Raising A Soul Surfer Read online

  One of my favorite Scriptures, in which I put my hope, is, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9, NLT). I like to encourage others with the words of Psalm 37:4: “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires” (NLT).

  When I turned to Christ, I found a love in Him so pure, so perfect and so real that I wanted with all of my heart for everyone to know His amazing love too. My true purpose in life is that I want to share Jesus with the whole world.

  I write these words 30 years after I accepted His grace into my life. Through all of the pain and the joy, I still revel in the wonder of His love. I invite you to see the extraordinary things God has done in our Ohana and become a part of it as you say yes to God and His perfect love for you!

  Cheri Hamilton

  Kauai, Hawaii

  CHAPTER

  1

  Hollywood Comes

  to Paradise

  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably

  more than all we ask or imagine.

  EPHESIANS 3:20, NIV

  “Surreal!” Tom said.

  That is the word my husband used a lot to describe the swirl of events that have swept up our family during the last seven years. This was the word he used on a recent spring morning to describe what took place on the pristine, exclusive grounds of Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort.

  Turtle Bay is much like the five-star resort on Kauai that Tom has worked at as a waiter for so many years; but now he was waiting in a golf cart for his partner. As usual, he had one eye on the crystal-blue waves peeling along the point.

  He smiled and made room for his partner. He had never met this man until today, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he already knew him.

  As the bagmen loaded up the cart, they meekly approached Tom’s golfing partner. “Excuse me, sir,” one of them said, gesturing toward two golfers standing off to the side, resplendent in their Ping shirts, Callaway saddle shoes and Adidas gloves. “Those gentlemen over there are wondering if they could join you two this morning.”

  Tom’s partner was gracious, but shook his head. “Tell those guys, no offense, but I just want to spend some time with my friend Tom.”

  Then, actor Dennis Quaid, who had been hired to play the role of Tom in the movie Soul Surfer that was about to start filming, slid into the driver’s seat of the golf cart and spun the ignition switch. Off they went.

  Tom tried to remember the movies he’d seen this iconic American actor in over the years: The Rookie, Dragonheart, Far From Heaven, The Big Easy, Vantage Point, Flight of the Phoenix, Yours, Mine and Ours . . .

  My husband thought he wouldn’t be able to get over the fact that Dennis Quaid wanted to spend the morning hanging out with him, but as the day progressed, a connection grew between them that went beyond a Hollywood actor researching a role. It shifted toward a friendship.

  Dennis started out with a little notepad, which Tom figured he was going to use to record notes as he studied him. But after a few minutes, he put it down and never touched it again. As they made the rounds on the beautiful, tropical golf course, Dennis peppered Tom with questions about our family and about raising our kids in Hawaii. He talked freely about his career and about those whose film work he admired.

  He also discussed his own family. As someone who had faced family tragedy himself, Dennis talked about the well-reported time when hospital staff mistakenly gave his 10-day-old twins a dosage of heparin 1,000 times the common amount for infants, almost killing them.

  Tom listened quietly as the persona of an actor and Hollywood personality melted away and Dennis simply became a loving father who had nearly lost his precious children.

  Dennis explained, between the sand traps and putting greens, how he had ended up playing the role of my husband for the movie. “I was playing with my kids on the living room floor one morning when your daughter, Bethany, came on a television show. I remembered that a shark had attacked her. I turned up the volume. When I heard what she had to say, I realized what an amazing young girl she was. Her story touched and inspired me more deeply than you can know. When the show’s host said there was a movie in the works about Bethany, I thought, Now that’s something I’d like to be a part of.

  Tom said that Dennis got quiet, even misty-eyed, as he recounted it. Tom could sense the power of the moment and remained silent.

  When Dennis spoke again, he turned to Tom and grinned that famous, bright grin and said, “Wouldn’t you know it, a few weeks later my agent called and told me that the producers were wondering if I would like to be part of a movie about an impressive girl named Bethany Hamilton from the Hawaiian island of Kauai. I jumped at the chance!”

