Blessing of the Waves allows moment of unity in Huntington Beach
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Duke Aipa made a discovery after his son Kolby died in an e-bike accident in August 2025.
Looking at the lock screen of his late son’s phone, he found scripture from the Bible. The verse was Romans 8:6, Duke shared Sunday at the Blessing of the Waves event at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace,” Duke Aipa recited the verse before reflecting on it. “Whatever faith tradition you come from today, or even if you’re still trying to figure out what you believe, I think there is something universal inside those words. There is a difference between simply existing and living with purpose. There is a difference between being consumed by ourselves and becoming aware that something greater than ourselves does exist, and there is a peace that can come when we begin living in that deeper place.”
Aipa said he was honored to be the keynote speaker for the event which is put on by the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council and this year carried the theme “Inspired by the Sea.”
The water has certainly meant a lot to his family; his father — Kolby’s grandfather — was the late famous Hawaiian surfboard shaper Ben Aipa. Now, both Ben and Kolby are in the Surfers’ Hall of Fame.
Duke Aipa said that his son, who was 20 when he died, had been meeting with other young men during the last months of his life, talking about faith, life and responsibility.
“Kolby taught me surrender,” Duke Aipa said. “He taught me that there are things in this life I cannot control and things I will never understand, and that sometimes faith begins when we finally stop trying to understand everything and completely surrender to something greater than ourselves.
“So today, as we bless these waves, imagine for a moment that the waves in return are blessing us, and maybe we can also recognize that the blessing exists in one another.”
Peter “PT” Townend, a Huntington Beach local and the first world surfing champion in 1976, introduced Duke Aipa to the crowd. Conrad Ferber, a friend of Kolby, shared more reflections on his life.
The Blessing of the Waves, emceed by past Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council president Jynene Johnson, also featured faith leaders from several different religious organizations in the county coming together for a shared blessing.
Mustafa Ulukaya represented the Muslim community; Maneck Bhujwala, Zoroastrian; Hillary Green, Christian; the Rev. Adam Bak, Episcopalian and the Jewish community was represented by Robin Harrison.
Together, they reflected on the power of the ocean and how it connected to their faiths.
“These waves remind us that even when life becomes uncertain, we are not alone,” Bak said. “We can remain grounded in faith, hope, and love, and together we can face the storms.”
In unison, the religious leaders said, “Together we bless the waves, because the waves bless us.”
Johnson also thanked community organizations that support the beach and ocean, including the Huntington Beach Art Center Foundation, Friends of the Library, the International Surfing Museum and the Junior Lifeguards.
The event ended with a paddle out on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier.
