December 13, 1958 – 8-months before Hawaiʻi became a state … it was described as a typical trade wind, Windward Oʻahu day; the sky was clear; the water was a little rough with whitecaps and there were good-sized waves. Six friends, ages 9 to 15, were doing what kids do, then and now; they had paddled and rowed out to the Mokulua Islands to surf and play in the water. Along with an 8-foot boat, they had three surfboards and three air mattresses.
The boys kept together; never was one more than 75 – 100-feet from the others. Then, disaster struck. Billy, 15-year old son of Spencecliff restaurants partner Clifton Weaver, was on an air mattress and missed catching a wave. Then, the rest of the boys noticed he was clinging to the mat, apparently in difficulty. They heard a cry for help. Seeing blood in the water, they swam over and tried to rescue Billy – they saw he had lost a leg. Then, one of the boys cried out ‘Shark,’ seeing it surface 30-feet away.
