In Memoriam:

Henry Keawe Ayau

      This fine gentleman from Hoolehua, Molokai inspired us all with his many wonderful qualities including his incredible physical talents and strength which combined with his gentle nature and huge smile made him a natural leader and role model for us all in every endeavor of life in which he engaged, from family to business to sports to the greater community good.   

  Henry symbolizes what our class of 1959 is all about. He was a shining light for how we wish to live our own lives, in quiet service to community, and surrounded by loving family and friends.

    Henry's legend will live on forever in the clear, sweet waters of Ka Punahou (the New Spring), in the Punahou seal with the hala tree and two taro leaves, in the hearts of his own family members who he loved dearly and who loved him in return, in the thousands of people that knew him personally throughout the community of Hawaii, and in the hearts and fond memories of his Punahou '59 classmates. 

   Henry leaves behind a devoted, loving family and an army of friends such as each of you and many others we know. We, as the class of '59, are blessed to have had him as a brother and will always have him with us in loving spirit.

  Aloha Henry,  You are a true "Son of Punahou".  We love you. We miss you. You will always remain in our hearts and prayers.

            Your classmates of Punahou Class of 1959

Clinton Jamile, "Mar" Waite, and Henry at a 'Kanekapila" get together at Punahou in April 2002 honoring Bob Akinaka's service to Punahou.

From the Punahou 1959 "Oahuan":   Class of 1959 section:

Henry Ayau - Mr. Henry Keawe Ayau

Ayau, Henry (Hank)

Hoolehua, Molokai;   JV Football 9;   Jr. Carn. 9-12;   JV Basketball 9;   JV Baseball 9; Dorm Officer 9-10;  Var. Football 10;   Var. Basketball 10-11, Capt. 12;   Var. Baseball 10-12;   H.R. Officer 11, 12;   Sen. P.E Rep. 12;   ROTC Officer 12;   Saber & Chain Club 12;   Grad. Comm. 12 

Henry (second from left), Haunani Vannatta, Harlan Cadinha, Vicky Hollinger, Clinton Jamile, Herbie Cockett and some underclassmen friends, plan our 1959 Holoku Ball.

Team captain Henry swishes two more points for the Buff 'n Blue

"Henry's services at Punahou were memorable to say the least! It was standing room only, even with extra chairs in and outside. There was Hawaiian music (our Vicky Hollinger was part of one of the groups and later sang a gorgeous solo), pupu table, flowers all over the place, and tons of people, as you can imagine. The 1.5 hour service was bitter sweet, loving, classy, funny, family oriented with 4 of his 5 kids participating. 

Music was a big part and flowers (many lei draped on the altar around a gourd which held his ashes which was seated on a green and white Hawaiian quilt.). Hiram DeFries flew in from Calif. and delivered the chicken-skin eulogy which was heart rending, to say the least, and filled with loving, funny anecdotes from the time they were about 8 yrs. old until last Nov. when he last saw Henry. He painted a picture of the heart and soul of what made Henry Henry. The kahu from Henry's Molokai church which Henry's grand father began was a total stitch and so very local in his presentation. "Ho, on Moloka'i this service would go on all night, every one sticking around, if you like sleep on the coffin, go - come in, go out, sing, talk story. And they no give me that kine time tonite so I try make this short....". He later ended the service by saying, "Well, I was supposed to give da lass scripture now but I already wen give um so dat's OK - so let's stand and sing the doxology". 

He had 4 musicians from their church sing fundamental Jesus songs and had the chapel clapping along - it was wonderful. I certainly left feeling that I knew more about Henry that I had ever known, and everyone loved him in their own way. He left a legacy of love, kindness, strength, gentility, grace, confidence, and unconditional love for his universe and his fellow man. I looked around and was over whelmed at how one man, one family, could affect positively so many lives in that chapel, plus so many others who were not present. 

