Bethany Hamilton’s Family: Meet Surfer’s Parents, Husband, Siblings Amid Nephew’s Near-Drowning Crisis

Former pro surfer Bethany Hamilton became a household name after she survived a 2003 shark attack at age 13 during which her left arm was bitten off. Her family, including her parents, husband and brothers, has been her rock over the years.

Who Are Bethany Hamilton’s Parents?

Bethany was born on February 8, 1990, to Tom and Cheri Hamilton in Lihue, Kauai.

“My dad, Tom, is such a legend. Not only is he an awesome surfer, he’s one of my biggest fans, the ultimate dad and such an awesome grandfather!” Bethany wrote in a February 2023 blog post.

“Growing up, he worked multiple jobs to support our family, but somehow always had time to have fun at the beach with us or take us out for a great adventure. Those are memories that I cherish to this day!” she explained.

After Bethany lost her left arm in a tiger shark attack while surfing with a friend on Kauai’s North Shore, “My parents were some of the biggest supporters in my journey to get back on my board. They encouraged me to work toward my dream of competitively surfing again, even in the difficult moments. I couldn’t have done it without them!”

She told readers, “My dad had a special role in this because he noticed that I was having trouble getting out past the whitewater and made a handle for my board! This handle allows me to duck dive (push the board under oncoming whitewater) and not get beat up by the waves. I still use these handles on all my boards today and am so grateful that he had such an ingenious solution to my problem!”

Who Is Bethany Hamilton’s Husband Adam Dirks?

Bethany met husband Adam Dirks on a blind date set up by mutual friends in May 2012. They got engaged in April of the following year and married on a private estate on Kauai’s North Shore on August 18, 2013.

“I honestly had a few fears of finding a husband. I had barely dabbled in the world of dating prior to meeting Adam so I was super innocent and naive. We waited until marriage for any physical intimacy which was super beautiful and awesome for the long term,” the Soul Surfer author described in a August 22, 2023, blog post. “Now we’ve had 10 years of doing life together!”

Does Bethany Hamilton Have Children?

The couple welcomed their first child, son Tobias, in 2015. She gave birth to second son Wesley in 2018, followed by Micah in 2021. Bethany and Adam welcomed their first and only daughter, Alaya Dorothy, in 2023.

“I especially love being a parent with Adam! We’re definitely the dynamic duo when it comes to that – always team working. It’s so amazing to share life with someone so special. We definitely complement each other and make a good team,” Bethany shared in an August 2023 blog post.

She added, “He has always been there as my birth coach while I give birth and that has brought us together in a super cool way as well.”

Does Bethany Hamilton Have Siblings?

Bethany has two older brothers, Noah and Timmy Hamilton.

Noah works as a photographer and camera operator and has been part of Kauai-based productions including Jurassic World, Kong: Skull Island and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Timmy is a sound operator. Both of Bethany’s brothers are skilled surfers who also worked as crew members on the 2011 bio film Soul Surfer about their sister’s shark attack and surfing comeback.

What Happened to Bethany Hamilton’s Nephew?

Bethany made a plea to fans in October 2024 when Noah’s young son Andrew nearly drowned in a bathtub. He was airlifted to a hospital in Oahu.

“He still has a heartbeat and has fight in him,” she captioned an Instagram post. “We are wrecked, but I know how proper medical support can make or break someone’s chance of survival and in this case, we’re asking for help from anyone who has information of what we can do to give my nephew the best chance.”

“He’s three-and-a-half going on five. He’s a strong resilient kid and an amazing swimmer. He was found not breathing in shallow water of bathtub. His vitals were enough to get him to Oahu,” Noah revealed.