It’s not every day that you meet a licensed electrical contractor who’s  decided to take a year off to bond with his toddler and promote his toy invention. Meet Roderick Martin, an enthusiastic newly elected North Shore Chamber of Commerce Board member and inventor of the Rad Dad Baby Board, marketed under Dad Powered, a business he and his wife started about a year ago. Web address is https:// www.dadpowered.com. The board is sold at Surf N Sea in Haleiwa and on Amazon. There are also two accessory products for Baby Boarders, which are a toddler helmet and children’s book Roderick authored. The three products together are intended to make the perfect dad or toddler gift.

“The Rad Dad Baby Board is intended for rad little kids 9 months and older, fun dads, body surfers and even dogs,” Roderick says. “It teaches early balance, core strength, outdoor adventure and grit. You can stick a Go Pro on the front of the board while your little one is riding on it and get unreal action shots of their smiling faces as they anticipate turns and learn to ride.” The board can also be used as a hand plane for body surfing once the little one outgrows it.

Originally from San Diego, Roderick arrived in Hawaii about 10 years ago when he came to visit his little sister in Kona and stayed. Three years later, he moved to Oahu’s North Shore. According to Roderick, one trip was all it took to convince him Hawaii was where he wanted to be. He founded and co-owned Direct Electric Hawaii until this past February, when he decided to sell his shares to his partner, take a break as an electrician, promote his invention and immerse himself in fatherhood again. You see, Roderick is not only a father but a grandfather as well. His children include Sierra 23, Ariel 21, and Sanoe 2. Little Sanoe is an auntie to new baby Ava (Ariel’s first daughter).

“Kids rule—the more the merrier!” says the proud grandpa.

He says he developed his Rad Dad Baby Board to better bond with his daughter Sanoe. Coming up with the idea was a natural for him. Surfing
and skateboarding are in his blood. He and his wife, Karin, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot and Tahitian Dance instructor in Waimea Valley, are regulars on the tandem surfing circuit which has taken them to the coast of Australia and beyond. Last August the couple held their own at the Duke Fest in Waikiki which was the final championship contest for the 2017 world tandem league. The idea for the Rad Dad Baby Board actually came to them while on a surf trip to the North Island in New Zealand.

Roderick and Karin will be training at Chun’s and Puena Point in the coming months and welcome any other couples who want to learn tandem surfing and train for Dukefest 2018 to contact them. “We need more tandem teams representing the North Shore,” says Karin.

Maybe at the age of 45, Roderick is slowing down? Not a chance. When Chamber Board member Carolyn Unser invited him to run for a Board position, he jumped at the opportunity. As a regular volunteer with Access Surf, he often steps forward in the community to contribute his services wherever needed.

“She knows my demeanor and understands that I want to get closer to the community. I am grateful to be asked,” Roderick says.