The life of John “Johnny Boy” Akana of Kalihiwai bridged the eras of old Kaua’i and modern-day Kaua’i. He died Tuesday following a surfing session in the hollow waves of Kalihiwai. The surf spot breaks about 100 yards out from
The life of John “Johnny Boy” Akana of Kalihiwai bridged the eras of old Kaua’i and modern-day Kaua’i.
He died Tuesday following a surfing session in the hollow waves of Kalihiwai. The surf spot breaks about 100 yards out from his beachfront home, which is tucked away in the east corner of the picturesque bay.
Johnny and his brother-in-law David Sproat, the now-retired chief of the Kauai Fire Department, pioneered modern surfing at Kalihiwai about 40 years ago.
His home dates from that era, too, and is said to be made up of remnants of buildings at Kalihiwai destroyed by the tsunami of 1957 that literally destroyed the beachfront village of Kalihiwai.
The home was central to Johnny’s life, and his grassy front yard was a gathering place for musicians, surfers, writers and his many friends.
He shared it with Mauli Cook. The couple performed Hawaiian music, legends and dance to audiences at venues ranging from the Princeville Hotel to the towns and schools of the Cook Islands. Johnny especially enjoyed passing on his in-depth knowledge of Hawaiian culture to children.
The tone of his friendly, yet circumspect, voice echoed his Hawaiian roots at Kalihiwai, a village that retains its past as a taro-growing ahupua’a, amidst development of million dollar homes.
Educated at the Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawai’i, he knew and understood the modern world, yet as a person lived and viewed the world from a perspective more of old Kaua’i then that of the 21st century.
His interest in agriculture focused on his Boy Akana Farms. The company shipped a strain of papaya he helped develop – the Kaua’i Strawberry Sunrise papaya – to the world.
He liked to stay behind the scene of events, but was a powerful force on Kaua’i in land use, and supporting agriculture and the Hawaiian arts.
His family were konohiki, the caretakers, of Kalihiwai, and included educators; his sister, Linda Sproat, mother Francis Akana and grandmother Julia Akana were North Shore teachers and school administrators.
Johhny appreciated all kinds of people, and welcomed all to Kaua’i. A friend to the rich and poor, he quietly helped those in need, and served as an inspiration to all.
