The surfing world is in mourning after the tragic death of Tamayo Perry, a beloved Hawaiian waterman, who was killed in a shark attack near Goat Island on Oahu’s North Shore on June 23. He was 49.
A respected lifeguard with Honolulu’s Ocean Safety team and a legendary Pipeline surfer, Perry was pulled from the water by fellow lifeguards via Jet Ski but was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi honored Perry’s heroic legacy, calling him “a man of great courage and service.” Acting Ocean Safety Chief Kurt Lager added, “Tamayo was truly loved by all — both in and out of the water.”
Perry’s impact stretched far beyond the lifeguard tower. Known for his fearless style and infectious charisma, he appeared in major films like Blue Crush and Pirates of the Caribbean, and starred in hit shows like Hawaii Five-O. Alongside his wife, Emilia, he shared his passion for surfing through their North Shore surf school.
Emilia, heartbroken yet proud, said her husband died “doing what he loved, where he loved to do it.”
Tributes have poured in from around the world. Surfing icons like Kelly Slater and Moana Jones Wong remembered Perry as a bright, joyful force in the ocean community.
Tamayo Perry leaves behind a legacy not just of wave-riding greatness, but of unwavering aloha, service, and soul. He will forever be remembered as a guardian of the sea and a true son of Hawaii.