Hours earlier Ho's family held a private memorial service, boarded canoes and scattered the singer's ashes in the waters of Waikiki.

Thousands of people then gathered for a free tribute concert where recording artist Hoku Ho sang her father's signature song, "I'll Remember You," then looked up and said, "That was for Daddy. I love you Daddy."

It was just another of the emotional moments that filled a day of memories in honor of the Kane'ohe-born Ho, who grew up to personify Hawai'i to untold millions of people around the world who dreamed of visiting the Islands.

Ho died April 14 of heart failure at the age of 76.

Honolulu police estimated last night's concert crowd at Queen's Surf Beach at 10,000 people — far less than the 25,000 that organizers had expected.

"It's a good crowd, but an orderly crowd," said HPD Maj. Randy Macadangdang. "Everybody is respectful and patient."

The tribute concert drew an all-star lineup of Hawai'i entertainers and dignitaries that included Mayor Mufi Hannemann, The Brothers Cazimero, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, Willie K. and former Gov. George Ariyoshi, among others.

For nearly three hours, singers, musicians and speakers paid homage to Ho after friends and family had scattered his ashes in waters about half-a-mile off Waikiki.

Just after Ho's family placed Ho's ashes into the ocean, a large swell rose up, prompting a cheer from the 300 to 400 people bobbing in catamarans, canoes and on surfboards.

"Those are Don Ho's waves, ladies and gentlemen," AM-940 deejay Keaumiki Akui told those on the water.

Yvonne Hobbs, a radio sales associate from Kailua, was in the flotilla and was surprised by the low turnout.

Perhaps, Hobbs said, most people were deterred by the choppy water. Still some, including surf legend China Uemura, paddled out on longboards.

Hobbs was just glad to be a witness. "It was chicken skin when the waves came in," he said. "It was like he was watching the whole thing."

Ho's ashes had been divided and wrapped in ti leaves, which were scattered by family members at 5:50 p.m.

The flotilla was joined by a water-cannon salute by the Ho-nolulu Fire Department's fire boat, a helicopter flower drop and a memorial flyby by a Hawai'i Air National Guard F-15 Eagle fighter jet.

'BEAUTIFUL' SERVICE

After the service, a double-hulled canoe carrying about a half-dozen people got swamped in the waves, but no one was injured, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Ho's family earlier held a private service on the lawn of the Sheraton Waikiki hotel, with the ocean in the background. His ashes sat at the front of the service in a koa urn. The service included a recording of Ho singing "I'll Remember You" and live performances by some of his 10 children.

The mood of the service was relaxed, with some people applauding the performances by Ho's children. Others cried, especially when the recordings of Ho were played.

Most family members wore white. But Ho's widow, Haumea Hebenstreit Ho, was dressed in an orange, sleeveless aloha print dress, haku lei and sunglasses.

After the service, Ho's son and namesake, Don Ho Jr., called the service "a beautiful thing. My dad never would have expected it. I can't imagine life without him. I don't think there's anyone else like him."

Mourners included Hannemann, Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie.

"It's a sad day," Hannemann said. "I think Don wants us to celebrate his life."

Kahu Tom Iannucci of Breath of Life Church on Kaua'i described Ho as an athlete, Air Force veteran and entertainer who "embodied the spirit of aloha." Ho's philosophy, Iannucci said, was "that everybody should be treated fairly, that everybody should be welcomed."

The service on the lawn of the Sheraton Waikiki hotel, adjacent to the Royal Hawaiian hotel, attracted about 300 tourists — some shirtless — who ringed the area and watched from hotel windows, taking photographs.

Carl and Tina Manisco of Elk Grove Village, Ill., wore T-shirts and shorts as they witnessed what they considered an event of historical proportions. They're in Waikiki celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary and saw Ho perform on their honeymoon.

Tina Manisco, 45, called Ho an "icon of Hawai'i who will be missed ... his personality, his singing and his showmanship."

Later, at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, Aiona told the concert crowd that, "I've never seen anything like this in my lifetime. ... Whether it was his music or his spirit, we will remember Don Ho."

Ken and Candy O'Key of San Diego were the first to set up their beach chairs at Queen's Surf Beach to get a good spot for the concert.

Candy O'Key, 60, first saw Ho on her first honeymoon in 1966 and immediately fell in love with the singer. She subsequently saw him perform twice more.

"I loved him, loved his music," she said. "I thought he was a great entertainer."

She was surprised that she and her husband were the first to arrive at the Sunset On the Beach site around 9:45 a.m.

"Maybe some people didn't want to come down because of the crowd," she said.

By 2 p.m., hundreds of people had joined the O'Keys in staking out spots at Queen's Surf Beach.

'ONE OF THE BRUDDAHS'

Margo Lyn, a Wai'anae resident, came at the urging of her husband, who told her she would regret it if she didn't see the memorial in person. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime event," she said.

Lyn's favorite memories of Ho came in the 1960s, when she was a night-shift nurse in Honolulu. She and her fellow nurses would end their shift at 11 p.m., run home to change, then head over to Waikiki to watch Ho perform.

"We just really enjoyed everything about him," she said.

'Ewa Beach resident Tony Kalili, his wife, two sisters, a brother and sister-in-law rented rooms in Waikiki on Friday night to make sure they got a good spot at Queen's Surf Beach.

They were at the beach by noon, talking about what they remembered about Ho and his music. "He was an icon of Hawai'i people," Kalili said. "I think you're going to see a lot of locals here."

Actor Branscombe Richmond met Ho 28 years ago in Hollywood and considered him an inspiration who "was a really simple guy."

"He was one of the bruddahs," Richmond said. "And all of the bruddahs were out there today. There's a saying: 'He ate with the common folks. He ate with the kings.' That was Don."

Advertiser staff writer Mary Vorsino contributed to this report.