Wayne Epo Autele's Obituary
Wayne Autele Obituary
WAYNE EPO AUTELE
Oct 21, 1948 – Apr 3, 2023
Wayne was a man who lived aloha; he was loved, admired, and will be missed by so many, especially by his surviving family; devoted wife of 49 years, Ellen Autele; daughters Tabitha Autele (Elmer Acera), Tania Critchlow, and Taila Autele; grandchildren Brayden and Tobey Autele-Acera, Bode and Ivy Critchlow, and Kapukonakona Chong-Hanssen.
Sgt. Wayne Epo Autele was born and raised in the housing district of Kalihi. At a young age, he felt a strong calling to become a police officer. He attended McKinley High School, where he played center on their football team, and graduated in 1966. Wayne’s dream of becoming a police officer came to fruition in 1967, and he was pleased to find he was assigned to patrol the Kalihi area where he grew up (to the angst of the criminals and gangs in the community). He was promoted to sergeant in 1983. Wayne spent the majority of his career patrolling Kalihi, and transferred to Wahiawa for his last 4 years. He retired from HPD in 1999 after 32 years of service. Wayne thrived as a police officer and had an outstanding career, receiving many awards and recognition for heroic service including: a Certificate of Merit Award in 1981 for saving 2 nuns from a burning building; HPD Outstanding Employee of the Year and Honolulu Elks Club Outstanding Police Achievement Award in 1982; Police Officer of the Year and Honolulu City and County Employee of the Year in 1983. After his retirement from HPD, Wayne worked at the Mililani Middle School as their Safety Resource Officer from 2000 – 2010 where he was a favorite among the staff and obedient students. He volunteered at the Kaiser Permanente Waipio Clinic from 2010 – 2017, delivering mail to the different departments, always with a smile.
Throughout his life, Coach Wayne served as a mentor and role model to the many youth who were privileged to play for him. He was the head coach of the Pop Warner Kapiolani Tigers football team for many years, and in 1970, he received the Hawaii Pop Warner Commissioner’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Youth of Hawaii. He also served as the head coach of the McKinley JV football team, and later as assistant coach for the varsity football team. Once his 3 daughters were old enough to play sports themselves, he dedicated much of his time to coaching their Mililani Waipio Bobby Sox softball and AYSO soccer teams. No matter what shift he was working, he was always there at their practices and games all the way through their high school sports careers. Wayne also found the time to serve as an umpire for Bobby Sox softball and referee for the Hawaii Basketball Association.
Wayne was a true family man, always there for his wife and girls. When his daughter, Tabitha, became Drum Major of the Trojan Marching Band, he showed his support by becoming (likely the first and only Samoan) President of the Mililani High School Band Boosters in 1991 – 1992. When his grandchildren were born, he was a part of their everyday lives and supported them in all their sports, band performances, and other activities. Wayne was a humble man, lived his life with the highest level of integrity and was a fierce protector of his family. We will love and miss him always.
Wayne is also survived by his 4 brothers; Frank Martinez, Ronald Autele (Angela), Thomas Autele (Redenia), and Gregory Ortiz (Paula).
The Autele family would like to send a special mahalo to St. Francis Hospice and the staff at Nu’uanu Hale for their exceptional love, support, and care for Wayne towards the end of his life.
A tribute to Wayne will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Mililani Mortuary, Mauka Chapel, with visitation starting at 5 pm, and service to follow at 6 pm. Wayne will be laid to rest on Monday, July 10, 2023 at 10 am. The family requests no flowers, please.
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