Emery’s Left

Surfers, family, and friends from all over Southern CA and as far as Hawaii converged at Windansea on Saturday, June 9th. They did not come to grieve, but only to celebrate, reflect, and trade personal stories of the life of Emery Kauanui.  The clouds of a June Gloom morning parted to reveal a beautiful sky and heaven above, as the shouts of “Emery! Emery! Emery!” rang out from close to one thousand people. The following is a quick yet telling autobiographical blurb from Emery.
My name is Emery Kealiikane Kauanui Jr.  I’m from the island of Kauai. When I was a kid, the ocean and the beach were the first things on my mind after school everyday.
The feeling of being in the ocean was soothing and addicting for me. I fell in love with riding the nose of a longboard and began focusing on that. Then I got my first shortboard, a red 6’0” from Titus Kinimaka, my hanai uncle, and when I was 15 years old I got my first barrel at Blacks Beach in San Diego. Since that day, whether I was at school, church, on the toilet looking at surfing magazines or in my dreams, I couldn’t stop thinking about surfing.
I’ve had many ups and downs in my life, people discouraging and encouraging me, but the person I look up to the most is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, whoever you are reading this, I hope you are inspired and know that through Jesus Christ anything is possible.

Quotes

“Emery always had a smile on his face.  He was a great friend who loved life, friends, and family.” - Liquid Foundation Crew

“Emery was a prince.  He was my little prince.  I did not want to let him go.  He was my best friend, but I knew he had to return him to his father above.  He was not mine to keep.  I was only his caretaker while he was here with us.”  - Cindy Kauanui

“You were my brother.  You were the strong one.  You were the solider.” - Nigel Kauanui

“Emery was that guy who no matter how bad or down your day was, just seeing him in the room and seeing his smile would lift you up.” - Alex House, Illegal Clothing