Memorial paddle-out honors ‘Sumo’ Sato, Huntington Beach’s surfing pastor

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Hundreds of friends and family splash their hands and throw water in honor of Blaine “Sumo” Sato during his memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of friends, family, and community members gather on the beach to remember the life of Sumo Sato during memorial paddle-out ceremony for Sumo Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Friends, family, and community members gathered to remember the life of Sumo Sato during memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Longtime friends Duke Aipa, left, and Kalani Akua, sing “Ho’ Anani” as they participate in the memorial paddle-out ceremony for Sumo Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Dexter Sato, brother of Sumo Sato makes comments about his youth growing up with his brother during memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Marine Safety Division Chief Michael Baumgartner makes as comments as he remembers the life of Sumo Sato during memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Huntington Beach junior lifeguard cadets listen to stories and comments during the memorial paddle-out ceremony for Sumo Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of friends, family, and community surfers young and old, participate in the beach part of the memorial paddle-out ceremony for “Sumo” Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Jonathan Calpito, left, and Leiana Kepa sing Sunday Morning, gather to remember the life of Sumo Sato during memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Friends, family, and community members wear tee-shirts made for the event as they gather to remember the life of Sumo Sato during memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of friends, family, and community members listen to stories and comments as participate in the beach part of the memorial paddle-out ceremony for “Sumo” Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Two friends of Sumo Sato listen to stories and comments as participate in the beach part of the memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Members of the Huntington Beach junior lifeguard academy listen to stories and comments as participate in the beach part of the memorial paddle-out ceremony for Sumo Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of friends and family grab flowers as they participate in the memorial paddle-out ceremony for “Suto” Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of friends, family, and community surfers young and old, participate in the memorial paddle-out ceremony for “Sumo” Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Ritchie Collins grabs flowers as he joins hundreds of friends, family, and community surfers young and old, to participate in the memorial paddle-out ceremony for “Sumo” Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A surfer grabs flowers on the run as he joins hundreds of friends, family, and community surfers young and old, to participate in the memorial paddle-out ceremony for “Sumo” Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of surfers gather to form a circle in honor of during memorial paddle-out ceremony for Sumo Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A young body boarder heads out with tall flowers in his hands as he participates in the memorial paddle-out ceremony for Sumo Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of surfers gather to form a circle in honor of during memorial paddle-out ceremony for Sumo Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Hundreds of friends and family gather to yell a words during memorial paddle-out ceremony for Blaine “Sumo” Sato on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Friends, family, and community members gather to remember the life of Sumo Sato during memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A young surfer picks up flowers floating on the ocean surface as he and hundreds of others gather to remember the life of Sumo Sato during memorial paddle-out ceremony on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

April 14, 2018 3:30 PM PT

Community members gathered for a paddle-out Saturday in Huntington Beach to remember Blaine “Sumo” Sato, the local surfing pastor who died of colon cancer in March.

The event, organized by Huntington’s Junior Lifeguards, featured speeches from surfer Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti, Marine Safety Chief Michael Baumgartner and Kiaka Gaughen, a lifelong friend of Sato’s.

Sato, who was inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in 2016, was known for his long white beard and his role as pastor of H2O Community Church, operating out of the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach.

He also was the Huntington Beach Marine Safety Division’s official pastor and was a regular speaker at funerals for people in the action sports community.

Memorial paddle-out honors ‘Sumo’ Sato, Huntington Beach’s surfing pastor

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