Esperanza Gabriel Garcia's Obituary
Esperanza Gabriel Garcia
"Aunty Espy"
November 22, 1933 – 2026
Esperanza Gabriel Garcia — beloved Aunty Espy — was born on November 22, 1933, in Kekaha, Kauai, the youngest of ten siblings. Her parents, Cecilio Gabriel and Marina Manganaan, had journeyed from Camiling, Tarlac in the Philippines to Hawai‘i, and settled in Kaunalewa, a small plantation camp between Waimea and Kekaha, Kaua‘i, before eventually making Waipahu their home.
Growing up, Aunty Espy was a self-proclaimed tomboy — the shadow of her brother Isayas Gabriel, following him everywhere: swimming in ditches, climbing trees, catching fish, and playing every sport that interested them. Nicknamed Putot, meaning "short" in Filipino, she may have been short in stature, but never in spirit.
At 16, she met the man who would become the love of her life — Marcelino Garcia (Clark). Trading her dream of a physical education degree for business school, she married him in 1953 at the age of 20. His Air Force career took them around the world: Japan, Brazil, Wyoming, the Philippines, Florida — years at a time away from family, who missed them dearly. She and Clark held fast to each other for sixty years of marriage, until he passed away in 2014.
Her greatest passion, outside of faith, was cooking, deeply inspired by her “Mama.” As a docent at Hawai‘i's Plantation Village, she fed every tour group she led — sushi, pancit, Portuguese bean soup, sweet potato leaf salad, bread pudding — never charging a cent. Her path crossed with renowned chef Alan Wong, and in 2006 the two faced off in an Iron Chef–style pinakbet cook-off. No winner was declared. But Aunty had her own way of settling things: she said, "When the food is ono, I kiss the cook." And she did.
Above everything else was her faith. She wove her faith into volunteer work, golf outings, and conversations with strangers and loved ones alike. Her mission was simple: to share about the Lord with everyone she met.
Smiling up to the end, she entered into what she had believed and hoped for most: to be in the presence of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are all blessed to have known her.
What’s your fondest memory of Esperanza?
What’s a lesson you learned from Esperanza?
Share a story where Esperanza's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Esperanza you’ll never forget.
How did Esperanza make you smile?