From Haole To Hero: The Life of Big Wave Surfer Laird Hamilton

Growing Up In Hawai’i Was Tough

Photo Credit: Warren Bolster

Growing up in the 1960s and ’70s in Hawai’i wasn’t always easy with his light skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Laird was taunted by other kids for being white and was often called haole, a derogatory Hawaiian term for foreigners, especially white people.

The bullying started in kindergarten and continued throughout his school years. “The reason why I was picked on was that I was just different. And my difference was, that I was blonde and light-skinned,” Laird told In Depth with Graham Bensinger.

He was bullied for his appearance in Hawai’i, but his looks would soon land him a career.