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RIP: EMERY KAUANUI
San Diego pro surfer dies after barfight
By: Darlene Conolly
SURF NEWS RIP: EMERY KAUANUI
June 1, 2007
70840 visits
In the biggest tragedy to strike the San Diego surfing community in years, local pro surfer Emery Kauanui, 24, died on Monday, May 28th, four days after a post-bar brawl on May 24th.
 
Thursday, May 24th, Emery was involved in an altercation at the La Jolla Brew House and had been kicked out along with the others involved.

Later that night, Emery returned to his mom Cindy's home located a few blocks from the bar and when four young men arrived at the house, a fight broke out. A neighbor quickly called the police, but Emery was badly beaten, ended up in the hospital and died Monday, May 28th.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the four men who had gone to the Kauanui residence the night of the fight pleaded not guilty to murder in San Diego Superior Court. The article continues by saying that if convicted, Orlando Osuna, 22; Seth Cravens, 21; Matthew Yanke, 20; and Eric House, 20, could be sent to prison for 25 years to life. The four are being held in the county jail and bail is for each defendant, ranging from $1 million to $2.5 million.

Even though news of Emery's tragic death hit the San Diego community like a hammer, the loss of him has drawn many together. From California to Hawaii, Emery left behind friends who want nothing more than to memorialize him the best they can. Some even created a MySpace page titled "In Memory of Emery Kauanui" where friends have posted comments and photos reminiscing about stories of parties, surfing and most importantly, silly little memories together.

Mother Cindy Kauanui moved Emery and his two brothers from their home on Kauai out to La Jolla in the mid-nineties. Cindy started Jet Set Management Group, a modeling and commercial agency that has served the surf industry for years. Jet Set has represented pro surfers including the Irons brothers, Kalani Robb, Reef McIntosh, Keala Kennelly, Rochelle Ballard, and even surf legends like Mike Doyle and Titus Kinimaka. Having grown up around surfing, it wasn't long before the Emery was surfing competitively and making a name for himself in the Windansea lineup.

Nineteen-year-old Max Diaz, a close friend of Emery's said, "He was one of the best guys that ever surfed Windansea Lefts." Max, who also lives in La Jolla and surfed The Reefs with Emery on a daily basis, continued, "I met him through surfing but in the past two years, we became really good friends."

According to Max, Emery was the one who really got him into surfing. "He was motivation for me to surf because I was more of a beginner when I met Emery," said Max. "He was already an advanced surfer and because of him, I progressed so much just surfing with him everyday. He just made you smile and surfing with him was really fun because he was always cheering you on in the water."
"He just made you smile and surfing with him was really fun because he was always cheering you on in the water."
-- Max Diaz, close friend to Emery Kauanui
Todd Bartlett, owner of Liquid Foundation surf shop, sponsored Emery since he was a 17-year-old at La Jolla High School. The LF shop team is known around San Diego for being a tight-knit group of surfers and friends, so the loss of Emery was a shock for the whole team.

"You definitely notice him out in the water, when you see him surf he definitely stands out in the crowd," said Todd. "When we got Emery on the team, he started doing the contest scene with us, like team challenges and stuff. He'd come hang out at the shop with all the boys, he had his whole group together surfing, having fun.

"Emery's the kind of guy who loved to be outdoors, throwing horseshoes. He had a really big love for his family, they had that Hawaiian-style spirit. And he'd travel back and forth between California and Hawaii to surf."

The neighbor who witnessed the attack made a statement in court today, according to the Union Tribune article. "They smashed him into a palm tree and took him down. His head hit the street. That was the blow. That was the one."

Although there have been stories as to who played what part in the fight, it's now the job of the courts to decide what happened. The most we can all do is remember Emery for the kind, smiling young man he was, all the people he touched in his life and maybe even catch a left and commemorate it to the goofyfooter.

Emery's "about me" on myspace summed his life up: "Born and raised Kauai, just looking at what's good in life here in Cali and keeping the strive and determination that I need to reach my goals. There are many lessons to be learned in life and my passion is to travel the world surfing seeking out these lessons through the people I meet -- and at the same time learn how to adapt to their culture and lifestyle leaving a good impression not just through my surfing but also through my personality."

A memorial service for Emery is planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 9th at the Coast Vineyard Church in La Jolla. Following the service, at 3 p.m. there will be a paddle out at Windansea Beach in La Jolla. Click here for more information.

For those in Hawaii, another memorial and paddle out will be scheduled at a later date.

If there's anything you'd like to voice, please check out the Surfline forum thread designated to Emery.
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