Legendary Pipe surfer Tamayo Perry. Photo: Joli Photos
A memorial service held on Oahu’s North Shore Sunday drew more than a 1,000 people wishing to pay their respects and celebrate the life of Tamayo Perry. The service started with a first responder salute for the lifeguard who had served as a member of the City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety since 2016. The large turnout seems to be another testament to Perry’s massive impact across the islands and even the world, both as a surfer who inspired others and as a waterman who protected them. According to Hawaii’s Khon2 as many as “1,500 to 2,000 people” were in attendance.
“I’m totally gobsmacked at this whole gathering because, I didn’t expect to see, I figured 30, 40 people – the whole state’s pouring out their love, it’s overwhelming, this is the humblest I’ve ever been,” Tamayo’s father, Thomas Perry, told Island News.
Several attendees showed up with Tamayo’s memorable bleached buzz cut and leopard print hairstyle — an experimental look his wife Emilia Perry had come up with. One of those “lazy leopard” attendees was lifelong friend and recording artist Jack Johnson, who performed with Paula Fuga as part of the memorial service.
“Tamayo was the best person I knew. He had such a strong moral compass. He knew right from wrong. He definitely shaped our whole friend group, ” Johnson said. “It’s been nice to hear about his real young days. It doesn’t really matter how long you knew Tamayo, though. If you knew him for one day, two days, you would get to know him because he was so open. He was so ready for the experience of life. He enjoyed conversation so much. He loved people.”
After the service at Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park where friends and loved ones shared stories, hundreds of people took the walk across Ke Nui road and onto the sand at Pipeline. Maui’s Ocean Safety Department brought a mile-long lei that was placed on one of Perry’s Pipeline surfboards and Honolulu Fire flew over the world-famous reef dropping hundreds of flowers in his memory. Perry’s ashes were also spread over the reef as part of the paddle-out ceremony.
“When (people) would say they were afraid of sharks, Tamayo would say, ‘What makes you think you are so special that the shark is coming for you ?’” Perry’s wife Emilia said while delivering his eulogy. “Well, I guess we all know who the truly special one is now.”
