Farewell Uncle Bob

Uncle Bob who has been an instrumental part of my surfing life passed away last month, and we had a small memorial for him at the Waikiki Beach this morning. It was a heartbreaking moment.

ROBERT “BAKER BOB” MAMORU HINO, 63, of Honolulu, died Jan. 15, 2009. Born in Honolulu. Baker at Napoleon’s Bakery. Survived by father, Hisashi; brothers, Albert and Herbert; sister, Charlotte Amerman.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090120/OBITS/901200333/-1

My last post about him was my excitement to see him again in the waters and just last year we surfed together at Pops. Uncle Bob was a classic surfer who grew up in Hawaii and learned to swim and surf in Waikiki. Most of the old timers remember him as the cigar surfer with 2 hands on the back. He would literally puff up a cigar before getting into the water. Once in the water, he would share his funny jokes and share the waves. When I first started to learn the sport of surfing in the late nineties, I met him in the Canoes lineup where he would be the farthest out waiting for the best wave. We all know that it takes time and patience for the big one to arrive and I always wondered why he would be way out there just waiting. But once we got to know each other he was more friendly than ever. He was a very humble man who taught me the best lineup and gave me one of the incredible waves I still remember at Threes. There was even a time when both of us lost the best wave although we told each other “go, go”. When we looked each other after this miss, we smiled and laughed and that was the kind of a surfer he was. Uncle Bob had a rough life but whenever he was in the water, it was his time of peace and I will always remember him when I catch the best waves out there. I will miss you and continue your tradition as a surfer. Rest in peace Uncle Bob.