Transformation, Perseverance, and Ocean Love in Action
At KaiAloha Supply, our mission is grounded in the belief that the ocean connects us, restores us, and reveals the strength we often don’t know we have. Today, we are humbled to share the story of someone who embodies that truth with uncommon courage. Adaptive surfer and advocate Josh Bogle has turned some of life’s most difficult moments into a testament to what the human spirit can become.
Josh’s Journey: A Story of Transformation and Return
Josh’s life did not begin in the adaptive surf world, nor did he imagine he would one day navigate the world as a quad amputee. His journey took a difficult turn after a series of injuries and health challenges that ultimately led to a severe infection. In 2012, he was placed in a coma for seventeen days, and when he woke, he learned he had lost his limbs due to complications that occurred while his body fought to survive. (Photo courtesy Josh Bogle)
Instead of letting that moment define him, Josh viewed it as a wake-up call — a chance to rebuild, to reevaluate, and eventually, to rediscover joy. Years later, he found himself drawn back to the ocean. In 2017 and 2018, he began visiting the shoreline, removing his prosthetics, and simply allowing himself to float, swim, and breathe. Those early moments in the water were quiet but powerful. They reminded him of possibility. They gave him space to reconnect with his body and spirit.
As Josh spent more time at the shoreline, he began watching surfers move across the waves and grew curious about whether he could try it himself. Over time, he found opportunities to get into the water, practiced consistently, and eventually discovered adaptive surfing. It quickly became a meaningful outlet and a return to movement he had missed.
From entering his first adaptive contest at Duke’s Fest in Waikiki to surfing breaks he once only read about, Josh has embraced surfing as a powerful new chapter in his life. In his own words, he is “a guy with a dream and a funny-looking hand, no-legged body, but still finding a way to surf, stay positive, and charge every wave.”
Partnership in Purpose: KaiAloha Supply x AccesSurf x Josh Bogle
We are grateful to partner with Josh and with AccesSurf Hawaii, whose work makes the water accessible to individuals of all abilities. The alignment of this partnership feels natural because Josh’s story reflects everything Ocean Love in Action stands for: authenticity, empowerment, and a belief that everyone deserves access to the ocean’s gifts. (Photo courtesy Josh Bogle)
Watching Josh move through the water, prepare for surf, or simply enjoy the shoreline in KaiAloha Supply gear is a reminder of why we do what we do. Nothing about his journey has been easy. And yet, every time he paddles out, there is a sense of purpose and presence that inspires all who witness it. His connection to the ocean is not symbolic. It is lived, earned, and continually renewed.
What This Collaboration Represents: Ocean Love in Action
Ocean Love in Action is a celebration of the way the ocean holds us through every season of life. Josh’s relationship with the water shows how powerful that connection can be. The ocean challenges him, supports him, and offers him a space to explore his strength in new ways. It is where he continues to grow not in spite of his hardships, but through them. (Photo courtesy Josh Bogle)
His story reminds us that the ocean can be a place of rebuilding. A place where courage takes shape. A place where a person who has endured unimaginable loss can rediscover joy, confidence, and possibility. Josh embodies that truth with every wave he rides.
With Gratitude
We extend our deepest gratitude to Josh Bogle for sharing his remarkable journey with us and for allowing KaiAloha Supply to accompany him as he continues to write his story. We are equally thankful for our partnership with AccesSurf, whose commitment to access and inclusion makes stories like his visible and celebrated.
Together, we look forward to uplifting more voices, creating greater pathways to the ocean, and expanding the community shaped by resilience, courage, and love for the sea.
Josh’s perseverance moves us. His outlook inspires us. And his story reminds us that the ocean has a way of helping us rise, no matter where we begin.
