While the club is having an official day to remember Lopaka, he is still fondly remembered at the club year-round.

Live musical performances — Lopaka's specialty — have become a fixture at the club, and many of Lopaka's friends continue to play in or attend club matches on Sundays.

Lopaka's accident occurred June 23, 1985, when his horse stumbled and fell. He remained in a coma at The Queen's Medical Center before dying July 2. He was 42.

Club president Mike Dailey said he remembers the moment clearly, because he was riding directly behind Lopaka.

"That day was one of the saddest days of my life," Dailey said. "He was a good guy and a great friend."

Those who played alongside him recall Lopaka's easy going, roguish nature.

"The guy sang like Don Ho," said Mark Becker, a friend of Lopaka's who still plays on Sundays. "He was like a rock and roll star."

Lopaka, who was born Alton J. Lopez on Lana'i, liked to refer to himself as a polo player first, entertainer second. But there was little doubt that his polo skills were matched by his ability to make people smile. He was in his element performing at the International Marketplace in Waikiki or the sidelines of polo matches.

"He was a jolly guy," said longtime club member Kimo Sutton. "Very well loved and liked. He brought a different flair to everything."

Sometimes, Lopaka even managed to combine his two talents.

"He would dump water on his saddle (before games) to keep his grip and be a better showman for the audience," Becker said.

Lopaka was one of the top polo players in Hawai'i. According to Dailey, Lopaka was rated a "5-goal" player. Novices begin at negative-two goals, while the world's elite are 10 goals.

Dailey added that 95 percent of polo players in the state today range from negative-2 to 2 goals in skill. Dailey, Sutton, Becker and Lopaka would regularly play against some of the best players in the world.

"(Lopaka) was a good player," Sutton said. "He liked to play hard."

Lopaka's accident occurred in a celebrity game. He was chasing the ball when the front legs of his horse, Heidi, were entangled with the back legs of another horse. Because of the momentum — at full speed, horses run at speeds of 30 to 35 mph — Heidi tumbled, and Lopaka hit the ground head-first.

Bob Hogan was the sideline announcer for that celebrity game. He and Lopaka would often alternate that task so the other could play.

"There was a lot of sadness in the (polo) community for years afterward," said Hogan, who still announces games at Mokule'ia.

In the last decade of his life, Lopaka became less interested in performing and more involved with taking care of his horses.

According to Elizabeth Dailey, Mike Dailey's mother, Lopaka was videotaped saying, mere days before his accident, "If I die tomorrow, I'll die with a smile on my face" in regard to his love of the game.

"It was almost like a premonition," Elizabeth Dailey said. "He got so involved with polo he made it his life."