Pau Hana with Evan Fujimoto

Favorite spots: Blue Hole, Snipes, Paikos and Toes.
Main boards: His favorite is a 6-foot Superbrand “Toy” squash tail, but he also likes his Erik Arakawa 6-foot, 3-inch rounded pin.

When it comes to surfing, Evan Fujimoto’s mantra is, “No guts, no glory.”

“When you go over the falls or get drilled, you just pick yourself up and you go at it again,” says Fujimoto, president of Graham Builders. “That’s the thing with surfing – a lot of it is overcoming your fear.”

He adds that surfing also leaves him thankful and nurtures his love of the ocean. “In Hawaii, we are really blessed, because we have some of the best waves in the world. It’s like this gift given to us. And when you’re out there, you gain sensitivity for the environment, and you tend to be more careful.”

Fujimoto was born and raised in Hawaii and has spent a lot of time in and around the water, diving, fishing and surfing, but, “Surfing is what helps me unwind the best.”

He tries to apply the many lessons he has learned from surfing – including patience, timing and positioning – in the rest of his life.
“In business, you have to be aware of your surroundings, like what’s going on in your competitive environment or within your company. You just have to have a sensitivity or awareness of things.”