Aki, as he was known on the beach, like former beach boy Gilbert Hisatake, was one of the last old time beach boys who grew up under the apprenticeship system playing ukulele, learning to teach surfing, of steering canoe, and captaining catamarans through the surf in Waikiki. Larry Aki Akiyama always let it be known that giving the tourist a good experience at Waikiki was the main goal of every beach boy.
He lamented as times turned the beach boy system into a commercial business factory, so he moved himself down to Kaimana Beach where he became the retired and elder beach boy protecting the tourists, the monk seals, and spreading his aloha.
Ashley Shock knew his power and produced a twenty-four minute video interview of Aki on Youtube titled “Times have Changed” Waikiki Beachboy, “Aki” talks about his life on the beach & Aloha Spirit.
His impact on every one he met was honest and fair. He will be missed.
Thank you to Bill Brooks for the use of his instrumental music on this video.
Aloha Kyle