Ralph Ellis Watson “Buddy” or “Bud” was born to Raphael August Watson and Grace Watson (Lappi) on April 11, 1938 in Thomasville, Georgia. Buddy and his Brother Billy moved to Hawaii in 1939 with their Mother Grace, when their Father, Naval PBY Pilot, Raphael “Ralph” Watson was transferred to Kaneohe Naval Air Station. 

 Alongside Ragnar N. "Scotty" Nilssen, Raphael defended Hangar 1 against Japanese Zeros and Dive Bombers with a .30 Caliber Machine Gun through the first wave of the surprise attack on December 7^th, 1941. During the attack, Buddy and his older brother Billy were huddled with their Mother in their base housing with mattresses against the windows and doors as protection from the chaos outside. Unbeknownst to them, their father, Raphael, had been killed by a Japanese Zero during the second wave of the attack.

Their father was buried the next day in the sand dunes of North Beach. The family continued to live on base for the remainder of WWII. The Base Staff Officers tried to keep the two young fatherless boys entertained by giving them models of Japanese Ships sunk or destroyed during the war.

Bud’s short marriage to Katherine Weaver (Daughter of Cliff Weaver, Spence Cliff Restaurants) resulted in two Children, Bill and Ralph who were eventually adopted by their step-father James Gray.

After a 14 year separation, Buddy slowly reestablished a relationship with his sons. He knew he was never going to be their “Dad”, but he could try to be part of their lives and pass on to them what he knew about the ocean, paddling, life, his family and Lanikai. This would be his legacy. 

He took his sons Ralph & Bill Gray open water scuba diving miles behind the Mokuluas and taught them how to find cracks in the reef teeming with fish and lobsters. He showed them how to conserve oxygen in their scuba tanks by dropping to the bottom only when necessary. He helped ease their fear of sharks by explaining shark posturing and behavior and showing them how stop the vibration of an injured fish on a spear.

Someone once said that Buddy was like Hemmingway’s “Old Man of the Sea”. Although generally reserved and quiet, if you sat next to him long enough, he would share his knowledge about the ocean and especially Lanikai.

Bud loved his FIVE Grand-Children, Mason (14), Tyler(12), Taylor(6) ,and Colby (3), and Malia.(3) Although the opportunities were few, he made every effort to get to know and spend time with each of them.   He remembered each of their Birthdays and diligently sent or hand delivered them gifts. It was as if he knew his time on earth was limited and each moment he spent with them was precious.  Their memories of Buddy and of the numerous canoe trips to the Mokuluas will never be forgotten.  

Buddy wanted to be a pilot like his father. He would always talk to us about flying. Poor eyesight and the high cost of flight time kept him from attaining his dream. I know Buddy is up there, with the Dad he never got to know, soaring in the clouds over the Mokuluas, and the Lanikai he loved. 

Buds good friend Stu Smith summed up his last day:

"Buddy’s final moments were doing what he loved best, steering a canoe in Lanikai. So many of the things known to what have been important to him were wrapped up in that last paddle. Sharing a good run with a bunch of Lanikai friends, both old & new. Enjoying the amazing beauty of the Lanikai waters on a windless evening with a full moon rising & a nice swell running. Catching & skillfully riding a beautiful wave at Flat Island, even offering guidance to a novice paddler sitting in seat #5 in front of him."

May he rest in peace,

Love Bill & Ralph Gray

Services will be held at Lanikai Canoe Club, on the beach across from Lanikai Park, on Sunday February 22^nd, at 10:30am. Pot Luck to follow at Lanikai Park, for friends and family. We hope you will attend.

 Please add your stories of Buddy to this web site. Just click on Stories and add your thoughts. You can also load any pictures you would like. The family really appreciates you doing this, since we have so few pictures of Bud. Click on Gallery to see some great old pics of Bud. If you have any questions, you can email me at bgwvrdr@aol.com