Posted on: Friday, May 3, 2002

Henry Ayau in coma after being pulled from ocean

By Brandon Masuoka
and Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writers

Henry Ayau, a well-known waterman and recognized figure in the local entertainment scene, was in a coma and in critical condition last night at Straub Hospital after he was found floating Wednesday off Waikiki, his brother said.

Ayau, 60, was found offshore of the Elks Lodge just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

An Elks Lodge member who was surfing offshore noticed Ayau unresponsive in the water and brought him to shore with help from other Elks Lodge members, Soo said.

Ayau went out for his regular afternoon swim and may have been in the water anywhere from five to 20 minutes, said his brother, Butch Ayau.

Henry Ayau is a strong swimmer and it's unclear what happened in the ocean, his brother said.

Rescuers carried Ayau to the lawn of the Elks Lodge, where bystanders administered CPR, according to Soo. Rescuers called 911 and an Outrigger Canoe Club lifeguard brought a medical bag, which contained an automatic external defibrillator.

Two off-duty firemen, Al Calhoun and Dan DeFries, were able to get "visible vital signs" on Ayau and shocked him once with the defibrillator, Soo said. At that time, Ayau may have had a weak pulse, Soo said.

Paramedics took Ayau to Straub Clinic and Hospital.

"If I had to describe Henry Ayau, I would say he was the perfect Hawaiian gentleman," his close friend Doug Frias said. "He touched so many people in so many different ways."

Ayau was a paddler and coach for the Outrigger Canoe Club for nearly 50 years, and earned the club's highest honor, the Winged O, in 1983.

"Everybody in the club knew him," said Paula Crabb, a veteran Outrigger paddler. "He was Mr. Aloha."

Ayau, an active paddler with Outrigger, had already started practicing for the upcoming regatta season. He often swam in the ocean off the Outrigger Canoe Club as a warm-up for paddling practice.

"He was still in top shape as far as I know," Crabb said. "It's one of those things that's shocking to everybody who knew him."

Ayau and three friends known as "The Four Hawaiians" founded the Hui Lanakila Canoe Club in 1977.

"This was the 25th anniversary," said Frias, one of The Four Hawaiians. "He continued to help out (Hui Lanakila) for all those years even though he was still with Outrigger."

Ayau had also established a reputation as an elite free-dive spearfisherman. His exploits were featured in several publications and television programs as recently as last year.

"He was my diving mentor," said Dennis Alexio, the world kickboxing champion. "The guy just had so much knowledge and skill."

Ayau is also a recognized figure in the entertainment industry. In the 1960s, he served as a general manager at the old Duke Kahanamoku's in Waikiki. More recently, Ayau was the senior host at Don Ho's Island Grill.

"Everybody who's anybody knew Henry," said Adam Suapaia, who worked with Ayau at both Duke Kahanamoku's and Don Ho's. "A lot of people are pulling for him right now.".