Cleighton William Ku‘ualohaokalaniakea Eaton

January 23, 1950 - April 23, 2017

January 23, 1950 - April 23, 2017 Cleighton William Ku‘ualohaokalaniākea Eaton was born to father, Clayton Ku‘ualoha Eaton of Ka‘u, and mother, Arline Wainaha Ku‘uleialoha Eaton of Pu‘uloa, on January 23rd, 1950 in Kalihi, O‘ahu. However, Ākea would say, “Kanu‘iaka’uēwe ma Pu‘uloa.” Raised on ‘Ewa Beach Road, mere footsteps from the ocean, Ākea spent his youth surfing with his younger brother Calvin and his infamous group of surf buddies, The ‘Ewa Beach Boys . His lifelong love affair with the ocean is one he would see through until his final days. Ākea graduated from Kamehameha High School Kapālama in 1968, an accomplishment he was enormously proud of and frequently displayed. He was intensely proud of his Hawaiian heritage and strikingly well-read on his culture’s history. An avid sports lover, Ākea played football in high school and college at Arizona Western College, volleyball here on Maui, paddled canoe for both Hawaiian and Kihei Canoe Clubs and became a student of Jeet Kune Do. After marrying wife, Stacey (Andrade) Eaton and raising their three children, Ākea became known as “Coach Cleigh” to a generation of Maui youth who played soccer in the 90’s and 2000’s. Ākea dedicated his life to his family and opened his home to those who would later become his extended ‘ohana. For over 20 years, Ākea was a devout Kahu and Wedding Officiate. He embodied spiritual sanctity and relished in blessing the countless couples that he married. “He‘a‘ali‘ikūmakani mai au, ‘a‘ohe makani nāna e kula‘i. I am the wind withstanding ‘a‘ali‘i. No gale can push me over” (Pukui, 1983, p.60). The ‘a‘ali‘i bush, flexible but steadfast, can withstand the worst of gales-bending and twisting but seldom breaking. Ākea was indeed an ‘a‘ali‘ikūmakani and will forever be remembered as our oceanloving guardian and everyone’s life coach. Ākea is survived by his beloved wife, Stacey Andrade Eaton; son, Kaua Eaton; daughters, Kalena Eaton, Keōmailani Eaton and Cherie Kahahane; granddaughters, Mekia and Miliama Kekona-Eaton; grandsons, Keali‘i Kekona, Kaleo Kahahane-Davis, Ka‘imi Kahahane-Davis, Kenohi Kahahane- Davis and Kamaka Kahahane-Davis; brother, Calvin Eaton; and countless hānai children. The celebration of his life is set for Saturday, May 20th at Hawaiian Canoe Club from 10 am-5 pm. The scattering of his ashes will be held on Sunday, May 21st at 9am at Big Lefts, Paukukalo.