Memorial Paddle Out Ceremony for Sumo Sato
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)