Waikiki beach boy Frederick Rosa dead at 66

Advertiser Staff

Frederick "Cowboy" Rosa, a longtime Waikiki beach boy who was known for his surfing as well as his cooking, died May 16 in Honolulu. He was 66.

Frederick "Cowboy" Rosa made a career as a tile setter as well as beach boy.

Rosa started by shining shoes and one of his regular customers was Duke Kahanamoku. Back then, Rosa was known simply as "Boy," and later picked up the prefix "Cow-" from a beach boy.

Although he had only a ninth-grade education, Rosa made a career as a tile setter as well as beach boy. In a 1998 interview, Rosa said he couldn't think of anything better than being a beach boy.

"This is the best time in my life. I enjoy every day. I love to teach people to surf," he said. "I'll do this until I die."

Rosa is survived by his wife, Jeanette; children, Lori Lauriano, Lance Concepcion, Cathy Concepcion and Lindsay Concepcion; brothers, Hiram and Wela; sisters, Matilda Applewhite, Ahuwena Naholowaa and Esther Napoleon; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Scattering of ashes at 8 a.m. Saturday at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki. Friends are asked to meet behind the Duke Kahanamoku statue.