The life of the late UH soccer legend Colt Brennan was celebrated in Waikiki

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — Hundreds made their way to Waikiki Beach to honor the late University of Hawaii soccer legend Colt Brennan with a celebration of life hosted by the Brennan Ohana.

The size of the crowd shows the true reach Colt had across the islands – cementing a legacy that will never be forgotten.

The ceremony began with emotional speeches from his former head coach June Jones, current Rainbow Warriors coach Timmy Chang, his sister Chanelle Brewster and father Terry before making their way to shore, boarding canoes to join many others on Paddling out surfboards and catamarans to lay Colt at his final resting place.

“It was special, it was special because we had family and friends out there joining us who weren’t on surfboards or paddleboards.” Terry Brennan to reporters. “They were either in the catamarans or in the outriggers themselves.”

Colt will now have a forever home on the islands, a special place for fans and family to reconnect with the Hawaiian sports legend.

“I know every time I come back here I might get to see him swim with him,” Colt’s nephew Mason Shey told Hawaii News Now. “Yes I’ve seen him play and I’ve always been told I wish I could be like him and I wish he was still here because I never really saw him that much as he was always in this beautiful place. “

In addition to celebrating the life and legacy of No. 15, this morning’s ceremony also brought people together, which is what Colt did as he took UH football to heights unimaginable.

“Opportunity for us to celebrate Colt, but at the same time a lot of old friends and old faces who can get together to do it together,” Colt’s former teammate Nate Ilaoa said. “It is something very special and great.

Despite some of Colt’s darker days, his enduring legacy will be one of hope and redemption.

“He better left the jersey in a better place when he left university.” said current UH head coach Timmy Chang. “So we’re just happy to be able to honor him with our piece.”

“Did Colt make mistakes?” Brennan said. “Yes he has made his share of mistakes and hopefully we can learn from them and help other kids who have mental health issues and challenges and addictions in particular.”

While Brennan brought so much to Hawaii as the face of UH football for nearly three years, friends said he would take the time to sign autographs for fans and adapt to the culture he loved so much.

After his time at UH, Brennan worked to give back to the local football communities by volunteering with the Kahuku High School football team and a number of other youth organizations.

“He just had so much love and he was so humble despite being in the spotlight,” Colt’s close friend Timmy Lessons said. “He just went out of his way to do everything for everyone and that’s what I admired most about him.”

Brennan’s friends and family say he loved working with children.

To keep his memory alive, they created the Colt Brennan Legacy Fund to support youth sports and mental health organizations – they’re hosting their first youth football clinic in Honolulu on Saturday and hope to make it an annual affair.

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