His wife Marion listened as those who knew her late husband shared stories during an open mike period.

"In the surf, John's joy and friendliness were unmatched. John never never got upset with someone for taking off in front of him. In fact he always encouraged it. He was always like, let's go!," said Bill Saunders, Kelly's friend.

In a short video shown during the gathering, people saw and heard Kelly's love for the sport.

"There was the Mt. Kaala embraced in this huge curl wave," smiled a then 80-year-old John Kelly as he described his ride on a 40-foot wave. "It was a panorama I'll never forget. I got 16 rides and no wipeouts. It was the most glorious day of surfing in my life."

But as big a waterman he was, Kelly will be most remembered for what he did on land.

He helped form the Save Our Surf organization in the 60's and devoted his life to preserving Hawaii's coastline and surf sites.

At the gathering, people saw old flyers from all the rallies he helped organize.

He argued against development at Magic Island and Ala Moana Beach Park and stopped the state's plan to destroy Flies surf with a parking lot in the early 90's.

"He empowered the people. John's gift was to empower, to give people...no matter what their status or age, the feeling about accomplishing," said Robert Peters, Kelly's friend.

Kelly's ashes were scattered in the very waters he loved; a fitting burial for a special waterman.

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