Biography
Makua Rothman, an award-winning professional surfer who serves as spokesperson for RVCA, Oakley, and Monster Energy Drink, entered the music industry in 2012. Born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii, he surmounted early hurdles that included childhood asthma as well as a physique once deemed “too big” for surfing. He nevertheless captured the Billabong XXL Big Wave Challenge Award in 2002 and later triumphed at the O’Neill World Cup in 2007. During those years he also mastered the ukulele, receiving instruction from masters Iz Kamakawiwo’ole and Ledward Kaapana. While working out under family friend and professional boxing coach Rob Garcia, Rothman mentioned a possible pivot to photography, only to have Garcia—already devoted to the surfer’s reggae-pop material—urge him toward music instead. Motivated by that advice, Rothman issued the EP Makanale Road in 2012; the recording attracted the Hawaiian label Mountain Apple, which signed him the next year. His debut album, Sound Wave, reached stores on that imprint in 2013.
Singles
