Liam Kunio Losefa Wilson ​​​​​​​

In July 2019, Liam was approached by the Samoa Surfing Association to represent American Samoa for the 2020/21 Olympics. ​​​​​​​

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The Samona Surfer

Written on February 5, 2021

Name: Liam Kunio Iosefa Wilson

Hometown: Laie, Oahu

Age (date): 18, October 10th 2002

Nationalities: Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Japanese

Sponsors: RS surf Co, TANOA, Warrior Juice Co, and RK training

Social Media: 

Instagram: @li_dawg_  

Facebook: Liam Wilson

Edits: Checkout IGTV on @li_dawg_ 

LATE SWELL ⚡️

Graduation Day 🎓 2019 


​​​​​​​Background:


Growing up in a community full of football, Liam chose to follow a different path. Liam wanted to be separate from the pack of kids he grew up with. Surfing caught Liam’s attention when he was about 10 ½ - 11 years old. He was caught up in other sports such as soccer, football, basketball, and cross country. Once Liam started standing up on a bodyboard in the shore break at Hukilau Beach, he knew right then and there that surfing is what he wanted to pursue as his career. Liam dropped every sport to focus on his surfing. Surfing came late for Liam compared to the kids 15 minutes down the road learning how to surf at 4 years old on Oahu’s North Shore. Although Liam started late, he had the drive and inspiration to catch up to the kids on the North Shore. For 6 years, Liam attended the most prestigious school on the island, Kamehameha Kapālama. He woke up at 4:45 am every morning and didn’t get home until 5:15 pm to only surf for an hour til’ it was pitch black. This was the struggle of attending school in town but having a good education was very important to Liam. 


Running around for years using old brown boards from friends and garage sales, Liam picked up a board sponsor in late 2018, RS Surf Co who provides Liam the boards he needs anytime anywhere. With the blessing of this board sponsorship, he has been able to improve greatly in the past two years and it has been paying off in his contest results. With the help of Kamehameha Alumni, Jason Shibata, Liam has been able to break down with video analysis, form, boards, fins, etc. With a big 2019 year ahead, Jason Shibata was able to help Liam prepare for the biggest event of his life to Qualify for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics representing American Samoa. Although Liam did not provisionally Qualify for the Tokyo Olympics through the world games, he still has one more shot. With the last qualifying event for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics coming up in early  2021, Liam can still provisionally qualify for the 2021 Olympics through the 2020 ISA World Surfing Games in EL Salvador. 

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Liam is hardworking, trustworthy, humble, kind, selfless, and many others. Liam has three current jobs, teaching surf lessons to kids in Laie, chef at Seven Brothers, and paints houses during weekdays. He works for his money and pays for most of his flights and surf accessories for surf competitions. Liam knows that hard work beats talent and that is exactly what drives him to keep going. He is not a kid with parents who have a strong background in the surfing world. His dad being the top running back out of Carson California and his mother is a teacher at BYU Hawai’i. His parents are his number one supporters and whatever Liam’s goals are, they are always there to help him accomplish them. Liam’s hopes for the future are to further his surfing career with the help and sponsorship of Asea. Liam believes that the sponsorship of Asea, it will lead Liam on the path to success and help him fulfill his dreams. With the help of Asea, Liam will be able to take his surfing to the next level as well as represent the company with respect and Aloha. Liam will do what is asked of the company such as posting on social media and making sure there is communication. Liam is willing to do whatever it takes.

Goals:

Liam’s goals are to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the WSL CT while getting a college degree in Sports & Science Health at BYUH. His main goal is to always be an example to others by spreading the Aloha Spirit wherever he goes. Liam thrives off the famous answer to this question, “Why did you want to climb Mount Everest? “Because it is there”- George Mallory. Liam believes that through hard work and faith in God, anything is possible. 


Biggest Accomplishments:

  • Liam recently graduated from Kamehameha Kapālama Schools in May 2020 with a cumulative GPA of 3.2. Liam attended Kamehameha Schools since seventh grade
  • Liam won the U18 2019 Oceania Cup of Surfing representing American Samoa with an average  heat total of 16.5
  • Liam won the 2019 Turtle Bay HSA U17 against big names such as Wyatt McHale, Luke Swanson, and Diego Ferri

Events Participated in:

  • 2019 ISA World Championship Games presented by Vans (Miyazaki)
  • 2019 ISA Junior World Championships presented by Vissla (Southern California)
  • 2019 WSL Pro Junior Papara Pro
  • 2019 WSL QS Papara Pro 
  • 2017-19 HSA Events 

NSSA Scholastics 2016-19 Representing Kamehameha Schools ​​​​​​​