In keeping with his family's wishes the funeral was a celebration of the entertainer's life.
Members of Ngati Whakaue, Sir Howard's hapu of Te Arawa, created a festival-like atmosphere, singing in welcome as thousands moved on to Ohinemutu's Te Papa-i-Ouru marae where the service was held.
As the bell rang to mark the start of the service, Te Arawa kaumatua Pihopa Kingi noted that it was the last bell to toll for Sir Howard.
One of three officiating clergy, the Reverend Tom Poata, Vicar of Ohinemutu's St Faith's Church, said Sir Howard was a man who broke down boundaries.
Accompanied by a rousing haka as she moved to the lectern, Sir Howard's daughter Donna Grant said his family had had the support of a man of experience, character, personality and charisma.
"That was my father."
She said he would have wanted the day to be televised for Aotearoa - "the nation and people he loved and the people who loved him."
Her husband, Anaru Grant, a police iwi liaison officer and former member of Sir Howard's Tu Tangata programme, paid tribute to his mother-in-law Kuia, Lady Morrison.
"She is a superb example of a wife."
Representing the Government, Acting Prime Minister Bill English described Sir Howard as a great and unique New Zealander, known nationally and internationally for his graciousness.
"It is with his whanau's generosity and support that he is now able to soar with the wind beneath his wings."
At the conclusion of the service Sir Howard's casket was carried to St Faith's where family members and close friends joined in prayer for him.
His sisters Judy Tapsell, Rene Mitchell and Linda Morrison sang one of his favourite numbers, Shenandoah, before he was taken to a hearse for a final drive through city streets lined with those who had come to say their own farewells.
The road leading the several kilometres to the Kaue cemetery at nearby Ngongotaha was also packed with wellwishers.
Sir Howard has been buried beside his parents and other close whanau.
Sir Howard, 74, who had a history of heart problems, died at his Ohinemutu home on the shore of Lake Rotorua last Thursday.
On a day which dawned misty but was fine by 9am, an estimated 3000 people gathered at the marae in Ohinemutu for the 75-minute service.
Sir Howard's coffin was removed shortly after midday and taken to nearby St Faith's Church for a short family service, from where a funeral procession began to Kauae cemetery in Ngongotaha, where Sir Howard would be buried alongside whanau.
His final journey tookhim past the Soundshell where he began his musical career in the 1950s, the Regent Theatre (now the Rotorua Convention Centre) and the Rotorua Citizens Club.
The first hymn sung at the public funeral service was Whakaaria Mai, or How Great Thou Art, a song Sir Howard transformed into iconic status among Maori in particular and which he enjoyed number one chart success with in 1981.
Ms Grant, Sir Howard's eldest child, said she was grateful for all the support from New Zealanders.
"Because it has been so public, and he has wanted to share his life, and he would want today to be televised to Aotearoa because the nation loves him, and we love you for loving him.
"My father was challenging, he was charismatic, but he saw every day as a day of opportunity to do something good, to be recognised for it.
"But also in his heart of hearts he was a man of great giving." She said she had heard much of her father's charitable work, something he did because he wanted to help produce outstanding young people from Aotearoa.
Rev Tom Poata said Sir Howard had been something of a hero in show business.
"He struck down the boundaries between Maori party singers and professional, paid-for-services entertainers.
"He introduced us to the spectacle of Maori equally capable of singing any style of music they chose.
"Thank you for sharing the stage with us."
Among those singing at the service was Dame Malvina Major, who had worked with Sir Howard several times.
