STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
By Diamond Dallas Page

Yo Cutters…

Kim and I just got back from our trip to Kauai, Hawaii. Our first stop was in Honolulu and went into see the sights of Waikiki. There’s some pictures on the site that show some of the street performers. My favorite was this guy totally wrapped in newspaper. There’s another guy who looks like a cross between the Tin Man and 3CPO. There pics are on the site. The next morning we were up early and took our flight into Kauai at 10:30 AM Friday morning where John “JT” Thompson met us at the airport to take us to the greatest view I’ve ever seen, Casa Thompson. We rented a car so we could each have a car but JT came to meet us because he had the racks for my surfboard. The first day there we took a laid back approach and enjoyed the view and the overwhelming feeling of Aloha. Pictures on site.

This whole trip started about 10 months ago when we were in Park city visiting our close friends John (JT) and Diana (DI) Thompson. They were telling us about this incredible home they leased in Kauai, Hawaii, which sits right on the tip of Bali Hi. The same Bali Hi where " From here to Eternity " was filmed and I mean right out in front of the house. Anyway, while they are telling us about this incredible crib DI goes " Oh you guys have to come next year " and JT jumps right in " Oh definitely, you guys will love it. " Now these aren't the kind of people who say something to impress you, they mean it. So you know me ... we were in.

The view looks out over the ocean. What I haven't mentioned yet is that right out in front of the Casa Thompson, is a surf break called Tunnels. It's an unbelievable surfing break that just happens to be the spot where Bethany Hamilton got her arm bitten off at by the shark. DI told us that tomorrow night we were all going to a benefit for Bethany. I'm sure most of you have heard the story of what went down with this incredibly brave little girl. Talk about a girl who lives life at 90%, my God I don't believe anyone has touched my heart as much as Bethany has.

Many of you have asked me in emails what living life at 90% is. Well it's basically the idea that " Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it. " That being said Bethany at 13 years old was considered the biggest rising star in women’s professional surfing. What’s incredible about this beautiful little girl is that within days of getting her arm bitten off, she was already planning her come back. On the inspirational part of my site, Rich and I are putting together a section devoted to Bethany. If you can't be inspired by her the just forget about it. I'll get back to the benefit in a moment. You can find out more about Bethany at her site http://www.bethanyhamilton.com

The next morning I was up at 5am to do an hour of yoga to get ready for the waves. When JT got up, I made us a huge breakfast and we were off to meet the man in Kauai. His name is Titus Kinimaka. Titus is one of the surfers that is sponsored by Quiksilver and from what I saw while I was in Kauai the most respected man in all of Hawaii. JT had known Titus for years but didn't really get to know him until this trip out to Kauai, mainly because they were never really on the island at the same time. Anyway, we were off to a break called Anahola (not to be confused with the Ayatollah of Rock-And-Rollah) this is a place only the locals surf. It's not that holly boys (that would be white boys from the main land ) wouldn't want to surf there ... it's just well understood…that they don’t…if they know what’s good for them. This break is for locals-only and to be an outsider, and a guest, was an honor. The Hawaiian surfers are all about respect, which I was totally down with. The waves were a bit choppy but they were still great waves. I was waiting for my turn to take off on a wave when Titus yelled over to me" Hey Page move over here ... yeah that's it ... stay lined up with that tree ... there's one ... Go ... yeah GO ." I started paddling and dropped down the face of my first overhead wave, hit the bottom, turned right, and screamed my ass off all the way to the top and out. I was so jacked that I didn't wipeout.

I hung with a lot of the local guys on the beach as it turned out a lot of them grew up watching me and they couldn't believe I was there at Anahola on there local break, which is a good thing, because the locals are very protective of their waters.

That night we went to Bethany's benefit. Kim and I got some great stuff for a great cause at the silent auction but my boy JT stole the show. I've been to a lot of charity functions and done a lot of bidding myself but I've never seen anyone bid back and forth with someone like
JT does....When JT finally gets the bid as high as it will go he pays the highest price and then he gives ... yes I said gives it back so that the person he was bidding against can have the item and charity gets double. I saw him do it when I brought him to Karl Malone's benefit and he did at Bethany's. Boy was that guy who got the board they were bidding on jacked.

The next day Jeff Hakman (known to his friends as Q) and Arantxa (known to her friends as Cha Cha) came in to complete the house. The Thompson guest list was now full, for people residing there anyway. Cha Cha was a sweetheart and Q and I hit it off immediately. Q in his earlier years was a world champion surfer. Imagine that, two world champions together from two different worlds. As matter of fact I'm reading Q's biography " Mr. Sunset " as we speak. He is one fascinating character.

I laughed my ass off with this guy, JT said we would hit it right off and he was right. The only thing I was a little bummed out about was we never got to surf together, mainly because he needed to spend time with his kids who live on the island. Q lives in Europe where he heads up the European division of Quiksilver. So it was family time for him. On our last day though Q invited me on the May Quiksilver crossing to Indonesia. Indonesia has the best waves in the world, it is truly a surf fantasy. I'll save that story for when it goes down, but all I can say is it is a dream come true.

While I wasn’t surfing all the time in Hawaii, Kimberly and I enjoyed a helicopter ride touring the island. We not only got to go inside the volcano pits, the waterfalls, but we saw the exact locations where they filmed Jurassic Park. We also went on a horseback picnic ride into the mountains and to the waterfalls. Pictures on site. No trip with the Thompsons would be complete without their famous barbecues. Titus came with his lovely wife Robin and his two beautiful little girls. Q was there with Cha Cha, of course, and his little girl Leah who I got a picture with because I am convinced that she will be a star someday. I wanted the picture so that someday I can say, “I knew her when…”. I also met Q’s son Ryan who brought in his buddy’s Todd and Reef, who are all world-class surfers. The parties were a blowout.

This was truly a vacation in paradise. Right now Kim and I are back in L.A. and enjoying a quiet peaceful Thanksgiving, and we wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Until then…Aloha…

Be Unstoppable, and live life at 90%

Diamond Dallas Page