MIKALA JONES

Hawaii has lost an iconic member of the island’s Ohana. Mikala Jones, an Oahu native born in 1979 died on Sunday July 9th, while surfing in the Mentawai Islands off the western coast of Sumatra. He was in the barrel of the wave, as he was famous for photographing, when it closed a little bit too fast and he was thrown from his board, which cut his leg deeply with the fin. The cut severed his femoral artery and although he had people with him, there was nothing that could be done to save his life.

Mikala was an iconic surfer who was equally famous for his legendary photos and videos that he captured inside the barrel of waves in exotic locales all around the world. His breathtaking pictures have been featured on the covers of every Surfing magazine and his videos are iconic and recognized all over the world. Splitting his life between the North Shore of Hawaii and Bali, Indonesia allowed Mikala to always have unlimited access to the best waves and halfpipes that the ocean had to offer.

Surfing wasn’t just a business it was a family affair and way of life. His sister Malia was one of the first female pro surfers to also become a model, and his daughter Isabella is following closely in her dad’s footsteps; both as a surfer and a photographer. On Isabella’s social media, she posted some lovely tributes to her father. Among the many messages, she expressed that she knows her father passed doing what he loved most in life, and that his life lessons have taught her so much and of course how much she loves and misses him. Everyone that has commented on social media since the tragedy has had nothing but kind words to share and stories of teaching and inspiration that they received from Mikala over the years. Mikala Jones, you were taken from the world by the sea at far too young an age, and you will be missed dearly by your family, friends, and fans. You will live on eternally in the hearts and minds of those who knew you and we can only hope that your journey continues in the hereafter, and you find even more amazing waves to surf wherever you may be. Rest

in Peace.

By Michael Devine u

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