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All Around Water Wahine: Malia Kamisugi
Story by: Linda Dela Cruz
Photos: Joss
No stranger to danger, Malia Kamisugi says one of the biggest waves she's ever surfed had a face of about 40 feet, out at the Himalayas. That adventure was tow-in surfing last year with her brother, Cully, husband, Mike Pietsch Jr., and surf industry designer and bodyboarder Mike Stewart.
“It was a great day—only 3 skis in the water and dry hair,” recalls Kamisugi.
Surfing isn't all that she does. She's an orthodontist in her Honolulu and Kailua offices. And, she's also—get ready for this—a kayaker, paddler, fisher, scuba diver, foil boarder, windsurfer, tow surfer, model, television show host, and beach volleyball player. If you think that's active and diverse, she's also the president of the Honolulu County Dental Society, and a board member for the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation. She's been on the board for two years and is, presently on the grants and scholarship committee. She assists with the process of giving out scholarships and grants to athletes participating in “Duke” sports on the basis of financial need, athletics, academics, and community service.
“It is a wonderful organization set to promote the spirit of Duke through his legacy of aloha,” exudes Kamisugi.
An ambassador of the ocean herself, Kamisugi says she pretty much does any water sports. Here are just a few of the Manoa resident's recent activities.
Kamisugi, who attended the University of California, Irvine and University of Hawai‘i for her undergraduate work, and the University of the Pacific for her dental and orthodontic training, was the only woman to enter the Haleiwa Tow-In Surf Contest in January. She partnered with her brother, Cully, and they were named “unofficial winners” with Malia catching the biggest wave of the day according to a surf website. Storm conditions made event officials cancel the festivities after the third heat.
The Punahou grad is also ready to do some water stunt work and has recently joined the Screen Actors Guild. (SAG).
As a longtime member of the Outrigger Canoe Club, her team has placed 2nd overall the last two years for the Molokai to Oahu race, and they were state champions in the senior women's event for the past two years.
The avid waterwoman and her team took third place in the annual Senoritas fishing tournament in April—with Malia landing the biggest Mahi Mahi of the tournament—at 45 pounds.
This year, she'll paddle the N¯a Wahine O Ke Kai for the fourteenth time. She'll be a part of the 40.8 mile race that goes from Hale O Lono to Fort DeRussy.
Kamisugi, who grew up in the Waialae area, learned to surf when she was little. In fact, her parents, Arthur and Libbie, met surfing in Haleiwa.
“I learned (to surf) with my dad on the south shore and with my Uncle Grant on the North Shore with my brothers,” explains Kamisugi, who is the middle child and the only girl of three children.
Her mom, Libbie, a real estate consultant, just started paddling with the Outrigger Canoe Club too.
Her father, Art, is an orthodontist. They share a beach shack themed office located at 1060 Young Street and have their own independent dental practice. Art has been in that office for 33 years, and she joined him after she returned from dental school in 2000. She also works on Mondays in Kailua out of Dr. Mike Sakuda's office (on his day off) in the Kailua Professional Building, across from Lucy's restaurant.
The family that surfs together stays together. Her parents and her two brothers try to take an annual surf trip together to the South Pacific also sail and fish together. She often surfs and dives with her brothers. She and her husband, Mike, also a Punahou grad and avid fisherman, just celebrated their first year wedding anniversary May 1.
“My husband is a fanatic surfer and has recently been charging huge surf-both paddle in and towing,” says the proud wife.
Mike is working with his sisters and partners to start a Wahoo's Fish Taco chain to open on Ward Avenue later this year. The Wahoo's Fish Taco, which is popular in Southern California, sells healthy Mexican food and fish tacos. Wahoo's was started in 1988 by three brothers who loved surfing and loved the restaurant life.
Kamisugi's past includes modeling surfwear for several companies including T&C Surf, Title 9 Sports, Maui Jim, and Crazy Shirts. Three years ago, she was the host of the weekly television show Higher, Faster Stronger on OC16. She was on the U.S. National Canoe and Kayak Team for 5 years which time she earned numerous medals and special recognition as the 1988 sportsman award, and the 1989 most valuable junior paddler. She participated in the 1991 Pan American games, and even trained for the 1992 Olympics, although she did not go to trials due to a shoulder injury.
The beautiful and brave Kamisugi's looking forward to navigating more big waves for fun with her friends, family, and possibly the film and television industry.
