JAMES AUSTIN Obituary

JAMES KIMO AUSTIN July 14, 1936 August 22, 2025 James "Kimo" Austin of Honolulu passed away on August 22, 2025, at the age of 89. Born on July 14, 1936, to Lindsley and Beatrice Austin, Kimo grew up in Kailua during the early years of World War II, standing on the beach as bombs fell on nearby Kaneohe and living with barbed wire across his childhood shoreline. Those years of resilience shaped him, but he never lost his deep love for the ocean and islands that raised him. After time in Massachusetts during and after the war, he returned home to Punahou School, where he found his footing as both a student and an athlete. Kimo excelled in swimming, becoming a four-time territorial champion and earning a full scholarship to the University of Iowa, where he went on to win multiple national championships while competing in the Big Ten. He trained among the world's best, just missing the Melbourne Olympics due to a change in qualifying rules. He would often note, softly and with a smile, that the rule change was "because of him." Despite the bitter cold of Midwestern winters, Kimo carried Hawai'i in his heart, often returning to the ocean and spending summers on Cape Cod with mainland family. A natural athlete, his competitive spirit next found expression in skeet shooting. Introduced to the sport by his father, who brought skeet to Hawai'i, he quickly rose to prominence, winning seven world titles and the coveted "Champion of Champions" award. In 1968, he was crowned World Champion, later earning induction into both the National Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame and the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame. His lifelong friendships in the shooting and hunting communities took him around the globe on safari and adventure. His love for the outdoors was never separate from his family and friends he was equally at home in a bird blind, pulling feathers from a day's hunt for dinner, or sharing stories over hanafuda late into the night. Beyond sport, Kimo built a career in property management, applying the same discipline and attention to detail that marked his athletic success. At home, Kimo was more than a champion marksman; he was a Hawaiian waterman through and through. He was an early pioneer of prone paddleboarding, free diving, and spearfishing, and captained his beloved boat Pomaikai through countless open-ocean adventures. He paddled and escorted Outrigger Canoe Club crews across the Kaiwi Channel, hosted athletes at Kapualei Ranch, and remained a proud member of the esteemed Outrigger Winged "O." His woodworking talents contributed to the first voyages of Hokule'a, meticulously building sweeps, paddles, and a mast that carried Hawai?i's cultural renaissance across the Pacific. A lifelong commitment to honing his craft as a master woodworker became one of his great joys, with his deepest passion found in shaping 'umeke blending creativity with innovation while honoring the traditions of the past. Moloka'i was Kimo's second home and truest anchor. His family's connection to the island stretches back to 1868, when his ancestors began stewarding the lands of Kamalo. For over 150 years, Kapualei Ranch has been both livelihood and legacy, passed through the hands of each generation. Kimo embraced his role in this continuum with devotion pulling fence, hunting, fishing, speaking Ilocano with his ranch hands, and hosting countless friends who became family. Lifelong friendships and island-wide expeditions stitched together a life of deep connection to the land and people of Moloka'i. Among his proudest achievements was serving as a founding partner in protecting Moloka'i's native forest through the East Moloka'i Watershed Partnership. Nearly 40 years later, the project continues to thrive, and Kimo remained deeply proud of its success in preserving the island's water and natural resources for generations to come. Kimo found his perfect match in his wife Gay, the woman who could do it all. Together, they built a partnership of adventure and balance, softening his sharp edges with her warmth and strength. Side by side they competed on and off the water, hunted, shot skeet, and ranched Gay was as skilled with a chainsaw as she was in the kitchen, equally at ease bottle-feeding calves, pulling fence, or baking for the community. Their marriage was one of action and teamwork, raising their children, Siana and Jimmy, in a home where family life meant everyone pitching in together. That same legacy of togetherness carried on as they welcomed grandchildren, who grew up knowing that love was best expressed through shared work, laughter, and time spent side by side. Kimo's life was not only about sport and adventure it was also about giving. He founded the Aukina Foundation, which supported causes close to his heart, from youth and education to cultural preservation and community well-being. His generosity reached Moloka'i's paniolo preservation programs, canoe clubs, the Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i, the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, Punahou School, River of Life Mission, First Presbyterian Church, and Make-A-Wish Hawai'i. His giving went beyond formal philanthropy; countless friends and families knew his quiet kindness in times of need. Kimo was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Gay. He is survived by daughter Siana and husband Anthony; son Jimmy and wife Erin; and five grandchildren: Aukina, Ariana, Emalia, Olivia, and William. Each of them reflects his spirit of determination, competitiveness, and love for 'ohana. Services will be held Thursday, September 11, at 5:00 p.m. at the Outrigger Canoe Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Aukina Foundation, 223 S. King Street, Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96816.