Harry Nakoa Makalena Sr. surfed with Duke Kahanamoku, worked the sands of Waikiki Beach as a 1950s-era beachboy and was immortalized in a LeRoy Neiman image as the caddy behind Lee Trevino.
Makalena died Dec. 14 at age 84 after a nine-month battle with cancer.
"He was a wonderful man. I’m going to miss him," said Ross Anderson of Duke’s Waikiki, where Makalena was a regular, joining other beachboy old-timers who gather there to reminisce about their days on the beach.
Makalena was born in Honolulu and grew up near the Waialae Golf Course, where he caddied as a boy, carrying two golf bags at a time for 50 cents apiece.
At age 12 he saw the bombing at Pearl Harbor while caddying. "His mom came to the golf course and said, ‘Come on, boys, they’re bombing’ — and they continued caddying before going home," said his wife, Cyrilla Makalena.
Harry Makalena served in the Marines during the Korean War, where he earned a Purple Heart.
Back home, he joined the renowned band of watermen who helped Waikiki visitors learn to surf. Cyrilla Makalena, married to her husband for 52 years, said he described seeing the cruise ships leave and diving beneath the waves with the other beachboys to gather coins thrown from the ships.
Harry Makalena, the brother of Hawaiian Open winner Ted Makalena, was an excellent golfer who caddied on the side. He caddied for Trevino in 1968 when he won the Hawaiian Open and whenever he came to town.
He worked as a heavy equipment operator for several companies during the 1970s and 1980s. And, in his senior years, he would hang out with the beachboys at Duke’s to talk story.
"They always take care of each other," Cyrilla Makalena said. "There’s just a handful left. They’re all going so quickly."
Services will be Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Diamond Head Memorial Park, followed by burial at 2:15 p.m.
He is survived by his brother Gary "Gabby" Makalena, also a beachboy; son Harry N. Makalena Jr.; daughters Holly Makalena and Renee W. Koa; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
