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Uncle David’s Biography
David Kawaiikoolihilihi
Nuuhiwa, who was known to many as 'Uncle David,' was born to Elizabeth and David Nuuhiwa on December 30th, 1925. The Nuuhiwa
family had been living in Kauai's Hanalei River region, now popular with kayakers and rafters, before the family moved to
the Oahu Island, finding a home in the suburbs of Honolulu not far from Waikiki Beach. Uncle David loved the water and spent
a lot of time during his early years at the beach, becoming both an accomplished surfer and a responsible member of the community
who liked to give back. Nuuhiwa was a member of the Waikiki Beach Boys, who, with Duke Kahanamoku, helped bring the sport
of surfing to tourists and American servicemen during the 1930s. Uncle David saved many lives later in his own life, both
as a lifeguard at Waikiki Beach and as a police officer with the Honolulu Police Department. These accomplishments reflect
back to his youth, when he spent time as a Waterman (a Hawaiian group who hung out at the beach providing informal life saving
services) and lifeguard, even being awarded the John F. Kennedy Lifesaving Award. Nuuhiwa became something of a celebrity
in surfing, but fewer people were aware that he was also an outstanding proponent of the martial arts, winning more than 100
consecutive matches and making appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Steve Allen Show." His television
credits also include some stunt work on the Mr. Roberts movie, a guest appearance on "You Asked for It" with demonstrations
of his strength and prowess. Nuuhiwa was well known to locals for his employment as a doorman at the Waikiki Consolidated
Theatres as well as to many locals and mainlanders in the burgeoning surf scene during the sixties. It is a testimony to his
athletic skill and personal humility that the links to the martial arts side of his life were so low key. Dan Zan Ryu was
the name Okazaki gave to the Jujitsu system that Okazaki, the founder of Dan Zan Rye (sometimes called the Hawaiian Martial
Art) developed himself. It was a hybrid system, derived from Yoshin-ryu, Hawaiian Lua, Okinawan karate and other forms of
Japanese and Chinese martial arts. It seems that Uncle David was not in the first group of students to train under Master
Okazaki, but he was among the earliest students taught. Nuuhiwa eventually moved to Anaheim, California. In Anaheim he met
and then worked for Walt Disney, where he was instrumental in setting up the Disney security team for the theme park Walt
was working on a little place called Disneyland. In terms of martial arts, he took much of what he had learned under Master
Okazaki and worked into a new style of his own creation. Called Kaito Gakko (School of Schools), the system was believed to
originate between 1935 and 1945. Nuuhiwa was awarded the title of Doctor and Professor Kaito by high officials and Black Belts
of the Orient. Kaito literally means "The Best of the East and West." Even more impressive, he was presented with
the rare red belt in Karate and achieved the rank of 12th Dan. David Nuuhiwa is one of only five in the world to hold this
rank and the only American ever to hold this honor. Influential in many ways, Nuuhiwa was an elder statesman. Although he
never participated directly in professional surfing, he nonetheless worked hard during the formative years of the sport in
Hawaii. He is, of course, the father of surfing great David Nuuhiwa Jr., holder of two world championship titles. He maintains
a link back to the great Okinawan teachers through his association with and instruction under Okazaki, and built a link to
the future through his own unique style of Kaito Gakko and his spiritual oversight of the current generation such as Grandmaster
Gascon, and others. With the spirituality of the Hawaiian Islands, Polynesian dancer, teacher, mentor, husband and father,
and as Grandmaster Gascon called him “protector”. Uncle David Nuuhiwa was one of the giants that seem to be almost
impossible to find in these times. After his passing, the legacy he built has been entrusted to Professor Bruce Keaulani and
Ohana who, in turn, will pass it on. Uncle David's family continues to grow and prosper. Uncle David's went back home
to Hawaii. Grandmaster Gascon,and Prof. Rash were there at the Outrigger in Waikiki the day before he passed away. Prof. Rash
remembers the day he left for California, Uncle David was sitting in Duke's looking out at the water. He looked very content
and happy to be "home". We would like to say Mahalo to Uncle David and his Ohana for allowing us to be there with
him. On January 27, 2005 half his ashes were scattered in the Ocean in Waikiki, a few days later another paddle out and the
rest were scattered in the Ocean at Huntington Beach, CA
Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu Ohana were at both events.
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