Tears streaked the weathered faces of surfers as they and more than 150 friends and family gathered yesterday in Ha‘ena to celebrate the life of Keoni Kai Lucas. Lucas, 38, died in the early morning hours on March 30 in
Tears streaked the weathered faces of surfers as they and more than 150 friends and family gathered yesterday in Ha‘ena to celebrate the life of Keoni Kai Lucas.
Lucas, 38, died in the early morning hours on March 30 in a single-car accident in Santa Monica, Calif. Lucas, who had been living in California working as a camera operator for television, was a 1987 graduate of Kapa‘a High School.
An avid surfer of Tunnels and Cannons on the North Shore, Lucas was the son of famed Kaua‘i surfer Jimmy Lucas.
After greeting each other through tears and hugs, friends and family squeezed into a large white tent for pule and song.
Lucas’ mother, Michelle, thanked the crowd for “helping with the healing process.” She added that “Keoni was a wonderful son — we never had an argument and we always shared a laugh.”
Christian Fennel said Lucas had energy and was always positive.
In 1994, Fennel and Lucas founded Puinsai Clothing Company as a way to “spread the aloha.”
“I think about how much I will miss him, and start to feel sorry for myself,” Fennel says on the Puinsai Web site. “But then I think about all the people who never got a chance to meet him, and I start to feel sorry for them.”
The crowd laughed through their tears when Fennel spoke about how Lucas would constantly lose his wallet, keys and cell phone. “Lucas would literally get out his car and wonder where his keys were,” Fennel said.
“Pay it forward was what Keoni was all about,” said Scott Stevens, who had known Lucas for 14 years.
A group of Lucas’ childhood friends gathered on the stage and held back tears as they huddled together and spoke about their friend.
“My folks would say, ‘Why can’t you be more like Keoni?’” one friend said as the crowd laughed.
Another friend said he grew up with Lucas; together they “have been on every beach from here to Lihu‘e.”
A close friend of the family said Lucas’ spirit will live on.
“The life that Keoni led is a message for all of us to love one another,” she said. “He is here with every wave that breaks and wind that blows.”
The group then made the short walk to the beach and tossed flowers and lei into the surf.
A memorial service was held in California two weeks ago.
• Rachel Gehrlein, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or rgehrlein@kauaipubco.com.
