Tears of laughter mixed with tears of sadness. Enough to fill the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Center pool several times over. Perhaps more.

It was that combination of good times and grief that filled the Stan Sheriff Center for Wednesday’s memorial of University of Hawaii junior swimmer Frank "Peter" Chi, just seven days before what would have been his 20th birthday. The 2010 Waiakea High graduate, a walk-on who earned a scholarship, a Conference-USA team championship and the respect of competitors around the world, died Saturday of apparent cardiac arrest.

He had been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome following hospital emergency room stay in January of 2011 as Hawaii was preparing for the C-USA championship. But Chi refused to let the potentially fatal condition — which creates episodes of increased heart rates — stop him from living life, which included his passion for swimming that began at age 10.

"We could have easily lost him two years ago," UH assistant coach Jennifer Buffin said of the incident in 2011. "And he could have easily quit after that happened; no one would have blamed him. But as much as he gave in the pool, he gave even more outside of it. His infectious smile, his generous spirit.

"We just found out that we have a commitment from a swimmer from the mainland for the spring. He spent 90 minutes with Peter on his recruiting trip and that convinced him he wanted to come to UH. Ninety minutes …. and he is coming here because of Peter. You just never know how you can change someone’s life."

That was evident from the beginning of the memorial as students and student-athletes filled the rows fronting the floral memorials and pictures of Chi. There was a large blue-and-white wreath from Waiakea High, its ribbon reading "Always in Our Memories" and an arrangement of orchids, representing the flower of Hawaii island.

The first seven rows reserved for family meant extended family, especially from Waiakea High. Fourteen of Chi’s high school classmates were also at Manoa with him and "we all stuck together," Aaron Sewake, Chi’s roommate last year, said. "Several of us were all together in the same dorm.

"I was not surprised that he continued swimming. The day he got cleared to swim he was back in the water just like nothing ever happened. He would wake up every single morning for 5 a.m. practice — except Sundays. He was there every day because he loved it."

And he was loved. The most touching part of the evening was the rose procession where dozens of swim team members, past and present, filed out of the stands to lay red roses on the memorial tables. Even after the final video tribute was shown on the Jumbo-Tron, many lingered to hug and remember.

"We were brothers, in and out of the water," said Jayson Hagi, Chi’s teammate at UH and Waiakea. "We were so proud that, as freshmen, we were the only two walk-ons to make the (UH) team.

"He was always happy and he wanted you to be happy, too. He just had this aura about him."

Chi’s speciality was the breast stroke. And on occasion he would swim the second leg on the "B" team during a dual meet. That, Buffin agreed, was a perfect metaphor for Chi’s life. He was always ready to follow his leadoff teammate and return with a big smile — and hopefully a bigger lead — on the exchange with a "Go have fun."‘