On Wednesday night, Hale‘iwa's Bettylou Sakura Johnson was celebrated by her sponsor, RVCA, at a private dinner on the North Shore.
There was indeed plenty to celebrate for Johnson, who recently completed a breakout season in the World Surf League's Championship Tour, which ended with her first appearance in the WSL Final 5 in Fiji at the end of August.
Although Johnson ultimately didn't come away with a world title, her 2025 season was still a landmark year in her career. Johnson won two WCT events in 2025: the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro in Australia in May, as well as the Lexus Trestles Pro in California in June. Those two victories were Johnson's first in the Championship Tour, ultimately leading to her fifth place finish.
Johnson, who turned 20 in March, says she likes to write down her goals in a notebook. Wednesday night's dinner, held at Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi on the North Shore, was a reminder that she has come a long way in the sport despite her young age.
"Tonight is so special, so nice to have RVCA host all my friends and family for tonight's dinner," Johnson told Aloha State Daily on Wednesday evening. "It makes me feel very loved. I've only been with RVCA for two years, so it's very special and I'm thankful for them to do this for me, but just feeling a lot of gratitude this year, especially since I feel like I still have so much more to live for and things I want to keep doing in my life. So, hopefully, keep checking those goals off.
Johnson's unique first name is one she shares with her great grandmother, who also holds a March 22 birthday. "I still try to talk to her as much as I can," the younger Bettylou says.
Johnson describes her childhood on the North Shore as "the best," where family time on the beach came early and often. With her father helping into her into the waves, her family discovered she had a precocious talent for surfing. Johnson, who lists Bethany Hamilton and John John Florence as her biggest surfing influences, says her motivation for winning surfing competitions in her early childhood were initially for material reasons.
"I loved getting goodie bags. Like, that was the main reason why I loved doing contests, was to get a goodie bag," Johnson recalled with a laugh. "But now I love it for more reasons, but that started it."
The more Johnson surfed, the more her career ascended. Sessions after school and on the weekends turned into joining the pro ranks in her teenage years. After beginning her high school studies at Waialua High & Intermediate, she eventually transitioned to homeschooling in order to keep up with the travel and time demands of professional surfing.
Despite her success in 2025, Johnson's year began on a somber note. Her close friend, Tiare Couto, passed away in an accident on the North Shore on Jan. 1. Johnson dedicated her first career WCT victory to her.
"To do that and come back from such a tragic event at the beginning of this year, I think I don't think I would have gotten that one, without my friends being there for me all year and supporting me. So, that win was extra special for sure," Johnson said.
Johnson and Cuoto were lifelong friends and grew up in the same neighborhood.
"I've known her my whole life. I just know that she's always here around us all the time," Johnson said. "It was definitely one of the worst things I think I've ever gone through in my entire life, but I feel like I've been able to move on with my friends. Just being there for each other has helped a lot. Feeling her presence every day, it's crazy how much more you feel her when she's not here with us."
The physical rigors of the WSL season also took a toll on Johnson.
"I've gone through so many injuries already, and being so young and being an athlete, it's really difficult to come back, but I feel like you always come back stronger, and you come back with more gratitude, and you come back with more hunger," Johnson said. "I feel like that really fires you up. So, you know, not stoked and thankful for my injuries, but in a way I am, because it's made me the way I am today."
Long flights are part of the deal in pro surfing. In addition to Hawai‘i, the WSL schedule in 2025 alone included stops in Portugal, El Salvador, Australia, Brazil, Tahiti, Fiji, South Africa, California and the United Arab Emirates.
"It's a big experience. I feel like I've learned so much on the road. I've learned more traveling, I feel like with life skills and everything than I would ever learn just staying at home and doing school, so super grateful for that," Johnson said. "Just going up against the best is so awesome, because that means you're one of the best, too. Everyone has their own skill set, so it's really cool to put it out there to the world throughout the season."
The start of the offseason means additional opportunities for Johnson to reflect on the year that was and more time to jot down goals in her notebook.
"I want to keep getting better at surfing, so that's also another big goal," Johnson said. "Definitely to qualify on the Championship Tour and become a WSL surfer was a huge goal of mine. Growing up as a kid, I definitely didn't think it would happen, so as soon as I qualified when I was 16 years old, that was a big, like, 'Oh my God.' I feel like I want people to know that if they ever feel like they can't do it or can't do whatever they want to do, nothing is going to stop you but yourself."
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
