OMG, it’s been 7 years since i started my blog and never missed a single day. i was pretty dedicated back then and still am now. i went back to look at my first post and thought it was pretty funny. i was a cherry boy even 7 years ago. haha. since then, i think i grew up a lot. i’ve doubled the traveling i did up until then, i tripled the experiences, and i quadrupled the friends i have. looking back made me realize that i’m still living my dream, except my dream world is even better than i thought. i’ll keep looking at that post, and keep moving forward in the positive direction no matter what. i’ve already lived a life that thousands can only dream of, so from now, it’s just a bonus for me. thank you all for checking my crazy life out, and thank you all to those of you who followed me from the very start. you probably know me much better than i know myself. haha. enjoy life, think positive, keep smiling, keep surfing, and treasure your friends. mahalo.
ALOHA!
2006.06.20 Tuesday – 17:47 – – by Kirby Fukunaga
Hello everybody, my name is Kirby Fukunaga. I was born and raised in Hawaii and been surfing for the past 25 years. It was in 1990 when I took my first trip to Japan for the 1990 World Contest representing the Hawaiian team. Being fourth generation Japanese, it was an awesome experience for me seeing the land that my great grandparents came from. It was that very trip that opened my eyes and made me want to live in Japan. I was going to University of Hawaii at that time majoring in business. I rushed to graduate as soon as I could. Two years later, I sold my car, got rid of my stuff, rented my place to a friend, and left Hawaii. I set off to pursue my dream of becoming a business man (salary-man) in Japan.
All I took was my resume, a business suit, and my surfboard when I moved there. And my surfboard was what I used most. In fact, I never even applied for a job and have never worn that suit once. This is how my surfing career started. I was surfing at a small river mouth (Hanamizu) one small junk day. There was only one other guy in the water and it happened to be the owner of Dove wetsuits, Tokura-san. We started talking and just clicked. I couldn’t speak Japanese and he couldn’t speak English but we communicated somehow. That time a typhoon was coming so he asked me if I wanted to go to Shizuoka with him. We surfed perfect waves for a week straight. Tokura-san ended up sponsoring me and it was from that day my life changed. I didn’t have any money or job but he always told me that I should become a pro surfer in Japan and supported me the whole way. I ended up turning pro and getting into the JPSA within 6 months, which was nearly impossible for a foreigner at that time.
To this day, he’s been taking care of me and is the reason I have a good life. He’s like my mentor, advisor, boss, and most important, my friend. I’m so happy and fortunate to have met him. I was a stupid crazy foreigner when I first went to Japan, but he taught me everything about business and about having a good image. If I didn’t meet him that day at Hanamizu, I wouldn’t have the many important friends I have today, I would still be a stupid crazy foreigner, and worst, be unhappy as a salary-man in Tokyo.
I surfed the JPSA for two years in knee high waves and just wanted out. I was fortunate to have understanding sponsors the let me live the life and support me as a free surfer. I’ve been traveling since and seen most of the world. I’ve been to Bali, Mentawai, New Caledonia, Australia, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Micronesia, Taiwan, Korea, Maldives, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, and all over Japan. Traveling to all these places taught me many things in life. Mostly not to take things for granted and to appreciate everything you have. But the best thing about traveling for me is meeting people and making friends along the way. I’ve met the nicest people traveling and many are now my good friends and are like family to me.
I’ve also been interested in photography since I was in intermediate school. So everywhere I went, I took my camera and documented my experiences and the people I met along the way. It’s through this blog that I’m going to show you the world through my eyes. I’m looking forward to sharing it with you and hope you will enjoy it.
Aloha, Kirby
oh yeah, i also wake up early in the morning and check the waves. so i will give you a surf forecast in the morning and update it as much as i can. just bear with me on my english and spelling. i don’t have spell check. and it will be in both english and japanese. the japanese side has to be translated so it will take a little while longer to get posted. thanks.
**CLICK HERE FOR KIRBY OLD BLOG IN ENGLISH.
**CLICK HERE FOR KIRBY OLD BLOG IN JAPANESE.
