RIP Mike. I learned so much from you and will miss you. I never knew you but I felt like you are an old friend. Learned so much from you. Thanks so much Kokua.
Owen
FROM US TO YOU…MIKE !
Wow…Aloha Kokua…you have a legacy of graciously helping others
His posts in the early days of Swaylocks were gold to me as I was learning to glass proficiently
Nothing but respect. Rest in peach Kouka.
my heart is heavy reading this news from Peter.
for without kokua/wilddog/mike
i would have never met Peter (PPK) nor Ambrose
to me he always represented the best of what being a “hawaiian” is all about
as are all the others i met thru him.
Kokua embraced everything that was good about swaylocks
always looking out for others
no matter who they were or how much they knew
the only time I met him was while he was in recovery here on oahu
and i did what little i could to make his time away from home comfortable by giving access to this place he was adored, swaylocks
and he never let me forget how much that meant to him
I know he is finally free now of the struggle he’s put up all these years to be with his family and us
and hopefully he’s surfing the lineup in hanalei with just a few of his closest friends
aloha no Kokua
you lived up to your name
and will always be thought of as “hawaiian” in my books
me ke aloha pumehana my friend
getting old sucks
as you watch all the ones you care about about
go on to a better place one at a time
A cool dude, always willing to help. I remember the calls I got from him following Dec. 5, 2005 when Clark Foam closed its doors. I visited him at Queens Hospital when he went in for surgery. He told me that I should be proud of my boards. That was special coming from him. He will be missed.
Just like so many others here I never met Kokua, but from the moment I started being a member of Swaylock’s it felt like I knew him. I’m pretty sure that the day I go into the bright light up there, we’ll recognize each other immediately. And it will feel so good surfing forever with him (and quite a few others…) RIP, Kokua, although you’re not dead for me. Just ahead of us, as usual.
Like others have said Kokua seemed like an old friend an old surfing buddy from back in the Day Yet we never met. I admired his spirit and Aloha. Be at peace Mike you are joining a lin up on an outter reef with legands and kooks all loving the waves the warm winds. There The Duke , Blake, Donald and a host of others they are waving into a peak. Paddle hard dig deep feel the wave under you the enerery lifts your board you sart the drop Yeah thats the feeling thats the joy Your pain is over surf on Brother. You get to enjoy the ride nce again Aloha.
[quote=“$1”]
Kokua was **the backbone **of Swaylock **ALOHA **, too. Not to mention the final word on glassing and repairs in my opinion. His username said it all. Hope I get to meet you on the other side. Mike/quote]
Although I never met him face to face , to me Mike was , and is still [his spirit lives on here] , the most encouraging , friendly , helpful guy I have [n]ever met [face to face ] , here on swaylocks .
Always friendly , positive , helpful , enthusiastic .
I feel , through the years of ‘talking’ [typing ] to him here , and through soooo many emails , that he had certainly become like a close friend .
my heart is broken to think he has left so soon , and it IS a gap that will be REALLY hard to fill .
I pray [ as you did Mike ] that he WILL be in a better place , and that we WILL meet up again , one day [ ? maybe share some waves together , IF there is surf in heaven ? :) ]
R.I.P. , Mike Williams / Mr. Encouragement [ ‘Kokua’]
cheers !
Ben
Kokua embraced everything that was good about swaylocks.
Truer words could not be spoke Oneula.
Hope everyone learns from his example.
Mike/Kokua was a good guy, I hung out with him a bunch of times. When he got sick I think it was very hard for him to not be able to surf and make boards anymore. But he’s in position for a good set wave now. Mike…outside!! Meet you in the glassing shack later, amigo.
Oh Mike, such a loss of a really decent guy. never a word in anger, always helpful. I know death is a natural process but let your passing be a reminder for all of us to get checkups, colonoscopys, to go see a doc when you’re unwell, don’t wait until it’s too late like my brother who died 3 weeks ago of bowel cancer. My brother will never ride proudly in the boat he bought or hug his daughter again but if he had taken a moment in his busy life to see a doc, he’d be here today. Not all illness is preventable but the ones that are are your responsibility. Take care guys.
A truly great glasser who passed his knowledge here. Spoke a few times on the phone with him and had regular email contact. Way back, Mike was a Capo Beach local and he and his brother used to surf Killer Dana on balsa’s before the harbor was built. A very gentle, kind heart and I will miss him.
Great advice surffoils and I am sincerely sorry about the loss of your brother. Mike
learned quite a lot from him though haven’t met him personally. kokua will be missed and will be remembered. thanks kokua!
I was fortunate to hang with Mike a couple times on Kauai. Turned out he and my wife went to the same high school near downtown Los Angeles at the same time!!
He was also a Baja guy and we knew some same people through that connection.
A fine and generous man for sure!
Aloha Mike
Thanks Mike, some would think its about who’s tougher…
Ladies get regular checkups, guys would rather go surfing.
Guys die younger but the ladies surf longer.
If you want to surf more, go get a checkup.
It’s not rocket science. But for some reason decent people like Kokua and my brother disappear from the world where they have done their best work.
glassy lineups forever Kokua