Why does it take a funeral to bring these things to light?  59ers attended the service the next AM at the Outrigger Canoe Club. Beautiful service, tons of people, music, more heart rending deliveries, then about 35 canoes + surf boards took his ashes to the ocean. The news coverage showed gorgeous pictures of Henry steering a canoe, smiling, etc. and it also showed some ashes being thrown into the wind and then Henry's son said he took the rest of them, dove down into the deep and let the rest go. (One has to know that Henry and his sons are known for their deep water diving and video of the same - an amazing trio, diving over 100' without snorkels, masks, or anything.) 

So, there you have it. This has hit so many so hard and is something none of us will ever forget. We must never forget any of us and our contributions, whatever they are. We are a part of Henry and he is a part of us, as we are of each other.   Love, Diane"

Where to start?  All kind of reminded me of the aloha at the Blood Bank on 911.  Not enough chairs at Punahou Chapel or Outrigger.  All kinds of folks came - celebs, canoe paddlers, classmates, family, many many friends.  Very Hawaiian, with chant & Kahu & minister.  The handsome twins guarding their father's  calabash while friends filed by to aloha the family.  But not to aloha the guards - not allowed at that time.  That was enough to bring the first tears - watching the twins at attention & they too, being guarded so as not to be distracted from their duty.  They were eventually relieved by 4 other malo clad guards so they could join the family.  The procession went on for a little over 2 hours and I could list the many I recognized but too long, da lis !!  The service was very touching, beautiful, tearful, full of laughs too.  Hiram DeFries did the eulogy & should get a medal.  Kahu had everybody stand up, hug the person on either side & say "I love you".  I was sitting between Stewart Brisette & Tom Metcalf &  in a string of about 25   59ers.  I had made big crown flower & ti leaf lei  on top ti leaf & added it to what looked like 100 other beauties.  Visitation started at 5 (crowded already), all pau about 9;30.

Fri  8 am at the Outrigger - a really gorgeous day, small waves, clear blue waters.  Another 2 hours of visitation, blessings, and the canoes of other clubs drifted in.  Some jet skis, several motor boats.  Again I added a big lei to the uku pila but when came time to canoes go out - I admit I could not handle & went home.  Night TV news showed so many canoes out there, the shouts as ashes thrown out on the water, lei followed, & one son in scuba gear took some ashes to the bottom.  A fitting end to the life on earth of a truly remarkable & very much loved man.  The kids had spoken briefly at one or the other service.  On Friday morning Cynnie Belle said to all of us "I have loved this man all my life" & my hat goes off to her husband, Dick, who has supported this same family as part of the ohana.  

Such was the admiration held by all for Henry as he opened every heart he touched.  Always had.
                                                                                                 Aloha nui,  Lib

Lauded isle sportsman dies at 60

Henry Ayau / paddler
 

Star-Bulletin staff  - May 8, 2002
 

     Henry Ayau, a famed sportsman and businessman known for his excellence in water sports like
     canoe paddling and diving, died at the Straub Clinic and Hospital, this morning, a spokeswoman at
     the hospital and friends said. He was 60.

     Ayau, who only learned to board surf after moving to Oahu, was actively involved in canoe
     paddling, diving, spearfishing and surfing. In 1983, he was awarded the Winged O by the Outrigger
     Canoe Club for service to the club's athletic program. The honor was first conferred upon Duke
     Kahanamoku in 1966.

     Ayau and Kahanamoku became friends in the latter years of Kahanamoku's life. Ayau was general
     manager of Duke's night club in Waikiki and later an executive vice president for the legendary
     surfer's complex, which included Diamond Head Restaurant, Surf Development, Inc., and Duke
     Kahanamoku Corp.

     In 1971, he was appointed executive vice president of the annual Duke Kahanamoku Hawaiian
     Surfing Classic.

     Adam Suapaia, general manager of Don Ho's Island Grill at Aloha Tower, said he will always
     remember Ayau for his easygoing demeanor. Suapaia said Ayau hired him more than 36 years ago as
     a doorman at Duke's night club in Waikiki.

