Wade: When I stood up on the board, I knew I was in love with surfing. Surfing is exciting for me. It's great exercise! It helps me to keep a healthy life style and it keeps me young.

Doris: Who introduced you to surfing?

Wade: My dad wasn't a surfer but he would take us to the beach. After that, I would go with my friends.

Doris: How long have you been surfing?

Wade: I've been surfing since the 7th grade. I was about 13 years old.

Doris: How do you feel when you are surfing?

Wade: The feeling is awesome. I immediately developed a passion for it. At one point, I was playing baseball, but when surf became a part of my life, I quickly gave that up.

Doris: How did you get started in shaping boards?

Wade: I love to work with my hands. My brother Kerry and I would play around making our own boards.

Doris: How long have you been shaping boards?

Wade: I've been shaping since 1985. Wow! 23 years. It was more of a hobby then and I remembered how fun it was. After we made our boards, we would go and ride it. When I was younger, I would get my boards made at North Shore and I would stay and watch them. That's how I learned.

Kerry: I've been shaping as long as Wade.

Doris: What is a surfboard made of?

Wade: Its core is made of polyurethane. Fiberglass and resin are then used to keep the watertight and to make sure the board is hard and strong. It takes me about 6 weeks to create and complete a board. This would include shaping, glassing, and designing the board. I do the designing. I work with my brother bouncing ideas around and brainstorming.

Doris: What makes Tokoro boards unique?

Wade: The boards are used by many pro surfers and we get a lot of their input. We continually evolve and improve our boards, based on how the board performs. Designing is what makes every board unique and most importantly, how the board functions in the wave. Weight also plays a role and how much foam you need to use. I consider myself a perfectionist and always make it a point to improve and to make a better board. I have to consider many things when designing custom orders. I have different designs for different waves and different surfers. For example, a different board is used if a surfer wants to surf a wave in Hanalei versus a wave in California.

Doris: Kerry, I understand you have your own line of boards called Vesso. What are the simple differences in boards, that of your brother's -Tokoro Surf boards - and all the other brands?

Kerry: Every surfboard is different, from the rocker, outline, foil, and rails. It is super hard to replicate other surfboards. It likes a sculpture. Aesthetics, design, function and performance are important features of every board.

Doris: What's the evolution of surfboards?

Wade: When I first started surfing, it was only a single fin. As years passed by, you would see twin fins, then 3 fins with the thrusters, and now up to 4 fins.

Doris: What advice would you give to those starting out in surfing and what kind of board they should buy?

Wade: I would tell them to get something they can paddle easily on. They need to be able to catch the wave or else they won't have fun. Long boards are good to learn on, while short boards are high performance boards. Otherwise, they can use a short board for small weak waves - 4 ft and under. Later, if they plan to surf waves in Tahiti and North Shore, they can use the long boards or for waves 6 ft and more.

Doris: What is the largest wave ever caught using a Tokoro surfboard?

Wade: 30 feet is probably the largest wave that I know.

Doris: What pro surfers use or have used your board?

Wade: Mick Fanning, Mark Akilupo - “AKI”, 1999 world champ Sunny Garcia, Andy and Bruce Irons. But, we make boards also for the average surfer, and I put in the same amount of effort into all the boards.

Doris: Do you have a team rider for Vesso?

Kerry: Yes, Kekoa Bacalso, a local surfer in Hawaii.

Doris: Wade, what are you grateful for?

Wade: We are fortunate to live here in Hawaii. We are completely surrounded by water. The weather is nice year long, and who can beat having the best waves in the world. I feel good being in the water. It makes me appreciate God for allowing me to live here on this island. People come from all over the world like Switzerland and Germany to our little island in the middle of the sea. We should all be grateful. We have to take care of the aina.

Doris: Kerry, What's your passion?

Kerry: Making good surfboards for the surfers so they can enjoy surfing in all kinds of conditions.

Doris: Any special message to the youth of today?

Kerry: Try hard, don't give up, and try your best!

Wade: Don't do drugs.