good evening. what a bummer day it was for me. i went to the best hand surgeon in hawaii today. he x-rayed my hand on the state of the art 3-D machine and there it was. exactly what i thought. a long spine from a fish wedged deep inside my hand. it was deeply positioned between the joints of my thumb so that’s why every time i moved it, it hurt like hell. so i was waiting for him to grab a knife, cut me open, and dig it out. but no, it ain’t that easy. he told me that i have to go back in the operating room to get it removed properly because it’s deep inside and close to important nerves that make my thumb work. what?? that means another day of surgery in the same operating room at queen’s hospital this friday. 2 surgeries in 5 days. it’s another day of no eating, another day of machines hooked up to me, another day of getting cut open, and another day of no driving. but you know what? after my eye surgery, it can’t be that bad right? i was bummed out earlier but after thinking about things, i guess i’m lucky. i live a pretty dangerous life so it could be a lot worst. gosh, the price of surfing and diving is pretty extreme. but it’s something i can’t and won’t give up. so cut me open, get it done, so i can go on with my life….

check out this photo i found on nao omura’s blog. i still can’t forget the first time i seen mt. fuji from shonan. i was coming from fujisawa on a crisp early morning for a surf in chigasaki. i and turned right on route 134 and right in front of me was this this huge mountain. i couldn’t believe mt. fuji was right in front of me and i almost pissed in my pants. it was that beautiful….

take a look at all my trick or treat candy. too bad i don’t eat candy….

hey guys, this months hawaii skin diver tv is featuring diving in molokai with walter and raymond naki. i was fortunate to be able to tag along. it was a great experience for me because i got to see the beauty of molokai, the friendly people of molokai, and the tradition of giving in molokai. walter and raymond naki are the nicest hawaiians that share their friendship, share their knowledge, and share their island. i will never forget that trip….

the show is on oceanic channel 16 for the whole month of november. after watching it last night, it made me want to go back there. i wouldn’t mind spending a whole month there. i can learn from the people how to live off the land, and the ocean. because in reality, that’s all we need….. i feel freaking spoiled living here on oahu….
**and last, thanks for all the comments and emails on the last okinawa video i posted. yup, most of the people in there are my friends and are like family to me. i just wanted the world to see the friendly faces of one of the most welcoming places in the world. try to count all the happy smiles? that’s mensore!!! and i can’t believe it was #2 most viewed today in japan. thanks to you all!!! i had to watch it again after i got back from the hospital to cheer me up….

Oh My Gosh!!!

good morning. i’m checking the surf now and the north shore looks junky. town looks really clean now. there is a small south shore swell on the way and it’s supposed to get overhead by tomorrow. bowls looks pretty fun. wow, it’s only been 2 days and i want to surf already. let the stress begin!!! haha. anyway, i’m going to watch a couple more movies today and take it easy. going to my hand surgeon so hope that gets fixed. then i’ll start to venture out from my house. have a nice day!!

can you believe somebody has been trying to use my credit card? yeah, i got a call from my credit card company asking me if i charged something from the apple store. no i haven’t. so now they cancelled it and i’m credit cardless. been waiting for my new one but it didn’t come yet… that sucks….

i just got my surfing world magazine in the mail today. in it was a letter from the staff at surfing world explaining that they will stop publishing the magazine. that’s sad news. after 34 years of recording surfing history in japan, it has come to an end. it’s going to be a big loss for everybody in the surfing industry in japan from your little aspiring surfer, to writers, to photographers, to the whole industry. but one thing i want to say to surfing world is “Thank You” for all the great years. it’s all because of magazines like yours that made it possible for surfers like me to have careers and to live out my dreams. honto ni arigato gozaimashita!!

this was my first surfing world cover shot. the magazine came out in 1997. kondo-san took this photo of me at rocky point. thanks again to every body at surfing world japan!!!
other sad news:
The 54-year-old Hawaiiana Hotel on Beachwalk is closing. Sad news…..

some good news: the okinawa video i just posted?
#2 – Most Viewed (Today) – Travel & Events – Japan. Good News….