  Tom said then, and again when he got home, “It was a God thing.”

  In our wildest dreams, neither Tom nor I could have imagined the events that have unfolded in our lives, nor could we have imagined the path our journey would take as a family. I don’t mean just the well-known shark attack on an early Halloween morning in 2003. I mean all of the many paths and events that brought us through that near-tragic point and to the present where Tom was playing golf with a talented actor who would be using his talents to tell our story.

  I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I had been in charge of writing the script of our lives, I would have written it much differently than God did. But God’s script is certainly more incredible! I would describe it as like standing behind a tapestry of God’s creation. From my vantage point, I can’t see the pattern or the purpose. Life is often stormy, conflicting and seemingly senseless, like the aftermath of a hurricane. Then, every once in a while, God lets me see the front side of the tapestry.

  I know that even my husband’s playing golf with Dennis Quaid, and the way Dennis seemed to have been summoned to play the part of Tom, has been God-orchestrated. For example, Tom had no idea as he shared his faith in Christ that the actor had been raised in a Christian home and Dennis had made strong statements about his own Christian faith.1

  It was all a God thing; divine providence!

  We had waited a long time, seven years, for the day of filming Soul Surfer to arrive. But, finally, everything was in place, and in February 2010, our family moved to a house in front of a popular North Shore surf spot called V-land, on Oahu, for the production of the movie.

  We were in the epicenter of the surfing world, in the part of Hawaii known as the Seven Mile Miracle, named for the string of world-famous surf breaks found there, such as Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. The North Shore is where the majority of big wave contests are held and where pros go to train. Others migrate to these prime waves just for the pure passion and love of the sport of surfing. Many others with iron-willed grit challenge the bigger waves the size of multi-story houses grinding into shallow, razor-sharp reefs. If you’ve ever seen footage of a big-wave surf competition, 9 times out of 10, you’re looking at the Seven Mile Miracle.

  Moving into our new home for the next couple of months included shipping Hana, our dog, over from our home on Kauai, so that the family would be complete. We could cook our own food and eat together as a family versus staying in a hotel room. We could also have family meetings about the production work in progress. We could even spin up the road on Sunday to attend church with our friends at North Shore Fellowship after an early morning surf session.

  In case you were wondering what kind of Hollywood perks we got . . . it didn’t include maid service. That was my kuleana, or responsibility, although everyone pitched in! Sometimes while Tom was out playing golf with the likes of Dennis Quaid, I played “mother hen” at home.

  The making of Soul Surfer was not my first time on a set, but I’ll admit I’d hardly paid any attention to the many movies in production on Kauai, because the surf always took precedence on my radar.

  Our home island, Kauai, and in particular, the North Shore where we live, has been featured in dozens of major movies—such as South Pacific,
Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Outbreak—and most recently, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. When the scenic taro fields of Hanalei in Uncommon Valor were turned into rice paddies for the Viet Nam effect, we could just pretend Kauai was under attack on our way to go surfing!

  I remember the time, just before hurricane Iniki hit, when I was driving past some giant green gates in the middle of a cane field that read “Jurassic Park” on the gates, and wondering what in the world a “Jurassic Park” was. I’d never even heard of it. But now, the production of Soul Surfer had at last become a reality. We, as a family, were all in the thick of it. Tom, Bethany and I watched and learned the involved process of making a movie. Through this very rare opportunity of seeing a production team working together to create the story about our family, we came to the set each day. Noah and Becky were hired as co-producers to help fine-tune many important details, some small and others very big. They were involved intimately in and made a difference in casting, locations and music.

  In a movie theater, the action moves along quickly; but in order to create those fast-paced, fluid scenes, there is a massive amount of work and time to get it just right. Making a movie is meticulously detailed work. The daily expenses of making a movie required long workdays to take advantage of the good weather. Every tiny nuance is elaborated on, which sometimes takes weeks even before the actual filming begins! We filmed for two months on Oahu, a few days on Kauai, and a week in Tahiti. Every detail in the script, every rewrite—and every rewrite of a rewrite—every contract detail took up most of everyone’s time and energy. Once the official filming began, it was exciting to watch; and on occasion, we were able to contribute a tip here and there.

