Huntington Beach community honors local surfer Kolby Aipa with paddle out

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The Huntington Beach community brought out their surfboards over the weekend to honor local surfer Kolby Aipa.

"Our son, he was a figure here, people loved him, he was one of those authentic individuals that cared -- how are you -- he was like that with friends and strangers," said Duke Aipa, Kolby's father.

Saturday's gathering was a tribute to 20-year-old Kolby Aipa, who died on August 5 in an e-bike accident in Huntington Beach.

Conch shells rang out as the community honored his life and flowers were placed in buckets along the Huntington Beach shore. Kolby is the grandson of surfboard shaper Ben Aipa of Aipa Surfboards.

"He carved his own path and set his own legacy that this city is never going to forget," said Duke.

Surfing connected Kolby to his community. The surfing community in Huntington Beach came together at Tower 2 and paid their respects by doing what Kolby loved to do while remembering his caring character.

"We knew he was a good kid but never realized how deep he was, loving people and being there, amazing," said Duke.

On Thursday, Kolby was inducted into the Surfers Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach, another way to honor him for many years to come.

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