Jimmy Cockett was a dynamic hotel executive, not only by what he accomplished but in appearance.

"He was handsome, tall and a giant, both physically and personally, who looked like ali'i," recalled Wailani Bell, a Sheraton travel service employee who first met Cockett in the early 1960s when she was a professional hula dancer and he was general manager of the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel.

Cockett, the first general manager of Hawaiian ancestry at a major Waikiki hotel, died Oct. 27 at his home in Kula, Maui. He was 81.

Services were held Saturday on Maui, and his ashes were scattered at sea yesterday off the Moana Surfrider with classmates from the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1944, former employees and friends such as Danny Kaleikini among those paying their final respects.

"He exemplified the Hawaiian (spirit) of aloha in the way he treated people, and he liked bringing locals to work in Waikiki," Bell said. "We don't have that anymore in Waikiki."

Many still remember the image of Cockett as 1957 Aloha Week king.

Born and raised on Maui, Cockett joined the Merchant Marine and worked as a Honolulu police officer and Honolulu Liquor Commission inspector after graduating from Kamehameha. In 1953, he went to work as lounge manager at Moana Hotel, which was then owned by Matson Hotels.

Cockett was promoted to general manager of Sheraton Moana Surfrider in 1963, a year after the hotel was purchased by Kenji Osano. During his tenure at the hotel, Cockett helped to bring the first Japanese package tours to Hawai'i and helped open the new Surfrider hotel in 1969.

He later served as vice president and general manager of the Princess Kaiulani Hotel, Sheraton Maui and Sheraton Perth in Australia before retiring in 1995.

Phyllis Kanoe Cockett of Colorado said her father had many hotel stories, but her favorites occurred while he worked in Australia.

"When they held thank you parties (for staffers), only husbands were invited," Phyllis Cockett said. "My father broke the tradition. He believed success also comes from the family, so he made sure invitations were sent to the wives."

Jimmy Cockett oversaw the closing of the Sheraton Maui and served as a consultant for owners Kyo-ya in the rebuilding of the hotel.

During his retirement, Cockett enjoyed traveling, golfing, swimming, reading and studying medicinal uses of native plants, his daughter said.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.