Contrast + The Rothmans

THE ROTHMANS

Text/Images: Jason Shibata

When you hear the name Rothman, the first thing that pops into your mind is the rough and rugged image of “Fast Eddie” Rothman, thoughts of the “black shorts gang”—thugs who control the lineups of the North Shore with sheer intimidation—and the petroglyph image of a wave slider that accompanies the name.

Most of the time, that’s the only thing the surf media focuses on; but they’re more than that. The Rothmans are a loving, North Shore family first and foremost.

Eddie’s eldest son Makuakai, is a world-renowned professional surfer who hit the mainstream after winning the 2003 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave award for catching a 66-foot wave at Jaws– the biggest ever ridden at that time. The two youngest boys, Koa and Lono, are coming into their own while enjoying being kids on the North Shore.

Fast Eddie Rothman

Koa Rothman/Photo courtesy of the Rothmans

I’m sitting on the back porch of the infamous Rothman family house overlooking massive waves at Backyards and Phantoms as the wash through sets reform into Freddy-land and V-land. The winds are gusting not allowing for surfable conditions anywhere on the Seven Mile Miracle. Although the conditions are not perfect, the view is! This is the perfect setting for any kid who is growing up on the North Shore who loves the ocean.

When the wave conditions aren’t favorable for surﬁng, the Rothman family has many other things to keep them busy. Today, Eddie, Koa and Lono are training in their private gym with “Kid,” a jiu-jitsu technician. Makua is out of town doing his own training with Rob Garcia in California with the likes of BJ Penn, K.J. Noons and Diego Sanchez.

Once Eddie and his boys cooled down from their intensive training session, we sat down to talk about the North Shore past and present, the Hui O He‘e Nalu and got some insight from the future generation of Rothmans on growing up on the North Shore. I wasn’t sure how to include Makua’s comments into this interview because he was out of town. Just as I ran out of questions to ask Eddie, Makua called up his pops to check in from California and was able to add his thoughts of growing up in The Country. Chee!

Contrast: What has changed on the North Shore since you’ve been living here?
Eddie: There used to be more Hawaiians living on the beaches. Nowadays you’ve got million dollar homes and most of them are vacant or vacation rentals. Before, the Hawaiian people used to care for the beaches and the oceans. The people who moved into this neighborhood and neighborhoods like this are all about making rules. It’s disgusting.
Makua: The biggest change to the North Shore is the crowds and how heavily populated it’s become. When I was a kid we could play football in the streets, wouldn’t even have to worry about cars driving around recklessly. Our tree houses have been replaced with million dollar homes and now the kids have no natural place to play except the beach, nowadays.

So, before all of the prime real estate around the North Shore got bought up it was a pretty undeveloped place. Do you think it was a safe place to grow up as a kid?
Makua: It is and was the best environment ever! Like they say, “Lucky We Live in Hawai‘i.” Nobody could ever ask for too much more. Even ask guys like Freddy P., Nainoa Suratt and Jamie Oʼ or any of the kids that came up and they’ll all tell you the same.
Koa: The ocean is right here; it’s the best place to be! All of the Uncles out here are always watching over us and the other kids in the water and on the beach.

The sport of surﬁng is the main attraction out here with international, local and professional events happening during its peak season. Would you say growing up here is the perfect set-you-up for pro surﬁng?
Makua: The Mecca of Surﬁng is right here. The whole world converges onto our shoreline to watch and participate with and against the Hawaiians. I’ve been doing it since I was little and doing it now. There are so many great Hawaiian surfers and it’s all because of this place that we call home.
Koa: I want to be a professional someday. I want to tow into big waves, but I also want to just surf good too– that’s my goal.

Lono Rothman

Vintage Fast Eddie/Photo courtesy of the Rothmans

When the waves aren’t good to surf what do you guys like to do?
Eddie: I enjoy playing with my kids. Letting them have fun, doing what they enjoy.
Lono: I like to hang out with my friends. Play the ukulele, or ride my dirt bike. I like to ride up at Kahuku track or ride trails in Haleiwa. Trails are hard but I like it.
Koa: I like to hang with my friends or train jiu-jitsu for fun.
Makua: If the waves aren’t good, I like to train. I’m up in Cali right now doing training sessions between L.A. and San Diego. We do cardio, plyometrics, swimming and different types of circuit training. Right now, I’m training with the best MMA ﬁghters, San Diego Charger football players, baseball players. I’m in the best environment for a professional athlete to be if you are serious. Gotta get ready to do battle in the 2-foot waves.

Do you think this type of training has helped you in the past like when you won the O’neill World Cup of Surﬁng? How did that 2007 win compare with your XXL big wave award for a 66-footer?
Makua: Wow you just gave me chicken skin when you said that! Winning the O’neill at Sunset was a dream come true. To win in my backyard was amazing! It was the best feeling ever. Compared to the XXL wave, I didn’t know I was on the biggest wave ever riden at the time. I was just surﬁng. Thanks to my dad; if it was up to me I would have just been surﬁng Phantoms or some other outer reef. Winning at Sunset is the biggest!

Sounds like the North Shore has given you guys everything. How does the Hui O He‘e Nalu get involved in giving back to this place?
Eddie: The Hawaiian terminology for Hui O He‘e Nalu translated to english is “the club of wave sliders” and was started in ‘75. It was a group of local surfers who banded together because most of the guys couldn’t get into the Hawaiian events. It was a way of unifying the local surfers for a common cause. It’s still going strong today 34 years later. We clean the beaches, look after the community and the surfers with a few of our different events.
Makua: We do fun things for the kids during Easter time. The beach cleanups are always great because it gives everyone a chance to pitch in and really give back. The shootout is for the surfers, it’s an opportunity for the local guys to get into events too.
Lono: The Hui is about having respect for the ocean and the beaches! That’s what we try and teach my friends and other kids.

The Rothmans

Makua Rothman/Photo Hodgson/A Frame

Sounds like you Rothmans have a great family bond. Can you guys give any advice to kids and/or other families on the North Shore?
Makua: For the kids, keep a good head on your shoulders! Take advice from others but put your own spin on it. Donʼt let anyone tell you no or that you canʼt accomplish something, it’s all within yourself to do it and do not just wish for it to happen. Make it happen!

ロスマンファミリー
エディは1975年にDaHuiを始め、ハワイのローカルたちを集めて大きい大会への出場やNorthShoreの海を仕切っていた。長男のマクアは有名なビッグウェーブチャンピオンだ。弟のロノとカイもサーフィンが大好きでいつも海にいる。マクアは今年のワールドツアーの為にカリフォルニアで本格的なプロアスリートトレーニングを受けている。今のDaHuiはビーチクリーンや子供たちの大会をとおして海への感謝を教えている。