Rabbit Kekai, The Surfer's Journal Biographies (Full Episode)

Rabbit began surfing in the 1920s at Public Baths before moving down the beach to Waikiki proper, absorbing the teachings of the period's finest watermen along the way. The vibe at home was different. His family was impoverished and his father brutal. The waves of Queen's must have seemed a paradise. Under the hau tree absolute legends like Duke Kahanamoku held court, plinking on ukuleles, sharing talee, and eyeing the surf. This was Rabbit's university.

[@allensarlo]

Mahalo my good friend Rabbit, great story, Love the beach boys. Much respect and Aloha.

[@BrettOKeefe]

What a legend.....one night he told me how Doris Duke gave him his first board and relayed stories of the Duke and his brother. I shared a ride with him to ASR one time and once inside the show I was immediately introduced to Shawn Thompson, Buffalo Kealoa among others.......he was just a super gracious man. Once I took him down to surf the cove with a clean overhead swell running, he had a bad knee and I carried his board down for him, at the beach he hit the water like a duck and was still styling one wave after the next.....that was on February 1, 2003; 13 years ago; only reson I remember the date was because that was the same day of the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster. We watched the debris trail accross a clear blue sky as we were getting out of the water.....He was a the real deal, a genuine Hawaiian waterman full of life who defined the best of the surfing spirit. RIP Rabbit.

[@tommythompsonsurfer]

DORIS DUKE...BLACK POINT HAWAII.........ME AND JOHN KELLY SREWED THE BLACK POINT WAVES WITH ALL THE CREW.......LEDDLE JOHN AND TOMMYT..AND LEIHUAQ.........BLACK POINT IS A EXCELLENT SURF SPOIT.........ALOHA

[@kolohe2790]

Luv U UnkoRabbit !!! He taught Ben and I the "Fin Snap" seldom used on tourists anymore but we got good rides at AlaMo and Public !!

[@Sidetrackification]

Thanks for posting this!

[@prowelderbill]

Commercialism killed the true spirit of surfing. An absolute spiritual connection to the natural beauty while communing with the elements. Pure Soul. 🇺🇸 🕶
👅

[@solamio]

Mahalo for the lesson, the easy demeanor and sharing your love of the water. It felt like flying.. Still talking about you today at the gym 60 years later.

[@alestrada6246]

Rabbit served me my jersey in one of the Local Motion surf series at Ala Moana. A true priviledge to meet such a legend.

[@koreaflyfisher]

Rest in peace, stoked for ever

[@MrDeadsurfer]

I rented one of those red boxes from him at the Queen's beach boy concession. Lousy board. Great guy. Aloha, brudda. When I told herbie fletcher about it he thought it was Wayne. LOL.

[@amyfishervoiceovers]

rest in peace uncle ;)

[@GalaxyDaveD]

Much respect

[@Sidetrackification]

Much Aloha to all!

[@sailingdreams7699]

Yeah that's fast rabbit I used to do the hundred yards and 11 flat I grew up in Huntington Beach surfing there that's a cool story my mom taught me to run to.

[@jeremylemarie8020]

Thank you for posting this great material. This video has been shared on The Surf Blurb on June 6, 2016. See at:
us11.campaign-archive1.com/?u=05fe6da6ec35ca6803e7a65c0&id=87da8a10cd

[@RichArtLove]

Aloha Rabbit

[@chrishanson6910]

I remember in the early 70s surfing out at popular's all summer long early in the morning. Town surf

[@theyoungupstarts1243]

Classic. 🤙

[@johnschnetzler8308]

aloha!

[@MrJackben32]

he is dead nkw