JON MOZO REMEMBERED

Jon Mozo

A eulogy by friend and fellow photographer Paul Javier

CLICK HERE for a Jon Mozo tribute photo gallery

A good mind, a good heart, warm feelings, these are the most important things.
- Dalai Lama

Jon Mozo embodied all of this in his brief 33 year tenure in this world. A well-respected Hawaii'an photographer, cinematographer, and surfer, Jon Mozo died on February 9 while photographing waves and surfers at Backdoor Pipeline. While the details are still unclear, he most likely was thrown over the falls and subsequently hit his head on the reef.

Jon was a testament to all that was good and humble in the world today, and his presence inspired the same from those around him. A talented photographer and surfer, he was a great waterman and a humble and honest soul. He gave tirelessly to his community, church, and to the youth of Hawaii and Tahiti. Last December, when a Mililani neighbor was not able to get a Christmas tree, Jon found a tree, decorated it and left it at the neighbor's house.

Over 1,500 family, friends, and well-wishers attended his funeral and burial on Saturday February 19 at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La'ie. Speakers included his daughter, Amber, his wife Nikki, father Reynaldo, and close friends Rachel Runnels, Kelly Bishop, and Owen Matsunaga. In his eulogy to Jon, his brother and close friend Allen read the following passage from Khalil Gibran's The Prophet:

"…And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? /
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. /
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. /
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."

Two days later, on Monday February 21, on a beautiful sun-drenched day at Jon's favorite beach, Malaekahana, hundreds of his friends and family gathered to bid farewell to a man who touched so many lives. On the same beach where Jon loved to surf, proposed to and married his wife Nikki, and brought his children to play, his family paddled out in a double-hull canoe draped in maile lei under clear blue skies and into sparkling turquoise water while hundreds of friends subsequently formed a huge circle around them. After a brief prayer, lei's and flowers were tossed into the water to pay respects to a great man. And immediately afterwards, as was Jon's dream, his son Makana and daughter Amber surfed Jon's favorite break for the first time, along with dozens of family members and friends.

A trust for Jon's wife, Nikki, and their four children, Makana, Amber, Ariana, and Anela has been established to help them for the difficult journey ahead. In addition, he is survived by his mother Julia, father Reynaldo, and b nb rothers Allen, Chris, and Carlos. Jon Mozo's photographs can be viewed and prints can be ordered from www.JonMozo.com.

Donations can me made to:
The Jon Mozo Legacy Fund
c/o The Mozo's
P.O. Box 848
Hauula, HI 96717

Jon's smile will be missed by all.

There is a greater force, a higher power that must personally be discovered and honored to close this great circle of life and obtain true peace.
- Jon Mozo, 2005

For sharing your life and love with us Jon, Mahalo, Mauruuru, Kia ora rawa atua kia kotua. Rest in peace. We will never forget you.

 

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