He’s one of the best surfers in the world and you’ve probably never heard of him. With a legendary reputation and high praise from world-renowned watermen, he remains an enigma, a single soul drifting through a life of countless waves. His name: Walter Eric Haas.
I was the one who taught Eric to surf when he was three at the Waikiki wall and I made him two boards after he started out on a cheap styrofoam board.He was the smallest kid out there and the other kids took him under their wings. I took him out in bigger waves when he was about five…which initially scarred him to the point of tears. But he kept coming back to become the great surfer this article describes.I unfortunately lost touch with him as his mother kept moving from one place to another and I ultimately left Hawaii for medical school. I’m proud of Eric’s surfing accomplishments,but sorry that he’s had some problems with his life. I still call him from time to time to see how he’s doing.