Events to honor the late William K. Gonzales will be held at Canoe Beach on Saturday and Sunday. Photo courtesy of the Gonzales Family.

LAHAINA – The family of the late William Kalanikai Gonzales announced that the following arrangements have been made.

On Saturday, Jan. 7, at 9:30 a.m. at Hanako’o Beach Park (Canoe Beach), prior to the start of a scheduled Maui Interscholastic League regatta, crews from Maui, Lanai and Molokai high schools will paddle out to drop flowers in tribute to Gonzales, who was a longtime volunteer water official.

The MIL regatta was originally scheduled to take place in Kihei; however, in honor of Gonzales, it has been relocated to Lahaina, where Gonzales was born and raised.

Visitation is set for 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Ballard Family Mortuary in Kahului. The service begins at 4:30 p.m. Private burial by family members will be held at a later date.

On Sunday, Jan. 8, at 10 a.m. at Hanako’o Beach Park, canoe clubs will hold a flower drop, followed by lunch. Bring loose flowers for the drops, as lei can be harmful for sea life.

Mr. Gonzales was fatally injured on Thursday, Dec. 29, by a recreational motor boat while preparing regatta lanes in Lahaina for high school paddling crews to practice on.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; sister Gloria; daughters Wendy and Theresa; son Hoku; and four grandchildren.