Contrast Magazine

Hawai‘i Island lost one of its finest sons yesterday morning, Delta Thompson, 38, passed away after an arduous battle with lung cancer. The Kona boy called Banyans his homebreak and was a pillar of the Big Island surf community. Delta inspired pride within Moku ‘O Keawe wave riders with F.B.I. (From the Big Island), a clothing brand that was quite often imitated, but never duplicated. Thompson was also in the underground B.I. band, Stone Like God, who was known for their dub-punk music and t-shirt designs that resembled the Steinlager beer bottles. He was also well-respected on the North Shore of O‘ahu and worked water patrol with many of Hawai‘i’s best ocean officials. Perhaps though, his greatest contribution to Big Island surfing was with the keiki. He helped Kona grommets like, Keala Naihe, travel to the neighbor islands and California for contests where he would coach the groms during heats.

Delta at his beloved Banyan's in Kona. Photo: Joe Sullivan via Facebook

According to pro surfer CJ Kanuha, it was one of Delta’s last wishes for his funeral service to be held on his birthday, Oct. 29, 2009. The celebration of Delta Thompson’s life will be held on Hawai‘i Island and Contrast will inform friends and well-wishers to the exact time and location soon. To send letters or cards :
DELTA’s Ohana C/O Easley, 73-4300 Haleamau St. Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Pour out a Steiney or take a “rip” in memory of Delta. He embodied Aloha and was truly a Hawaiian heart born into a haole body. We know you’re in a better place now, but you will be missed by many, Delta Thompson.

Three of Hawai‘i’s most-talented music acts will play a benefit concert for Delta Thompson and his battle with lung cancer tomorrow night at Level 4 Night Club which is located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikīkī. Doors open at 10 p.m. and bump to 4 a.m.  All proceeds of the evening will go to Delta Thompson and his mounting medical bills.

Thompson is best known as the leader of F.B.I. (From Big Island) clothing, and despite being a haole boy, embodied the aloha spirit and Hawaiian Culture. His form of lung cancer is hereditary and claimed the life of his father and grandfather. Delta Thompson was known as a health nut before contracting lung cancer.

Reggae songstress Paula Fuga, who is a close friend of Thompson, will take the stage first with her ‘ukulele. Songs like “Loloiwi” and “Beautiful Face” from her debut solo album Lilikoi demonstrates her profound song writing skills and hauntingly beautiful voice. She is also a member of Dubkonscious.

Next up will be Hawaiian, hip-hop group Arena Productions (Splinta The Rat and Philly B), who grew up with Thompson in Kona on Hawai‘i Island. This is a special and rare appearance for the group and will have heads bobbing to new material like, “I Might Be,” and classics like, “808 Party.”

Capping of the evening will be the North Shore’s Ill Valley. This group is a five-piece, hip-hop band and recently released their first album Feritle Sound. Their music is a hybrid of rap, reggae and rock, songs like “Pitchin On Da Block” are a dance favorite.

Bottle service reservations available at www.myspace.com/level4Waikiki.

Pepper will be playing a special fundraiser for Delta Thompson this Sunday at the Kona Mixx Plate.

Hawai‘i’s favorite dub-punk band Pepper will be playing a special show this Sunday, March 1st, at the Kona Mixx Plate as a fundraiser for Delta Thompson and his battle with lung cancer. Bruddah Delts has been undergoing chemotherapy for the last month and has unfortunately been forced to use a wheel chair. Thompson is one of the owners and founders of the clothing company FBI (From the Big Island) and was known to be a health nut, running, drinking smoothies and bodysurfing daily. Despite being a haole boy he personified Hawaiian culture and the aloha spirit proudly. His form of lung cancer is hereditary and claimed the lives of his father and grandfather. Please come out on Sunday to support Delta, rock out to Pepper and show your aloha for one of Hawai‘i Island’s iconic figures.