peg or two.

So sad, so personal, thank you for sharing.

You could see how some of those recollections had deep buried emotions..his eyes getting watery and red a little on a couple of his stories... Glad he us able to talk about stuff more as he got older...only way to try and fully heal is to talk and get those feelings and emotions out...

my father beat me as well laird. i forgave him as well. i love my son. i dont beat him. we can change the cycle of violence.

Its amazing Laird how God works in our lives ! you would be proud of us me Keiki and Kapono and what you have shared gave me a sense of hope to see you again ! Aloha Laird

Great sense of humor. Seems cool dude

Great interview. Excellent guest.

I like Laird a lot, he's such an inspiration for me. Always working hard and training

Thank you Laird for sharing so personally from your life with us, as a man your vintage I highly value your words and openness. Keep it coming and keep charging it brother.

Love this guy....a real forged human being. 🔑

Forgiveness is a gift

Gives us a clue to his fearlessness. Tough story and a better man for it.

You have the best guest!

His laugh reminds me of Chris Farley.

What a fascinating interview!

I've been to Hawaii but I've never been surfing and I've always been fascinated by Larry and his passion for surfing, I love sports I'm an NFL fan but I've never experienced the kind of passion that these guys get out of their lives.

Great sense of humor.

No wonder Laird can surf such insane waves ! He had it a lot tougher than " Riding Giants" portrayed his life growing up !

I had a stepdad and now I am a stepdad. I was blessed with the best mom ever on earth and the best stepdad on earth ever. I think the most important thing in any family is the spoken expression of love. I was told that I was loved by my parents many times every day. Now I try to do the same thing with my family. It's a great way to lift someone's spirits if they are having a bad day. Just sayin'..................

How could a mother forgive the non biological father of her children for beating her child?

Having been one year behind Billy Hamilton at Laguna Beach High and surfed Laguna's Thalia Street while watching Billy in awe, it's SO hard to imagine him having a bad temper. Billy was one of the nicest, most polite, most tolerant of younger surfers guys I've ever known. Perhaps being cheated out of his first major surfing title by corrupt judges didn't help much.

the man speaks very well and articulates like a college dean. Mucho props.

I admire this guy. Learned a lot about him thru these videos.

Fantastic and honest person. Can’t say much more

powerful and motivating

Pulls no punches, sees both sides of a situation, good for him.

Larid has great insight and perspective.

This makes me want be a better dad for my son

True aloha right there. Live, learn and love. I’ve always looked up to Laird. 🙏

Hard to watch, the truth hurts and ultimately the truth prevails

I believe anyone who laughs through this type of trauma, has not fully dealt with themself. Forgiveness for hitting people is bullshit. I guarantee you, his stepdad never hit a cop when he was pulled over or struck his boss at work. We live in a world in which adults apply a different set of rules when it comes to children. Sad, but true.

Wow, LH is such a truly awesome guy, intense and laid back at the same time. If a boy ever asks me, what is it to be a man I would tell him, be like Laird Hamilton and you will be a true man.

Deep personal intorspection on a daily basis is the answer to all the grief and frustration that comes from relationships between children and parents. Dissolve any negative emotions through daily silent practice . its the only true way to really get past it and move on.

Imagine a stepdad were no one asks if he's your real dad. They look remarkably similar for no relation at all. Amazing.

Laird is a mature evolved and highly intelligent man

Hamilton is a great guy!

Outstanding.

Super blessed to say that I’m from Maui Hawaii. This guy is a legend🙏🏽

"As often as i deserved it!" Shocking to hear that . You deserved discipline, not abuse. A loving dad would discipline sternly but never abusively. You never deserved beatings. Please see that lie

Love his strength

Pretty revealing information about Billy's temper.

Good for you Laird!

Very mature man

Great guy!

17 years old dating his mother? Omg

wait a minute i now saw some Bensinger Interviews. Those guys he talks to are so often comfortable without shoes! I mean, thats the key?

I have great respect for Laird...

I was adopted by my stepdad and had the exact same experience with my biological dad…

Great point about being males. Same sitch with my bio dad.

As an adult that met my biological mother after 32 years, I wish I would have never have met her. I wish I would have had that self preservation.

What a cool bloke

You only cackle-laugh like that to cover tons of pain. Feel bad for this guy as a little boy.

It takes 2 to tango....so true!

Laird seems like an awesome guy! If that is the few from his house, i am jealous. So pretty

2:07 smart guy 💯

we should all be so forgiving.

How could his Mom live with this?

So very hard to forgive but it must be done.

What an interesting interview! I had no idea that laird hamilton had parents!!! I always assumed that he had been created by some supernatural beings and put on this planet to blow our minds. So he actually human???

Graham ur the best and the original. Seems like Lewis something don’t know his last name is totally imitating your style.

This dude goes deep.

Legend looking good for all those years of sun and fun #StrongWorkYo

I’ve got to say that Laird is an extremely good role model. In a day that there isn’t many men of his stature and steadfast in his regiments regarding nutrition and fitness being a lifestyle.

A true ocean man.

Wisdom

An very impressive man Laird is God love him

A little confused. Is the picture Laird as a young boy or is that Laird next to a young boy. The young man is a dead ringer for Laird. He’s the spitting image of Laird!

Laird rocks.

Laird 'it takes two to tangle' Hamilton

I don't know man...there is still a lot of pain.

Dude is funny in a serious kinda way

🙏

Damn. This was a gut punch. My Dad used to beat me up like a bar fight @ 9 -15 and I haven’t talked to him in 12 years.

I never knew Billy had a temper like that. It's pretty sad.

oh man 😞

Wow

He was hyperactive and obnoxious as a kid. That being said, he has built a good life for himself.

Laird dude is true man among men.