Deeply tanned and trim — the evidence of being in and around water most of his life — he is adorned with lei.

Other than the slight wheezing in his voice and sporadic coughing, there is no indication Michael A. Tongg, 60, has ever been anything but an example of perfect health.

But a year ago, after prolonged coughing prompted a visit to the doctor, he found he had lung cancer.

"We were all shocked, because he's never smoked and he's always been in good health," said his wife Jan.

Tongg underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy and had an operation in June to remove one-third of his right lung and eight lymph nodes. After he healed, doctors put him on heavy doses of chemotherapy and radiation for six weeks.

Focus on family

"It's taught me to focus more on the Lord and my family,"

Tongg said. "It's actually been a blessing in disguise. I'm getting stronger, a little bit tired, but I'm getting stronger."

Said Jan: "He's cancer free. As far as we're concerned, God healed him up, with a little help from the doctors."

Tongg stepped down in December as the president of the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, which represents six outrigger canoe associations and more than 10,000 paddlers statewide.

"He stepped down in December after 20-plus years, because if anything ever happened to him, no one would know what to do, because they depend on him so much," Jan said. "He tried to retire a couple of years ago, but they just kept voting him in."

Tongg was honored at the Waikiki Community Center's 19th annual Ala Wai Challenge on Jan. 25 for his work at the event since its inception.

"It's a part of our culture, it's so important," Tongg said of canoe paddling. "Perpetuation of our culture comes from people participating in the sport, whether for recreation or competition."

Voice of paddling

He has been a part of canoe paddling in many roles — as a competitor, an official, a chairman, and perhaps most importantly, as a cheerleader for the sport.

"Without his voice, paddling wouldn't have the spirit, the 'oomph' that it has," said Cherana Bajarin of Honolulu. "Whenever he's at a race, he's there cheering me on, helping me, correcting me with what I'm doing wrong."

Bajarin, a 15-year-old student at Moanalua High School, also is the Na 'Opio Canoe Racing Association student body president, in charge of youth paddlers.

"He gave a lot and he's still giving. His love for the sport is so strong," she said. "He's a great guy, he's all for the kids."

His love for children goes beyond his contributions to the sport of canoe paddling.

The Tonggs have four children: Malissa, 32, Stacy, 28, Michael, 27, and Matthew, 22. But in the past 24 years, they have taken in more than 50 foster children, according to Jan.

"We just feel that the Lord brought them to our house," Jan said. "Michael just started bringing them home from court in his job as a GAL (guardian ad litem). Back in those days when he was in court, they only had a detention home to send the kids to. He told the judge that some of the kids didn't belong there, but there were no foster or group homes.

"He told the judge he was going to take them home. But that was OK, because that is what our house is, it is an open home."

Reaching out to youth

Tongg said he felt led to bring the children home because he believed that they needed stronger values instilled in their lives.

"They are the leaders of tomorrow and a lot of them come from broken backgrounds, and they have a necessity to learn good values and learn what family values are about," Tongg said. "A strong, healthy 'ohana, brings a strong, healthy community."

Tongg, a family law attorney, comes from a storied family heritage of his own.

His father, Rudy Tongg, founded Aloha Airlines, then known as Trans-Pacific Airlines. Rudy Tongg also owned several properties in Waikiki, and Michael grew up on the beaches there, starting to surf when he was 9 years old.

In fact, Tongg's, a surfing break off Diamond Head, is named after him and his brother. Tongg also was a member of the original crew of the voyaging canoe Hokule'a.

"I've known about him since I was a teenager," said Jeff Cummings of Waimanalo, who works for the City and County of Honolulu. "Look how long he's been on the scene, and look how far it's come."

Soft-spoken and quick to deflect praise to others around him, Tongg continues to work with the sport of canoe paddling, although more behind the scene.

"That's his heart," Jan said. "Even though he's not president, if anybody calls, he's always there. That's just him."