It didn't matter where Douglas "Dukie" Kuahulu was — at the beach, at his favorite restaurant, at home — he never wanted to be anywhere else.

"That's the kind of person he was," said his wife, Carolyn, 65. "Wherever he was, that's where he wanted to be ... He wasn't somebody who said he wished he were somewhere else."

Though he held many odd jobs — including working in the print shop at the state Legislature and as a caddy at the O'ahu Country Club — Kuahulu also will be remembered as a Waikiki beach boy, veteran paddler and one of the original crew members on the Hokule'a's maiden voyage in 1976.

He died Aug. 11 of esophageal cancer. Kuahulu was 70.

A traditional beach boy service, including the scattering of his ashes, will take place Friday morning in Waikiki.

For more than 50 years, Kuahulu helped hundreds of visitors enjoy the waters of Waikiki, either on surfboards or in outrigger canoes.

He had been working at Aloha Beach Services near Duke's Waikiki for about 40 years, surfing and steering canoes until he was diagnosed with cancer in December 2006.

At that time, he had been the oldest and most experienced beach boy on Waikiki Beach.

"He took a lot of pride in his Hokule'a travels and working at the beach," said Didi Robello, owner of Aloha Beach Services. "He was generous, happy and fun ... It's pretty quiet on the beach without him."

Kuahulu was born Aug. 3, 1937, in Damon Tract in the airport area.

He attended Farrington High School before dropping out during his senior year to work on the beach.

His love for the ocean and skill as a waterman led to jobs in the entertainment industry.

He dived off a 90-foot tower every night for a year in New York City as part of a show. He worked at a Hawai'i exhibit at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, taking people out in canoes and teaching them how to weave coconut fronds. He even had bit parts in movies such as "South Pacific" and "Hawaii" and on "Hawaii Five-0."

As much as he loved the ocean — he was the founding member of the Waikiki Beachboys Canoe Club — he had another passion: golf.

A stint as a caddy at the O'ahu Country Club as a teenager fostered his love for the game.

In 1969 he started the informal Beachboys Golf Club, which still meets every Monday for 18 holes. Between 35 and 50 golfers turn out every week.

"He was very active," said Carolyn, who had been with Kuahulu for 32 years, married for 12. "He bowled, played golf, surfed, played chess, played pool. He did a lot."

For the past 20 years, Kuahulu worked in the print shop at the state Capitol during session.

In his spare time, Kuahulu loved to make hats and bowls out of coconut fronds and carve wooden tikis. Not for money, just for fun, his wife said.

"He'd never want to sell them," she said. "I always wanted him to make more, just so I could give them away."

In December 2006, Kuahulu was having trouble swallowing food. A visit to his doctor revealed he had cancer in his lower esophagus, so far down it couldn't be surgically removed.

He went through a round of radiation and chemotherapy. Then he said, "Enough already."

He quit smoking and drinking and could only eat with a feeding tube.

But, his wife said, he was never in pain and didn't suffer.

Kuahulu even steered a canoe in May at the memorial service for legendary crooner Don Ho.

"He got tired and frustrated at times," she said. "But he was never in any physical pain. Ever."

On Aug. 2, just nine days before he died, Kuahulu celebrated his 70th birthday at a party at Duke's Waikiki. About 200 people turned out for the event.

It was the first time Kuahulu allowed his wife to plan a party for him.

"I wanted to throw him one for his 50th and 60th birthdays, but he wouldn't let me," Carolyn said. "He wasn't the one who liked to be center-of-attention like that."

Kuahulu is survived by his wife; sister, Masae Konno; nephews; nieces; and his beach family.

An aloha service will be at 8 a.m. Friday at the Aloha Beach Services stand. His ashes will be scattered at sea.

The family suggests attendees wear beach attire.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Polynesian Voyaging Society, 191 Ala Moana Blvd., Pier 7, Honolulu HI 96813.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.