Mr Tamai was a talented boxer and represented Rotorua in rugby as a young man.
Ms Langley said her grandfather had a cheeky smile that could light up any room, and spent a lot of time at his local pub singing karaoke.
"He loved singing. He sung anything and everything."
The 26-year-old was at home when she heard the news of his death.
"It's sad the way he died. It's pretty horrific, but there's not a lot you can do.
"He died doing something he loved."
She wanted people to remember Mr Tamai for his zest for life and love of his family.
His wife was being supported by friends and family of Mr Tamai, as most of her family lived in the Philippines, Ms Langley said.
Hastings District councillor and good friend of Mr Tamai, Henare O'Keefe, said he would dearly miss his cycling buddy.
Mr Tamai started cycling a few months ago after encouragement from Mr O'Keefe who was a recent convert himself due to them both having to find alternatives to running as they got older.
"I had a spare bike so I gave it to him," Mr O'Keefe said.
"I saw the change in him, he cycled everywhere.
"We used to go cycling together, he loved it."
Mr Tamai's death should be a lesson to both motorists and cyclists to watch out for each other on the road, Mr O'Keefe said.
"We need to adopt a more patient and tolerant demeanour."
The day after his death Mr O'Keefe rode past the accident site and "bawled his eyes out" but decided after then to celebrate his friend's life rather than mourn him.
Mr Tamai lived in Flaxmere for at least 20 years and was influential in the area, he said.
He recently started using his professional boxing experience to help train at the Flaxmere Boxing Academy founded by Mr O'Keefe.
"He was a good man, he would help anybody.
"Don't underestimate the impact this man had."
He was living in Camberley at the time of his death and was semi-retired, teaching free boxing classes and working a few days a week at a local fruit packhouse.
His burial will be held today at Parawai Marae in Rotorua at 11am.