Miller Inspires Kids Foundation
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Peter Miller
Family and friends who recently lost Peter Miller to an air ambulance crash on Maui have come together in an outpouring of loving memories for a man who, above all of his lauded qualities and talents, stood out as a positive role model and helping hand to Kailua’s keiki.
As longtime friend and roommate Robert Jacobus recalled, “He always said, ‘Look at this day! This is a beautiful day! This is incredible!’ He was always saying ‘incredible.’ “
‘Incredible’is a fitting description of Miller who was famous for his “unreal” surfing skills, humility despite incredible talent, and his passion for using it to nurture Kailua’s youths. A Kalaheo graduate, his hanai family extended throughout Kailua and to the whole state.
His ohana has chosen to celebrate instead of mourn and will honor him through the Peter Miller Surf Foundation for the Kids of Kailua. Money raised will buy boards and surfing equipment for children who cannot afford it. Funds may also pay tournament entry and travel fees for talented young surfers who cannot afford it otherwise.
(front, from left) Kekoa Bacalso, Hank Gaskell, David
Aluli, Jeremy Jonhston, Joel Centeio, Jimmy
Tsukayama, and (back row) Bert Ishimura, Peter
Miller, Jason Bogle, Joe McNulty and Lance Gentry.
A fundraiser is set for 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday at his old stomping grounds, Boardriders Bar and Grill on Hamakua Drive. The evening includes a concert by Stone and a surfboard raffle. The $10 cover charge plus a percentage of the bar receipts will go to the foundation, whose coordinators will be present to accept additional donations as well. Checks should be made out to Peter Miller Surf Foundation for the Kids of Kailua. They may also be mailed to 45-815 Pookela St., Kaneohe HI 96744. For fundraiser details, call 728-0708 or 230-9718. To help develop the foundation, call Sean Yano at 386-4487.
“We try to look at (the situation) in a positive (way),” explained Russ Inouye, close friend and fellow surfer. “The foundation is to keep Peter’s name alive, so we can always remember him and to keep doing what he was doing. He was a positive role model to everybody old and young. The funds would help those kids who have talent to make a career of it and follow in his footsteps.”
Kaneohe Hope Chapel Pastor Ralph Moore also reflected on Miller’s positive influence: “Peter was an outstanding member of our congregation and a strong role model for hundreds of kids outside our church as well as a foundational pillar in our youth ministry.”
“Youth looked up to him and wanted to be involved with him,” added Inouye. “He was influential to all of the kids on the east side, giving them his old boards, taking them surfing. He took the kids off the street, put them in the water and kept them out of trouble.”
At a touching tribute March 14, pro surfers from the North Shore and across the state formed a vast circle in waters off Kailua Beach. “The paddle out was the biggest memorial circle I ever saw,” Inouye said. “We could have held hands to hand and wrapped around Flat Island.
“It was pretty awesome.”
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