Tulsi Gabbard, the former U.S. Representative and current Director of National Intelligence, has long captured public attention with her political career and personal journey. Yet, one of the most captivating stories from her life is the heart-pounding moment when her husband, Abraham Williams, proposed to her on a surfboard—an event that nearly ended with the engagement ring lost to the Pacific Ocean. This dramatic proposal, steeped in adventure and love, is a tale that shocked those who heard the full story, revealing the couple’s deep bond and shared passion for risk.
Gabbard and Williams, both avid surfers, met in 2012 when Williams volunteered as a cinematographer for her congressional campaign. Their connection deepened over shared interests in surfing and their Hindu faith, culminating in a romance that felt destined. In 2013, at a mutual friend’s birthday party, Williams asked Gabbard out, marking the start of their personal journey together. By 2015, he was ready to propose, and true to their adventurous spirits, he chose an unconventional setting: the open water, atop a surfboard, with the Hawaiian waves as their backdrop.
The proposal, however, was anything but smooth sailing. As Gabbard recounted in interviews, Williams had meticulously planned the moment, tucking the ring into a waterproof pouch strapped to his surfboard. Paddling out together off Oahu’s coast, they caught a wave, riding side by side in perfect harmony. As they balanced on their boards, Williams turned to Gabbard, his heart racing, and popped the question. “Tulsi, will you marry me?” he asked, pulling the ring from the pouch. But in a heart-stopping twist, the ring slipped from his fingers, teetering perilously close to the edge of the board. Gabbard gasped as it nearly plunged into the ocean’s depths, a moment that could have turned their romantic milestone into a disaster.
With quick reflexes, Williams lunged forward, catching the ring just before it vanished into the waves. Gabbard, laughing through her nerves, said yes, and the couple embraced, their boards wobbling beneath them. The near-loss of the ring added an electrifying thrill to the moment, making it a story they’d retell with wide-eyed excitement. “It was so us,” Gabbard later shared, reflecting on how the mishap mirrored their shared love for adventure and unpredictability. The ocean, a constant in their lives, became the perfect stage for a proposal that was equal parts daring and heartfelt.
The couple’s 2015 wedding, a traditional Vedic ceremony, further showcased their deep connection to their Hindu faith and Hawaiian roots. Williams, a cinematographer known for works like Decade of the Dead and Down on the Sidewalk in Waikiki, brought his artistic flair to their relationship, capturing Gabbard’s political journey through his lens. His steadfast support has been a constant as Gabbard navigated her career, from her time as a Hawaii state legislator to her historic role as the first Hindu-American Director of National Intelligence.
The surfboard proposal has become a legendary anecdote among their circle, symbolizing their resilience and ability to find joy in chaos. Friends and family were stunned to hear how close the ring came to disappearing, with some jokingly suggesting Williams should have secured it better. Yet, for Gabbard and Williams, the near-disaster only deepened the moment’s meaning. It was a testament to their ability to face challenges together, whether on the waves or in the political arena.
This unforgettable proposal encapsulates the essence of Gabbard and Williams’ relationship: bold, unconventional, and rooted in mutual trust. As Gabbard continues to make waves in her professional life, the story of that surfboard moment remains a vivid reminder of the love and adventure that define her partnership with Williams.
