In Loving Memory of Leroy Ah Choy — Waikīkī Beachboy, Waterman, Surfer, Pioneer
In Loving Memory
Leroy Ah Choy
Dedicated with love by Kristen "Malia" Ah Choy,
daughter of Leroy and Connie
A Life Rooted in the Ocean,
the Shore, and the Spirit of Aloha
Leroy Ah Choy stands as part of a remarkable Hawaiʻi legacy rooted in Waikīkī, the ocean, and the beachboy tradition. Public histories of the Ah Choy family describe Leroy and his brother Bobby as legendary Waikīkī beachboys, carrying forward a culture built on aloha, service, skill, and deep connection to the sea. He was part of a family whose name remains intertwined with the history of surfing in Hawaiʻi and the spirit of old Waikīkī.
Leroy was more than a surfer. He was a true waterman whose life reflected innovation, courage, and joy in the ocean. Historical accounts of the Ah Choy family place Leroy among the early figures in the development of stand-up paddle surfing in Waikīkī. As the story is remembered, Leroy adapted the use of a paddle not only to move through the lineup, but also to get closer to visitors during surf lessons and photograph them in the water — his work becoming part of the early foundation of a sport that would later grow around the world.
"A great surfer."
— Henry Keawe Ayau Jr., fellow paddler, Outrigger Canoe Club oral history
Even after his passing, Leroy's name remained part of Waikīkī memory. A Hawaiʻi Newspaper Index entry from December 22, 1995 records a feature titled "Beachboy's Last Ride; Hundreds Honor Longtime Waikiki Wave-Rider Leroy Ah Choy" — reflecting the profound impact he had on the community that knew him and the shoreline he helped define.
A Champion's Record
Four-time tandem division champion at one of Hawaiʻi's most prestigious surfing competitions.
Leroy was also remembered in Outrigger Canoe Club oral history as part of an "Iron Man" Molokaʻi crew — a testament to his endurance, skill, and the deep respect he earned among Hawaiʻi's ocean sports community.
How Leroy Inspired
Maluhia Safety Project
Leroy Ah Choy's life was one of extraordinary gifts — a natural connection to the ocean, a warm presence on the shore, and a spirit that touched everyone around him. But like so many people of great heart, he also carried invisible struggles. His battles with mental health and substance use were real, and they were painful — for him, and for the family who loved him.
For his daughter Kristen "Malia" Ah Choy, those struggles became a calling. She saw firsthand how a lack of awareness, access, and early support can quietly erode even the strongest of lives. She understood that the people who need help most are often the ones least likely to find it — not because they don't want it, but because the pathways to safety, healing, and support simply aren't visible enough.
That understanding became the foundation of Maluhia Safety Project — a commitment to building those pathways, making prevention visible, and ensuring that families across Hawaiʻi have the education and tools to recognize warning signs before a crisis takes hold.
"A life can continue to give, continue to inspire, and continue to serve others long after the waves have passed."
This page stands as more than remembrance.
It is a statement of legacy.
Mental Health & Safety Are Inseparable
Leroy's story is not unique. Across Hawaiʻi and across the country, countless families are navigating the intersection of mental health struggles, substance use, and community safety — often without the awareness, language, or support they need to find a way through.
Maluhia Safety Project honors Leroy's memory by making mental health awareness a core part of our prevention work — because safety is not only about physical danger. It is about the whole person, the whole family, and the whole community.
If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health or substance use, please reach out. Help is available, and asking is an act of courage.
Mahalo, Leroy
For the waves you rode. For the people you carried. For the joy you brought to the shores of Waikīkī. For the love you gave your family. And for the legacy that continues to ripple outward — through your daughter, through this work, and through every community we serve.
Your life matters. Your story matters. And because of you, others will find their way to safety, to healing, and to peace.
Maluhia. Peace. Safety. Always.
Learn more about the mission Leroy inspired