  Sean McNamara, the director, who is so talented and has such a congenial personality, did not need too many tips. His creative talent made the whole production a positive, family-friendly movie.

  It was fascinating to watch the scenes being shot, but it was also sometimes difficult from a mom’s and dad’s perspective. One time, we came to the set late in the morning when they were filming a scene at the Hamilton house, just when the family was giving thanks at the meal. Ross, who played our son Noah, didn’t know what to do when they all took hands to give thanks. AnnaSophia, who played Bethany, saw his discomfort and placed his hand on her shoulder. I had just looked into the monitor to watch, and I broke! I started crying because the scene was so realistic.

  Tim, Bethany’s brother, was hired to be a part of the camera crew. He had an asset envied by all—huge calves! When you are filming a surf movie, it means beaches with soft sand. No one wants to carry heavy equipment for long distances across soft sand. But wait! Look at those calves! They can go anywhere! Do anything we ask! Go, Timmy, go! We need you!

  God had pre-prepared Tim for years to do a fine job for his sister’s movie. He had already made two body boarding DVDs and short films full of humor, creativity, and storytelling. Tim’s prowess in the water is legendary. He is as strong as an ox in and out of the water. He already had a reputation for super endurance, boldness and fearlessness in all his endeavors. He went on to be an assistant on the Hawaii 5-0 TV drama. He has a huge amount of talent and I am thankful as a mother that God has chosen to use him.

  We were very happy with the cast of exceptional actors. We as a family were concerned because they needed to be convincing as real surfers in the water. But no need to worry!

  Dennis Quaid was caught up by the surfing passion. That meant that not only did Dennis look good in the water on a surf-board, but he also didn’t need to act! At one point, Dennis kidded that my husband had ruined him as a golfer by introducing him to surfing. His heart was fully immersed and caught up by riding waves. For the rest of his time on Oahu, he surfed as much as possible even until the day he had to ride his last wave at Makaha and head for the airport while still wet!

  Helen Hunt, whose job it was to play my “surf mom” role, was already an avid surfer and brought her own favorite surf-board to use in the movie. On our few days off, we would all go surf longboards. She really has great grace and poise as she drops down the face of a wave. The hottest surfer was Helen’s surf coach, “Turtle,” who outshined us all! He costarred in the retro classic surf movie North Shore. One of my favorite lines in the movie is when she said no to night surfing but then changed her mind. I often did the same thing.

  The most significant role in the movie went to AnnaSophia Robb, who plays my daughter, Bethany. Not only did Anna-Sophia have to look like a natural surfer, but she also had to surf with one arm behind her back!

  When Bethany and I saw The Bridge to Terabithia starring AnnaSophia, we both agreed that she was the perfect actress to play the part. One area we felt was important to accurately portray was how Bethany adapted so amazingly after what should have been a debilitating loss. The shark took Bethany’s left arm all the way up to the shoulder. Most of us don’t realize just how difficult it is to do the simple little chores of life without a limb. Buttoning a shirt, tying shoes, making lunch—all the everyday things that most people do without thinking about it.

  AnnaSophia had highly skilled teachers for the surfing scenes. Her Oahu coach was big wave surfer Noah Johnson. Noah was the surfing stunt double riding the amazing barrel at Pipeline in the movie Blue Crush. He is a well-known big wave surfer on the North Shore of Oahu and won the Quicksilver Eddie Aikau big wave competition at Waimea Bay back in January 1, 1999.2 On Kauai, AnnaSophia worked with Bethany’s own world-famous surf coach Russell Lewis, who sets up his lessons out of Hanalei Surf Company. (He is a former Australian Junior Champion.)

  AnnaSophia was a quick study for surfing, partly because she’d been involved with dance, gymnastics and swimming in school. She is a natural athlete like her father and has the gracious charm of her mother. We gave her an A+ as a beginner!

