Page 387 - Hawaii: Diving, Surfing, Pearl Harbor, Volcanoes and More

the Oahu North Shore big wave riders of the
era. The two became immediate companions.
The young Laird invited Bill Hamilton home to
meet his mother. Bill Hamilton married Laird’s
then-single mother, becoming Laird’s adoptive
father.

amilton had a reputation for an aggres-
H sive demeanor around others of his age.
This hostile attitude was in part due to Laird
and his brother Lyon being bigger than their
classmates, fair-skinned, and blonde: unusual
in their predominantly Hawaiian-populated
neighborhood. The role of the outsider pro-
foundly affected Laird through to his teen
years and early adult life. He became used to
this role and was uncomfortable being in the
center of anything. He was also known for his
physical and mental toughness. Young Laird is
shown in early video footage jumping off a 60-
foot cliff into deep water at 7 years of age.

y the age of 17, Hamilton had become an
B accomplished surfer and could have left
modeling to pursue a career on surfing’s World
Championship Tour.