Kafoa Hala Latu, was laid to rest after his body was recovered from the water off Waikowhai Beach on Auckland’s Manukau Harbour on Sunday 10.
Known as a successful paddler, a soccer and tennis player and was also a Surf Life Saver, he had been a coach for the club since 2014.
Kaniva News reports Latu also co-founded the Tu’i Tonga Canoe Club in Hawaii before moving to New Zealand more than a decade ago.
He was a huge supporter of the Tu’i Tonga Mafua team in Tonga, investing both his time and money in the team.
