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Super Kid: Kaikea Elias Print E-mail
Written by Malika Dudley - mdudley@kgmb9.com   
November 15, 2007 01:13 PM

 
This week we meet someone new, a "super" surfer kid who's making waves. In the surfing community, surfers are given nicknames. I call him my first Super Kid, they call him Joe Dirt. Named by professional surfers Bruce and Andy Irons, Kaikea Elias a.k.a. Joe Dirt is one impressive kid. We flew to Kauai to get to know him better.

"What's up my name is Kaikea. I'm 12 years old and I'm born and raised on the island of Kauai. I'm a surfer, student and environmentalist, and I really care about my island and it's people," said Kaikea Elias.

He introduces himself as Kaikea, but out in the water and in the movies he makes, he goes by his alias, "Joe Dirt." Joe Dirt is a movie about a guy who struggles but never gives up. His motto? Keep on keepin' on. Kaikea does just that, especially when it involves surfing.

"Just focus on surfing. Trust that you can do good, and remember you're there for surfing and not anything else," Kaikea said.

Just last year, Joe Dirt ripped his way into first place nationally winning the Surfing America USA Championships.

"It felt really, really cool. I was kind of shaking on the podium and stuff," he said.

This top-notch surfer also does tow-ins, wakeboards and skates.

"I just really like being in the water, just like how it feels going on the wave and stuff," Kaikea said.

He may seem like a laid-back surfer, but he also looks good on paper. He's a straight-A student at Kapa'a Middle School, a featured video editor, producer and director for a non-profit television show called Foundation - The Future For Youth, and he's testified at the State Capitol on environmental issues.

Lots to juggle for a 12 year old, but mom said he handles it just fine.

She said he even, "does all the rubbish, he folds clothes, and oh yeah he learned how to cook. I'm not a cook my husbands the cook, he's better than me already."

However, it's not what he does, but his character that impresses people most.

His mentor, Bob Sato said, "He's passionate. He can focus and he's very passionate about subjects that he likes."

His teacher, Gordon Matsumura, has a similar opinion.

"He's friendly. He has a lot of friends and he takes care of others and that's the good thing about him," said Matsumura.  

Of course, his mother thinks he's super as well.

"He has kind of a vibrant spark, add that to the intelligence, it's what makes him really good, a good boy," she said.

Some are already betting on his future.

"I have his autograph on one of my hats. Just in case 10 years from now," said his teacher, Mr. Matsumura.  

If Kaikea has anything to do with it, that autograph will be worth big bucks someday.

"After high school, try my luck in pro surfing and then probably go to college and just see how everything goes," Kaikea said.

Like Joe Dirt, Kaikea "keeps on, keepin' on," but there's still one unanswered question. In the end, Joe Dirt gets the girl. So what about Kaikea? What about the girls?

His reply, "Um, there's plenty, but I'm not really going out with anyone right now. I'm available though."

That's right! You heard it... "He's available."



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Last Updated ( December 02, 2008 12:02 PM )
 

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