Buttons is another legend. Like others in the surf/skate lifestyle he had a quick rise and subsequent fall. He, Larry Bertleman and Mark Liddel changed surfing in the late 1970s and 80s. On the other side of Oahu, forty five minutes from the North Shore, "Buttons" help change surfing forever at the high performance yet forgiving reef breaks of the South Shore. From Kewolos to Kiko St. these three brought 360s, tailslides and other "newschool" moves to the forefront of surfing. Somewhere in Florida a young Kelly Slater was watching preparing to change the world.

It wasn't all good times though he and Bertleman did time at Halawa Federal Penitentiary after their careers began to fade. "Buttons" picked up dependencies to several different drugs including: cocaine, crystal meth (ice) and heroin. He was recently picked up by Duane "Dog" Chapman on the A&E show "Dog the Bounty Hunter" for warrant issues.

"Buttons" has since cleaned up his act, surfing everyday and getting back into shape. He has been working with Buttons Hawaii a surfboard manufacturer named for him, and has been getting good boards from the company's shaper Marcello Vercelli.