Emilio Neiva Jr.
Emilio Neiva Jr., 80, passed away on Jan. 26, 2023. He was born in Hilo, Hawai‘i Island, on Oct. 15, 1942, and worked as a groundskeeper at Pono Kai.
He was preceded in passing by parents Emilio Neiva Sr. and Hilda Rapoza, wife Tootsie Neiva, sisters Katherine “Kay” Kahoali‘i and Rosalinda “Linda” Ke-a, and brother Paul Neiva.
He is survived by daughter Carla “Keona” (Craig) Ishida, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held in private by the family.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Stephanie Jean Castillo
“Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26
Stephanie Jean Castillo was born on March 21, 1948 in Honolulu. She went home to be with her Lord and savior Jesus Christ on March 8, 2023, in Hilo, Hawai‘i Island. She was lovingly surrounded by her sisters as she peacefully took her last breaths.
She was honored with a joyous 75th birthday and aloha celebration days before her passing with family, relatives and close friends in attendance.
She was preceded in death by parents Wallace and Norma (Vega) Castillo of Kapa‘a, and sister Teresita (Tessie/Terri) Castillo of New York.
She is survived by sisters Zenaida (Richard) Sawyer, Diane (Ivan) Ward, Leslie (Garrett) Scales, Patricia (Clifford) Furtado, Joanne (Peter) Brun and hanai brother Americus (Jan) Vergara. She loved and adored her many numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life is Sunday, May 28, at noon at Lydgate Park big pavilion in Wailua. A traditional aloha paddle out in the Pacific Ocean will begin at the sound of pu conch shell at 1 p.m. near the lifeguard stand. Here, her ashes along with sister Terri’s (who passed Dec. 14, 2019 in New York) will be scattered. A pa‘ina celebration will follow thereafter.
Stephanie J. Castillo was a Kaua‘i native Filipino-American world traveler. Her heart was always here in Hawai‘i, where her family roots were and where she began to share her Christian faith with her family, relatives and with those who hungered for Christ.
It was through her faith in Christ, which gave her purpose for her journey in life as a passionate, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, former journalist and prolific writer and longtime PBS station friend.
She dedicated her life serving the Lord in ministry, and her career in media took her across the world from Hollywood to New York to Europe telling Hawai‘i stories, producing and showcasing more than 10 exemplary documentaries within the last 30 years.
In a 2020 PBS “Long Story Short” interview with Leslie Wilcox, she is quoted as saying, “I’m a little famous, but I’m not rich, but I have richness of life and experience, and these stories have introduced me to so many wonderful people, taken me to so many wonderful places.” And now her stories will live on, and so will she, peacefully, eternally!
As she took her last breaths, the Lord called her home to her heavenly eternity, and we could hear Him say “well done, good and faithful servant…enter into eternal peace my beloved!” Matthew 25:23
