RIP Harry Akisada
Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 10:30 pm
Aloha Paipo brothers and sisters,
Sad to report that paipo legend, Harry Akisada, passed away early this month. Harry was an inspiration and influence to multiple generations of surfers on O'ahu. He was a fixture at all the good paipo spots on the island for so long, it's hard to imagine not seeing him in the line up anymore. Growing up in the 80's and 90's, me and my friends went from frantically kicking and duck diving to get out of his way on the inside at Maks as he came flying down the line, to hearing all his stories and wisdom later on as we waited for sets on the outside. I remember him schooling us in the way the tides affected the surf at different spots, and his stories of riding epic China Walls, getting rides all the way through Pillars. I remember all the big days at Maks where only a few guys were out, and Harry would always be one of them. Harry was going strong even in recent years. I remember seeing him in town during a Hurricane swell. I surfed over 2hrs and left for an appt. I paddled back out 2hrs later and Harry was still there. He told me he'd been out the whole time. Aloha Harry! Mahalo for inspiring so many surfers over the years and staying true to paipo boarding.
link to Instagram post about memorial paddle out on May 22 (no IG login required) https://smihub.com/c/8661583381426558652
Sad to report that paipo legend, Harry Akisada, passed away early this month. Harry was an inspiration and influence to multiple generations of surfers on O'ahu. He was a fixture at all the good paipo spots on the island for so long, it's hard to imagine not seeing him in the line up anymore. Growing up in the 80's and 90's, me and my friends went from frantically kicking and duck diving to get out of his way on the inside at Maks as he came flying down the line, to hearing all his stories and wisdom later on as we waited for sets on the outside. I remember him schooling us in the way the tides affected the surf at different spots, and his stories of riding epic China Walls, getting rides all the way through Pillars. I remember all the big days at Maks where only a few guys were out, and Harry would always be one of them. Harry was going strong even in recent years. I remember seeing him in town during a Hurricane swell. I surfed over 2hrs and left for an appt. I paddled back out 2hrs later and Harry was still there. He told me he'd been out the whole time. Aloha Harry! Mahalo for inspiring so many surfers over the years and staying true to paipo boarding.
link to Instagram post about memorial paddle out on May 22 (no IG login required) https://smihub.com/c/8661583381426558652