FAMILY PLACED OBITUARY

AARON KALEI YOUNG
AARON KALEI YOUNGAaron, 74, passed away peacefully at his home in Waimea, on the Big Island on January 4, 2018 of complications from Parkinson's Disease. Born in Honolulu on September 26, 1943 to parents Howard Young Jr., and Alma Sing. He was a 1961 graduate of Kailua High School and he worked for Hawaiian Tel before joining the Honolulu Fire Dept in 1971. HFD was his home for the next 30 years, joining Rescue in 1982 before retiring in late 2002 as a Rescue 2 Captain. His calm, confident leadership when training or on active sea and land rescues contributed to improved training techniques and readiness during his tenure as Captain. Aaron loved the Ocean. He paddled his first Moloka'i Race for Kaua'i at 19, and later for Lanikai and Outrigger, winning the race in 1972 and 1973 with his Waikiki Surf Club teammates. He designed and shaped the Perpetual Championship Trophy, his own Opio Paddles and honed his craft of making stone poi pounders, war clubs, poi pounding boards and fish hook necklaces when he retired to Waimea. He was honored to be a Hokule'a crew member on many voyages from 1986 to his final and most memorable sail from Mangareva to Pitcairn to Rapa Nui in 1999. Sailing East over 2400 challenging miles, he shared the pride and excitement on deck with all the crew when Rapa Nui, the last corner of the Polynesian triangle, was found. Aaron's legacy, besides the love of his family and friends, was to learn rescue, paddle and voyage knowledge, skills and values and pass it on to the next generation. He is survived by his sons, Kalei and Kaikane (Kelsey Beck), grandson, Stefen Kainoa, three brothers, two sisters, many wonderful nieces and nephews and forever friends, including the Lanikai Ohana and Linda and Connie who he never stopped loving. Aaron's ashes will be joined with his beloved daughter, Lyndsey Leina'ala "Sissy" Young (1984-2006) off Sandy Beach in a private scattering. ~ Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life with a date to be announced soon ~

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased

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