Tribute Keahihoku Lum

Freediving was a passion for Keahihoku Lum and though he is no longer with us, he will always be remembered for his “never give up” attitude. Keahi was a humble teenager growing up in Kalihi. He never complained and made the best of every opportunity. Keahi never passed up an invitation to go diving unless he had to take care of his grandma, mom, or younger sister.

Keahi started freediving when he was 15 years old. Close diving friends remember Keahi coming out for the first time with a yellow mask, a huge snorkel, and body-surfing fins. He didn’t have a wetsuit to keep him warm, no belt/weights to steady him…just a rash guard tank top, board shorts, and a borrowed 3-prong.

Keahi began to watch Hawaii Skin Diver and dreamed of catching an “Ulua” one day. He visited the local dive shops often to learn more about diving, safety regulations, and hopefully find some secret diving spots.

One of Keahi’s close diving partners realized how much Keahi loved diving, so he gave Keahi a wetsuit, diving fins, belt/weights, buoy, kui, and a speargun. Keahi didn’t catch anything the first couple of times, but he never gave up. Keahi’s diving partner remembers the first fish he speared because he was so thrilled and even more excited to cook the fish for his family. With all the proper gear, his first catch, and the heart to never give up, Keahi excelled in freediving.

On October 4, 2009, Keahi and two of his close diving partners went to China Walls. The water was clean and calm….perfect diving conditions. They suited up and Keahi attached his tagline and buoy to his speargun, then said a short prayer before they jumped into the water. They swam to the 3 rocks, which was how they started their path on the reef. One of the diver’s spear got stuck in the rocks so he cut his line and swam back to get another speargun. Keahi and the other diver decided to continue to dive about 10 yards from the 3 rocks. They had just taken a dive down to check out the fishes below and returned to the surface to take a breath. Keahi’s dive partner went down again while Keahi watched. Keahi’s diving partner speared a fish and came up to the surface and signaled to Keahi that there were a lot of fish below them. Keahi was preparing to dive down when his dive partner recalls hearing a motor sound and before he could turn he was hit from behind… his mask and gun were ripped from him. Keahi’s partner was able to resurface and after the water settled, he saw Keahi without his mask, gun, and buoy. They were about 200 feet from China Walls when a 26ft boat, heading out to sea, ran them over. Keahi sustained wounds that he would not recover from…..he was only 17 years old.

Keahi is missed by his family and diving friends…there is an emptiness when we look at the ocean now….no more memories to be made and one less loved one at the table to share fishing stories with….but we will be forever grateful for the memories we do have of a humble teenager who came to love diving because of all the great divers who inspire him. To all the divers, much aloha.