Dino Chin R.I.P. - A Perfect Life: The Waterman's Tale.

I did not know what my camera had captured, but inside felt that all was just perfect.

The call came as much bad news does, out of blue nowhere on a busy day. The voice in my ear through my cel phone, choked and terse sounding made itself clear in the static of my day: “David, Dino is dead” and in tears, Bobby Friedman told me what had happened. Dino had left work early the other day, complaining of not feeling well. When he got to his apartment bad news greeted him about his best friend Ashford. Ashford had been diagnosed as terminally ill with cancer. The following day Dino did not show up at his place on Kuhio beach. Dino never missed a days work as a beachboy. Family found him by noon that day, having died in his sleep as his brother had, of an apparent heart attack at the age of 52. Bobby asked the inevitable, “Hey remember that day at Bon’s paddle out? Do you have any photos around?” I went home and through the files and found it, the best one. The image depicts a waterman at peace having said his goodbyes to his brother at sea. In front of him, a man I did not know paddles.

Dino Ching, was born in 1952 and lived on Waikiki beaches from 1959 to July 8th 2006. Father, grandfather and friend to many, he served the community as a representative of Hawaii and purveyor of aloha throughout his lifetime. Dino was made the youngest canoe captain in history in his teens (A position reserved for tenured watermen in their thirties). He was a US National junior surfing champion. Dino was the lone beach boy who to the end, was never regulated by the State of Hawaii and made to pay the twenty five to fifty thousand dollars a month rent for his stretch of sand on Waikiki. Famous for his shirt that read in Japanese: “Ask me about surfing lessons” he was an admirer of Japan and it’s people and customs. His apartment was decorated in minute detail as one would be in Japan. His long time girlfriend, K, is a Japanese tourist who fell in love with him.

For 45 years Dino showed up for work early each morning and stood beneath what became his trademark umbrella. Two weeks before his death the umbrella was stolen. On July 9th it re appeared. Dino will not only be remembered by Hawaii and his family, but his impact on countless thousands of people who were given a waterman’s initiation to Hawaii by the man. My guess is his umbrella will be on Kuhio beach for quite some time. It ought to be.

Found on a table in Dino’s apartment after his death was a letter from the State of Hawaii, granting him a plot of Hawaiian homestead land. His new land will go to his children. There are so many stories surrounding Dino, I guess those of you who made your way on to his stretch of beach may know some of them that I do not. But in looking back at this man’s existence I would have to say that for Dino Lanakila Ching, his life was as perfect in it’s ending, as in it’s living.

Bobby Friedman rang me again, he was driving to the beach for the memorial paddle out for Dino. Hey David, you know the guy paddling the canoe in front of Dino in the photograph?” “Yea, you guys ever figure out who it is?” I asked. Yea, Bobby laughed. “It is Ashford, his best friend.” Perfect.