La'akea Smith

La'akea Sky Smith Sept. 9, 2013

La'akea, widely known by his middle name "Sky" was born at home in Kilauea on January 6, 1990 on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii. A talented poet, musician and scholar, Sky had come to lead a life of service and inspiration to all those he came in contact with. He was a deeply spiritual guy committed to his teachers and communities. From a very young age Sky had dreams and insights beyond his years. The revelation after his death of the lives he touched, his profound writings and his amazing compassion is astonishing.
He is survived by his parents, Janet Graves and John Smith, and siblings: Brother, Bodhi Downer and his wife Lisa Downer and nieces, Ashley , Kaitlyn, & nephew, Keoni; Sister,Tashina Lane and her husband Kawika Brown and nephews Keanu and Po'okela and niece Hina'ea; Sister Darshana Nani Lane and partner Aryn Hull; and his younger brother Sangjay Smith, as well as a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, his grandmother Lowie Graves, god parents, Fern and Michael Merle-Jones and family and friends from so many communities.

Sky attended the Kauai Waldorf School and enjoyed the beauty of his tropical home. In 2003 he moved with his mother and brother, Sangjay to Sun valley, Idaho where they lived with his grandmother, attending middle school through his junior year in high school in the Wood River valley. He moved to Santa Cruz, CA in 2007 to live at a buddhist retreat center with his mother and Sangjay who is and ever will be his brother and soul companion. He graduated high school in the Santa Cruz school district and went on to college and worked for years at Pema Osel Ling retreat center above Watsonville CA and Bittersweet Bistro in Aptos, CA. He remained connected to his home and family on Kauai and with his friends and family in Idaho.

Sky had recently fulfilled a young persons dream of world travel. He went with his dear friend Grant to Machu Picchu, Peru, continued up the coast of Peru and Ecuador surfing at world famous surf spots. Following this trip and in preparation for entering the fall Semester at UC Berkeley, he had visited his grandmother and mother in Idaho for their birthdays just weeks before his death. He greeted friends and family there and went on to visit another best bud, Ross in Portland Oregon. He was an exemplary family member and loyal friend to many. Sky was hit by an automobile while riding his motorcycle home to his apartment in Oakland, CA after a meeting, passing from this life shortly thereafter. He had just entered UC Berkeley as transfer student from Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, fulfilling a dream he held since he was a little boy. He was an honor scholar, leader and founder of the "Engaged Interdisciplinary Learning for Sustainability" program at Cabrillo College. He had just begun to explore recording his songs and had joined the poets of the east bay in open mic readings.

In his own words: "Born in Hawaii into a family connected with the Dudjom Tersar Lineage. Met my root Lama at one month old, took refuge at 5 and have been practicing Buddhism in a very undisciplined but genuine way ever since.
I now live in Santa Cruz where I study at a community college, surf, write, and occasionally practice meditation.
When I was seventeen, I hit a wall with drug addiction and mental instability and for about a year I struggled with rehab and medication. During the first two years of my recovery I lived in the Santa Cruz mountains at a Buddhist retreat among some of the most kind and devoted practitioners I have ever met. Thru regular meditation, pujas and retreats I deepened my practice and to an extent opened my heart which allowed me to begin to forgive myself and others. I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to immerse myself in such an authentic practice!
I have now been clean and sober for over three years thanks to the Twelve Steps and the kindness of my teachers. My life is incredibly rich and proportionately challenging. I've lived a very long and hard 21 years and I'm looking forward to living the rest of my life in a more balanced, but equally raw fashion."

In the two years since Sky wrote this bio for an online posting for his poetry, he has continued to fulfill his aspirations, his healing journey, and has become a guiding force in his world. He will be missed by so many and now "Sky is Everywhere"

"Having seen a glimpse in this life of the hell borne of ego's passion and addictions, I reflect upon the tough years of my life and how I came to have an understanding of refuge..how the Dharma saved me and gave me the strength to live" Sky 2011

His last post on FaceBook was "my life turns me on". May we all live, inspired by Sky, a life that turns us on.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Vajrayana Foundation Ku-dung stupa project. visit http://www.vajrayana.org/ku-dung-stupas/kds-giving/
Through these memorial offerings La'akea Sky will have a brass plaque which will be mounted on the wall of the Shrine room at Pema Osel Ling where the stupas will be consecrated and reside. You may also email kudungstupas@vajrayana.org with your donation. Please indicate "for SKY " in your donation form on the website or email