Reno Abellira is alive, but he’s been in custody on Oahu. Photo: Instagram//Reno Abellira
On March 9, news broke that Hawaiian surfing legend Reno Abellira had sadly passed away. Although it was widely reported in surf media — including, regrettably, here – that information proved to be false. After reaching out to the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR), it has been confirmed that Abellira is thankfully, still amongst the living.
“Inmate Reno Abellira is alive. He’s in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC),” DCR officials confirmed to The Inertia in an email. “Mr. Abellira has been at OCCC since September 2025 for a conviction for promoting a dangerous drug in the third-degree.”
Abellira was one of Hawaii’s greatest surfers in the 1970s and early ’80s, riding everything well, from 10-foot Brewer monsters to Pipeline pintails. He played a starring role in the shortboard revolution, too, proving to most everyone who rode waves that surfing didn’t require huge, heavy surfboards.
Sadly, though, in his later years things turned darker. He reportedly lived on the streets, and, in 2021, ended up in the ICU after an attack at the Ala Moana carpark. When he was released, he returned to various homeless encampments, but his friends and family have still kept an eye on him, which certainly hasn’t been easy. He was missing for a week in April of 2025, but was eventually located.
The confused reporting of his death, hopefully, at least proves that the surfing community at large still cares about his well-being. Glad you’re still with us, Reno.
