Hobie Alter: an Hawaiian paddle-out honored his life

Thousands of surfers and sailors have honored the life of Hobie Alter in an impressive memorial paddle-out, at Doheny State Beach, California.

The man who teamed up with Gordon Clark to use polyurethane foam in modern surfboards had only one wish: a traditional Hawaiian paddle-out ceremony after he died.

"It was unbelievable. It was unbelievable. I knew there'd be quite a few people here, I didn't think this many, so it's a great day,", says Hobie Jr, reliving the hundreds of flowers in the water and raised paddles in the air.

Hobie Alter was a watercraft pioneer. After setting up a revolution in surfing, the entrepreneur from Ontario, California, designed and developed the famous and iconic Hobie Cat sailboat.

During the Hawaiian paddle-out ceremony, the Orange County Harbor Patrol boat sprayed water, creating a rainbow. Alter passed away at 80. His legacy will surely live on forever.

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