  Jack Nicholson’s daughter played Alana with such a natural finesse. Loraine is a charming young actress in front of the camera. She did a great job barfing on the beach just like the real Alana did after the shark attack! Loraine made us cry, but she also made us laugh while she skillfully played Alana with an uncanny likeness. Noah Johnson coached Loraine Nicholson for the more serious role that she had to play.

  Sonya (Balmores) Chung is married to Noah’s friend Kanoah, who is an avid and talented surfer on Kauai. In real life, Sonya, an excellent surfer, competed against Alana and Bethany in their younger years. Noah was walking by some of the producers in the office and overheard them discussing who could play the part of Malina Birch. They were considering an actress from outside the U.S. when Noah suggested Sonya Chung, a surfer and local Hawaii actress. God has His perfect timing!

  Ross Thomas and Chris Brochu, who play our sons, Noah and Tim, were both already natural watermen. They matched our sons’ characters perfectly. It was fun watching everyone surf Makaha; and afterward, Chris often entertained us with his guitar and singing.

  Kevin Sorbo was matchless in his role! He naturally fit the part of Holt, just like a real hero, and was the perfect surf dad to Alana, Holt’s daughter, played by Loraine Nicholson. For his surf lessons, Kevin chose to focus on what he needed to know to look cool and confident on the beach and in the water. He needed to look like an experienced surfer and got tips on detailed aspects of surfing, such as holding his surfboard in a natural manner against a strong wind; how to wax a surfboard like you have been doing it for 35 years; and (this is critical) how to walk across the reef during the rescue scene with very rough waves breaking on the rocks along with an incoming tide! This was one of the toughest scenes to shoot in the whole movie.

  Bethany suggested that Jeremy Sumpter, who starred in the 2003 movie Peter Pan, play the role of Byron, Holt’s son, and the producers agreed. Because of the movie time constraints, his role was limited. The most physically challenging scene in the movie is when Kevin and Jeremy rescue Bethany right after she loses her arm. The camera crew, and even the director, had to live in their wetsuits for days as pounding surf bombard
ed them. The medic was kept busy with reef cuts and coral implants! Kevin handled it all like a champ.

  Arlene Newman-Van Asperen, who plays Sydney, Alana’s mother and Holt’s wife, is a Hawaii girl from the North Shore of Oahu. Naturally, Arlene fit right into the surf scenes for the movie. She has studied acting for years and won Mrs. Hawaii in 2005. Arlene was my regular prayer partner during the making of Soul Surfer. She is gracefully skilled and gifted at Hawaiian dancing. She grew up involved in church, as her father is a minister and her mother a strong prayer warrior. We called her mom a few times to request prayer when we were feeling overwhelmed! Arlene’s part was small, but she got to hang out with Kevin Sorbo!

  Sarah Hill, Bethany’s youth pastor, was hired as a makeup artist. She had met Jesus as her Lord and Savior in Southern California. While surfing a California beach break, she took a bad wipeout and broke her neck and back. God miraculously healed her. Prayer was a strong point in her spiritual life, which is how she received divine direction to move to Hawaii. No one believed her, but she chose to trust God’s guidance. She made the move over to Kauai and settled in as a youth leader at North Shore Community Church where we attend. Sarah built friendships with the girls through surfing and Bible study; then the shark attack occurred.

  Carrie Underwood landed this key role as youth leader in the film. I believe she fit her role perfectly and had a powerful impact on the outcome of the scene where she spoke the words of Jeremiah 29:11. After going back and forth on whether to keep the verse in the script, the battle ended when Carrie stated that it was a part of the real story and we all should honor the family’s wishes.

  As believers on the north shore of Kauai, we have fellowshipped and gathered in the name of Jesus at many different locations. Our church has never had our own “home,” where you put down solid material roots, housing such tools as a Christian library with loads of great books, DVDs, kids’ videos, a prayer chapel, a fine-tuned nursery or an actual building to meet midweek for worship and Bible studies and other gatherings.