Family, friends, and fans gathered on a beach in Waikiki for a Hawaiian memorial service for Beth Chapman.
Chapman, 51, the wife of Duane ‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ Chapman, died on Wednesday months after she was diagnosed with throat cancer.
She was given a memorial ‘paddle out’ send-off on Saturday.
Dozens of mourners observed the memorial on Fort DeRussy Beach and recorded it on their cell phone before uploading the images to social media.
Friends, family, and mourners gathered for a paddle out on a beach in Waikiki, Hawaii to remember Beth Chapman, 51
A paddle out is a ritual often used to honor surfers who died while surfing
Mourners gather on a beach and ‘paddle out’ either on a surfboard or some other floating device. Once they get far enough out to sea, the mourners form a circle or a line. They may even grasp each others’ hands
A paddle out is a ritual that is held to honor someone who has died.
It has usually been done to remember someone who died while surfing, though the tradition has been adopted internationally.
Mourners gather on a beach and ‘paddle out’ either on a surfboard or some other floating device.
Once they get far enough out to sea, the mourners form a circle or a line. They may even grasp each others’ hands.
Mourners may also place a wreath of flowers into the ocean and leave it there.
Duane Chapman told mourners on Saturday that his wife asked to be memorialized in Hawaii since it was her favorite place on earth.
Beth Chapman was the wife of Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman (seen above making remarks to family and friends in Waikiki on Saturday)
‘She said, "Please Hawaiian style … please do this right",’ the reality television star said
‘She loved Hawaii and she loved people. The people mostly she loved,' her husband said
As per Beth’s wishes, mourners also performed the traditional Hawaiian custom ‘oli’ chant. The oli is a custom chant that has been used in Hawaii to make important announcements including births, deaths, and celebratory occasions
Beth Chapman planned her memorial services before her death at 51 this past Wednesday
‘She said, "Please Hawaiian style … please do this right",’ the reality television star said.
