Waikiki Community Center honors Jeff Apaka, son of legendary Hawaiian music icon Alfred Apaka. Jeff was a vocalist in his own right and headlined shows at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Maui Surf Hotel, and most recently entertained at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

 

In December of 2021, Jeff received the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in the Monarch Room at the Royal Hawaiian. His father received the same award in 1997 (posthumously).  

 

For more than 25 years, Jeff was the Director of Community Relations at the Waikiki Community Center. He started the long-running Ala Wai Challenge, a successful community competition/ fundraiser, which later became the Duke Kahanamoku Beach Challenge at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  

 

Jeff was known to so many – from famous entertainers and cultural icons to WCC’s kupuna, community members and staff, to his family and friends. He touched the lives of many and will be remembered fondly. 

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To read more about Jeff, his life, and his work with Waikiki Community Center, follow this link to an article about him in Generations magazine.