Fred Haywood - Racing with Aloha: An Inspiring Journey from Humble Barefoot Maui Boy to Champion in the Water

Racing with Aloha

The adventures of Fred are absolutely incredible. Having known Fred and grown up with his kids, I would always hear amazing stories about him. By his humble demeanor, you would never know the life accomplishments he had achieved. I remember my parents had a photograph of when he rode the biggest wave ever at Hookipa. The waves were massive, and unlike in todays modern era, there was no safety net. You were on your own, solely relying on yourself and your skills. Still, to this day, I have never seen a spotor anywhere on Mauis north shoreso big. Reading and learning about what Maui was like between the 1950s and the 1980s is like going back in a time machine. Before I only had questions; now I can imagine I am there. From being one of the best swimmers on the planet to becoming the fastest man on a windsurfer and so much more, I am honored to know someone as humble and inspiring as Fred Haywood.

Kai Lenny , KaiWatermanLenny.com professional ocean athlete

Fred and I go back many years. I can remember the swim meet after we both won our first national championship races in Dallas, Texas, in 1967. It was an exciting time for both Fred and me. The two of us were at the San Leandro swim meet at the beginning of the summer season. We were going to swim in an exhibition four-hundred-meter freestyle race with the world record holder, Don Schollander. Fred asked me how I was going to swim the race. I told him I was going to swim eight laps and get out and drive us both back home to Santa Clara forty-five minutes away. That is what I did, but I would swim the four-hundred-meter freestyle in a new world record of 4:10:00 and break the world record of Schollander by two and a half seconds.

Fred was there to break the news to my father when we arrived back home. Since Fred had such an impression of my dad, this was something he couldnt wait to tell. This was my first world record, and Fred and I were together for this great experience. Fred was right at my side in those early years, as I was his. We have remained friends since then. We are here to celebrate Fred, and that is what I want to do. I know how humble you have always been. It is a great quality of yours. Through the passage of time, none of us could forget how you have touched so many people and so many lives. You are a beacon of light that guides every person you meet in the world. The love you gave us through your sports adventures is the story you needed to tell. It is an exciting and inspiring one for everyone to enjoy. Fred, you have been back in Maui for many years, but we still have your great stories and memories, the good you did and the dreams you had. There is a single enduring image I always have of youthe image of a man smiling broadly, ready for what storms may come. Always carrying on toward some new and wondrous place just beyond the horizon, for that last biggest wave to ride, the last fastest windsurfing run, or the last swim meet we swam in together. Fred, as a life that has achieved so much and been such a shining example to so many and to everyone who knows youwe love you.

Mark Spitz , nine-time Olympic gold medalist

By the time I got to Maui in 1985, it was a windsurfing Mecca, and Fred Haywood was a legend in the sport. It was my first year on the Neil Pryde team as a World Cup rider. A photograph hanging on the wall of an apartment I rented showed Fred sailing at Hookipa. You could only see the top of his sail through a massive wave exploding behind him. The caption said Aloha and Welcome to Maui! I was born in Stockholm where I grew up sailing on inland lakes, so I was impressed. When I got to meet Fred in person, I was struck by his generosity in sharing his knowledge that would help my professional windsurfing career. He knew how to make an individual sport feel like a team sport. At Fuertaventura, I got to hang with the titans of the sport: Fred Haywood and Laird Hamilton. I remember feeling very small at the time, next to them. But that meeting opened doors for me. Fred has always been an inspiration for meafter all these years, I still consider him a great friend.

Anders Bringdal , professional windsurfer

One day I was surfing at Paukukalo on a decent size day. I saw this guy dropping in on some good-sized lefts, riding them very well backside. A friend of mine said, Thats Big-Wave Fred. We became friends when I started building windsurfing boards for Sailboards Maui in 1981. I made the board Fred took to Weymouth. He made windsurfing history when he broke the thirty-knot barrier on it. Because I had made that board, I was able to tag along on his coattails to successes of my own, which continue to this day. They are directly related to my friendship and professional relationship with Fred and his successes. But more important to me is what Fred had meant to me personally as a friend. He has helped me out simply because he cares, with no other agenda and no expectations of anything in return. Thats the Fred Haywood who many people here on Maui know the same way I do.

Jimmy Lewis , JimmyLewis.com world class water boards

The Great Briny runs in Freds veins. What I loved most was understanding that beyond the Olympic trials in Long Beach, he hardly missed a beat and went after Whats Next with no fear or misgivings about the uniqueness of his journey. Fred had ten more Long Beaches and aced every one of them, taking for his prize perfect, vibrant, and profound memories of what he convincingly showed to be the purpose of drawing breath: enjoying the experience. You have done a far better job at that than anyone else I know. That comes through with great energy and joy. Thank you for writing it down.

John Ferris , American competition swimmer and Olympic medalist

What an incredible life adventure! I was fascinated with one challenge after another, and Fred didnt skip a beat. I found his history of growing up on Maui intriguing and his relationship with his father heartwarming. This will be a good read for anyone, water person or not.

Larry Gilbert , Gilbert & Associates Advertising, Maui

Racing with Aloha shares Fred Haywoods rise from Fred Who to becoming the fastest backstroker in America at age seventeen and the fastest windsurfer in the world in 1983, a title he held for two years. He vividly describes growing up on the magical island of Maui in his formative years and the values he learned from his parents of working hard, setting goals, determination, and gratitude. This book is filled with humor, inspiration, humility and sincerity that will be enjoyed by all ages.

Joanie Madsen, former elementary school teacher and librarian at the Haleakal Waldorf School

From the water to real estate, Fred has attracted many coaches and mentors. He followed their guidance very closely and has produced incredible results. He has offered me the same mentorship, and it changed my life forever. Fred Haywood has been the single most influential person on my 36-year real estate career on the Valley Isle. Together we opened an international real estate franchise in the mid-nineties that is still thriving. I hope you will enjoy Freds story as much as I have. The adventures continue as he shares his aloha with the world.

Dano Sayles , Maui realtor

When you grow up in a family of five childrenfour of them active boysyou recall a blur and a few highlights. Fred always took the time to assess the situation and then would focus on his course of action. When he decided he liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, that was all he ate for several weeks. At an early age, he would collect coupons from the supermarket for the Thanksgiving turkey drawings (often going through the line twice in one day), arrange them all in order on a piece of cardboard, and stand up front when the numbers were read. Imagine a preteen boy standing in the front with all the adults. I recall him winning several turkeys on different occasions and carrying them to our home across the street. In the early seventies, when there was a gas shortage, he walked the lines at the service station handing out pens printed with his real estate business number. All this distilled into a perspective of letting things come and go without getting ruffled and continuing to move forward at whatever he decided to do. The attitude has served him well.