Johnny Boy Gomes Charged With Assault

Former Pipe Master and renowned Hawaiian enforcer Johnny Boy Gomes has been charged with third degree assault after an incident at Waikiki Beach.

Police said Gomes got into an argument with a 56-year-old man around 11am Thursday. The dispute became physical and culminated with Gomes holding the man’s head under water.

Gomes fled before police arrived, but was arrested the next day at his Kalakaua Avenue home for investigation of second-degree attempted murder. The charge was later downgraded to an assault, and JBG posted $2k bail.

The Makaha-born surfer, first did time as a 12-year-old when he was sentenced to juvenile detention on theft charges, reports the Encyclopedia of Surfing. By the age of 14 both his parents had passed away (of breast cancer and diabetes respectively) leading to his adoption by the legendary Hawaiian singer, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. He served another 14 month sentence for a second theft conviction. Johnny Boy would go onto become one of Hawaii’s great surfers, racking up countless magazine spreads, a win at the 1993 World Cup at Sunset, a Pipe Masters and a Backdoor Shootout crown. He also placed third in the 1999 Eddie event, and sixth in 2002. Despite his big wave heroics, his career would also be plagued by run-ins with the law.