     Most recently, Ayau was head of the host department at Don Ho's Island Grill, where he had
     previously been vice president and general manager.

     "I guess that's what you call a full circle," Suapaia said. "It's a tremendous loss. There's nobody like
     him."

     Added David Nagaishi, the former general manager at Don Ho's: "He was our ambassador of
     Aloha."

     A past-president of the Molokai Chamber of Commerce, Ayau enjoyed success in business, real
     estate and the entertainment industry. He appeared in commercials and advertisements, including a
     national campaign for American Airlines.

     Ayau was found Wednesday, floating lifeless in waters off the Elks Club on Kalakaua Avenue in
     Waikiki. A surfer discovered Ayau in the water wearing a snorkel and fin, said Dan De Fries, a
     firefighter at the Wailupe Fire Station.

     Raised in Pukoo on Molokai, Ayau caught the attention of Punahou School after pitching a
     successful baseball game against an Oahu team.

     The 1959 Punahou grad lettered in baseball, and was named No. 1 hitter. He also captained the
     basketball team during his senior year. He played football until he suffered a leg injury during his
     sophomore year. He was named Athlete of the Year in 1958-1959, as well as an outstanding scholar.
     Ayau attended Oregon State University and the University of Hawaii.

Water sportsman Henry Keawe Ayau Jr. achieved every fisherman's dream a couple of years ago: His fish catch set a record and made national news.

Ayau and his son Bruce were free diving off Oahu when they speared a 113-pound ulua. ESPN sports television and Skin Diver magazine covered the July 10, 2000, feat.

"I told him, 'Brother, you're famous,'" said Ayau's longtime friend Adam Suapaia. "You know how deep water distorts size. I told him if I saw a fish over 5 pounds coming at me, I'm out of the water! Diving was his biggest love."

Ayau, 60, died yesterday in Straub Hospital. He had been hospitalized since May 2 when he was found unconscious in the ocean off the Elks Club. He was wearing snorkeling gear when he was found by a surfer.

Ayau was active in the whole range of ocean sports -- surfing and canoe paddling as well as diving and spearfishing.

Entertainer Don Ho said Ayau reminded him of the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, Olympic swimming medalist. "He was a man of grace, a beautiful Hawaiian man in stature and in his heart. He was a good role model for Hawaiian people. Everybody loved him."

Ayau and Kahanamoku were friends during the last years of Kahanamoku's life. Ayau was appointed executive vice president of the annual Duke Kahanamoku Hawaiian Surfing Classic in 1971.

A Molokai native and 1959 Punahou School graduate, Ayau started as a doorman at the former Duke's nightclub in the 1960s. He became vice president and manager of the Waikiki club and executive vice president of the Duke Kahanamoku Corp., Surf Development Inc. and Diamond Head Restaurant.

Most recently, he was head of the host department at Don Ho's Island Grill, where he was formerly vice president and general manager.

Ho said: "All the boys from that era, there was a connection between all of us. It's binding no matter what time was in between."

"It's a tremendous loss. There's nobody like him," said Suapaia, general manager of Don Ho's Island Grill, who had worked with Ayau for 36 years.

Ayau grew up in Pukoo, Molokai. He earned a letter in baseball at Punahou and also captained the basketball team in his senior year. He was named athlete of the year in 1958-59 as well as an outstanding scholar. He attended the University of Hawaii and Oregon State University. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Outrigger Canoe Club, which awarded him its Winged O award in 1983 for service to the club's athletic program.

A service will be held at 8 a.m. May 17 at the Outrigger Canoe Club. The ashes will be scattered at sea.

"Henry wanted it to be a festive affair; it was his last wish," said Suapaia.

Don Ho's Island Grill will be the scene of a celebration of his life and fund-raiser for his family from 3 to 8 p.m. May 30.

The survivors include sons David, Bruce and Patrick; daughters Kathy and Leslie; brothers Butch and Ronnie; and sisters Lana and Dana.