An all-day memorial celebration in honor of Michael Tongg is scheduled for Aug. 12.

Tongg, one of the most influential figures in the sport of canoe paddling, died on July 13 after a four-year battle with lung cancer. He was 63.

"The first thing I hope he's remembered for is being a family man and that he loved the Lord," said his wife, Jan. "But he also loved the ocean, and anything and anybody associated with the ocean."

Tongg was a former champion paddler who later became an instrumental administrator in the sport.

"He touched so many lives ... too many to count," said Hannie Anderson, president of the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. "He was all about paddling, and the sport wouldn't be where it is today without Michael Tongg."

He paddled with Waikiki Surf Club crews that won the prestigious Moloka'i Hoe in 1966, '69 and '73. Some of his teammates included Nappy Napoleon, Rabbit Kekai and Blue Makua Jr.

The 1966 Moloka'i Hoe featured 20-foot seas and 40 mph gusts across the Kaiwi Channel.

"He was part of a legendary crew at Surf Club," said Mike Judd, who had Tongg as a coach in the 1990s and now is a paddler with the powerful Lanikai Canoe Club. "But you would never have known it from him. He never took glory. It was never about him. It was always about looking ahead and improving."

Tongg later coached and paddled for several clubs, including Waikiki Surf Club and 'Anuenue.

He also served as president of the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association for nearly 20 years. The HCRA is the state's governing body of team canoe paddling.

Under Tongg's tenure, membership in the HCRA doubled to its current total of nearly 10,000.

"When we were at a crossroad in this sport, he was the one we all turned to," said Tambry Young, president of the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization. "How big did we want to be as a sport? Where are we going to go in this sport? Is Hawai'i going to be the driving force for the rest of the world?

"He guided us. He had the long-term vision to take us where we are now."

Tongg also served as president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, and was a crew member on many of the voyages of the sailing-canoe Hokule'a.

"He was an educator," his wife Jan said. "He wanted to share the sport of canoe paddling with anybody who would listen."

Canoe-related trips took Tongg around the world, including Australia, California, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Western Samoa, Tonga, Saipan and Rapa Nui.

"He was a true ambassador for our sport," Judd said.

Tongg was on the Hokule'a's historic "Voyage of Rediscovery" that started in 1985 and took nearly two years to complete.

"He wanted the whole world to get involved in paddling," Anderson said.

The memorial celebration on Aug. 12 will include a service in the morning at a site yet to be determined.

That will be followed by a scattering of ashes off the "Tongg's" surf break near Diamond Head around 3 p.m. The spot is named after his family. The Hokule'a is expected to take Tongg's ashes out to sea.

After the scattering of ashes, a gathering will take place at Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki.

Jan Tongg said the public is invited to all of the events.

Tongg was also a prominent attorney in family court cases. In addition to their own four children, the Tonggs helped care for dozens of foster children.

"He had so much passion for paddling," said Jim Beaton, who had Tongg as a coach while at Waikiki Surf Club. "But he also had so much love for family and friends. He was amazing."

Tongg is survived by wife Jan, children Malissa, Stacy, Michael and Matthew, and grandson Kainoa.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.