Two months after they were lost in a flash flood on Maui, Carl "Linky" and Rae Lindquist were given a final aloha yesterday by friends and associates, who called the two "the most loving couple you'd ever meet."

The Lindquists, both 75, were swept away during heavy rains Thanksgiving night in Häna. Hikers discovered their badly damaged Ford sport utility vehicle in a streambed near their home on Ulaino Road, but the Lindquists' bodies were never found.

A memorial service was held last month on Maui, but the high school sweethearts who met while attending Punahou School had many friends on O'ahu who wanted to have an opportunity to say goodbye. The couple, who owned Hana Coast Realty, had been active in the community here and on Maui.

With the backdrop of Waikíkí Beach, about 75 people gathered at the Elks Club to celebrate the lives of the Lindquists. The service featured prayer, hymns in Hawaiian and English, chants by Ka'upena Wong, and a song by longtime friend Eddie Kamae.

The memorial ended with a scattering of plumeria on the ocean as the friends sang "Aloha 'Oe." Kamae and his Sons of Hawai'i performed after the service.

None of the Lindquists' family members could make it to yesterday's service, but Jack Keppeler, a classmate of the couple, read a letter from their grandson, Devon Morones.

The 12-year-old from California recalled joyful times, such as a sailing trip with his grandparents on Maui. Morones characterized it as a "beautiful day spent together as a family."

Bobbie Carter Reed, another Punahou classmate, knew "Linky and Rae Deane" when they were kids. In fact, Reed introduced the two and the couple would go on to celebrate 52 years of marriage.

Reed has lived in Seattle for 30 years, but kept in touch with the Lindquists. She couldn't make it to the Maui service and was grateful for yesterday's celebration of life.

"They were so loving. They just both were so warm and they were fun," Reed said. "They were just the pillar of our lives. Everybody adored them and they adored everybody."