Nickname Buttons Role Surfer Name Montgomery Kaluhiokalani | Website Official website | |
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Born Montgomery Ernest Thomas KaluhiokalaniMarch 30, 1958Honolulu, Hawaii, United States ( 1958-03-30 ) Died November 2, 2013, California, United States Similar People Captain Kirk Douglas, Questlove, Ben Kenney, Mark Kelley, Black Thought | ||
Montgomery Ernest Thomas Kaluhiokalani (March 30, 1958 – November 2, 2013) was a surfer from Hawaii, known as Buttons. He has been described by Surfer Today as a "surf legend."
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Career
Buttons was active from the 1970s onwards. In 1973 he came second in the Boy's Division of the United States Surfing Championship. At the age of 21 he competed in the Pipeline Masters and Sunset World Cup. In 1979 he won the Malibu Pro; he also came third in the 1975 Pro Class Trials, third in the 1981 Pro Class Trials, third in the 1981 Pipeline Masters, and first in the 1981 Peru International.
Drug problems
In 2009, Buttons described himself as a "recovering drug addict" who had been sober for three years. His drug problems began in 1985 with cocaine; he returned to surfing in 1996 but was arrested in 1998, although charges were later dropped. In 2007 he featured on the TV show Dog the Bounty Hunter after being arrested for drug offences.
Personal life
Buttons was named after actor Montgomery Clift.
He had 8 children and 9 grandchildren.
Kaluhiokalani died on November 2, 2013 due to complications from lung cancer. He was 55 years old.
A memorial service was held at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki on November 29, 2013. This was followed by a 'paddle out' of more than 100 surfers and their boards, from the adjacent beach to the waters where Buttons had practiced his craft.