On my last day before leaving Hawaii, I attended the celebration of life for one of the original Waikiki Beach Boys
Gabby Makalena
It was a beautiful Sunday morning with the sun coming over the Koolau mountains shinning on Diamond Head and all of Waikiki beach.
This is the guest sign in table.
What is a celebration with out live music ? Kevin singing some traditional Hawaiian songs.
Photos of Gabby. In the back there's his famous Polka Dot surf board.
Gabby taking the drop. Fragrant Puakenikeni flowers.
A lot of people showed up to pay their respect to their friend, teacher, mentor and "Uncle".
Gabby's celebration even made the TV news.
Didi Robello is the son of Harry Robello another one of the original Waikiki Beach Boys. Harry married Barbara Kahanamoku. Her father, Bill Kahanamoku, had two sisters and five more brothers, one of them was the legendary (Duke Kahanamoku), the father of modern day surfing.
One of Gabby's daughter "Pinoi", on the right, I knew as the Queen of Queens' surf break.
Here she hugs Fritz the captain of the outrigger canoe to bring Gabby's ashes to be spread out in the ocean.
The Royal Hawaiian also known as the "pink palace" in the back ground.
Lots of people paddled out to say their good byes and "ALOHA".
Little do people know, Gabby was my roomate when we stayed in a hotel on Maui. We were there to do a contest.
I always remember attending a dinner at a restaurant in Kaanapali. We had the best seats in the house to watch the sunset.
Some tourist would stand up and block our view. Gabby would blow his whistle to make them move out of the way.
Another time at a contest at Bowls, I had won my heat and some other competitors were all "salty", saying I didn't deserve the win. Gabby heard that and came to my defense. He told them he never heard them complain when they won against me and that they need to be gracious in losing as well as in winning.
Thank you Gabby for being a role model for me. For always smiling. For always helping out others. For being the life of the party. For always passing on your love of surfing. For being one of the last true Waikiki Beach Boys.
ALOHA