Joined OCC: February 6, 1969
Elected to Winged “O”: February 24, 2014
At the Annual Meeting on February 24, 2014, Karl Heyer IV was inducted into the Outrigger Canoe Club’s Winged “O”. Karl’s father, Karl Heyer III, was also a member, inducted in 1972, making the father and son combo only the second in the history of the Winged “O” since its debut in 1968.
Karl joined the Outrigger as a Junior member in 1969 at the age of eleven. Following in his father’s footsteps, he immediately took up the sports of surfing and canoeing, the ocean becoming his second home. Over the years, he has coached and paddled, and later became involved in Club operations, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for five years, including a year as Outrigger Canoe Club President in 2000.
Karl’s election to Winged “O” was even more heartfelt since the announcement was made by his Godfather, one of the original Winged “O”s Ron Sorrell, who has been a life-long friend and mentor.
Karl’s sports resume includes an amazing record of participation in Outrigger sporting events, including paddling in the Molokai Hoe fourteen times. He also paddled on many State Championship crews; his first such victory was in 1975, paddling on the Boys 18, and in 1979 and 1980, as a member of Freshmen Men. Progressing to Junior Men, between 1982 and 1994, his crew racked up seven State Championship victories before he joined Junior Masters Men, amassing a total of four top honors, and again with the Masters in 2009. Now that’s a record to be proud of!
Not only did Karl paddle, but he coached many different crews leading them on to capture the State Championship. The Boys 14 and 16 won the coveted top honor in 1982; the Women’s Novice B and Master’s Men 45 and older, took home the gold for three consecutive years, 1883-1985.
But that’s not all. Karl has also served on numerous committees, some related to Outrigger’s ocean sports programs, others to Club operations. One of his outstanding accomplishments was establishing and chairing the annual Cline Mann 5,000-Meter Paddleboard Race which began in 1985. The race was renamed the Cline Mann Ko`olaupoko Paddleboard Race following Cline’s death and the venue changed to a race from the Makai Pier in Waimanalo to the OCC Beach. Also in the sports realm, Karl has been a member of the Surfing, Canoe Racing and Canoe Surfing Committees, making significant contributions to each one.
In his role as a member of the Outrigger Canoe Club Board of Directors, Karl served as Club treasurer, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, and member of Long Range Planning. As Board liaison, he worked with Entertainment, Building and Grounds, Athletics, and Admissions and Membership. He was elected President of the OCC in 2000-2001. To say he has been an active member is certainly an understatement.
Born on January 10, 1958 and raised in Hawaii Nei, Karl is a 1976 graduate of Punahou School; he received a degree from the University of Southern California in 1981 and has had a successful career in property development.
Karl continues to fit his favorite sport into his busy schedule by paddling on the Club’s masters crews.
Karl’s contributions have certainly been a boon to the Outrigger and his induction into the Winged “O” is the Club’s way of showing its appreciation. It is a very fitting acknowledgement for years of outstanding accomplishments.