The Spirit That Lives On

Vinnie was born on March 11th, 1991, two months and three weeks premature. Weighing barely over a pound, he was called the miracle baby. Tiny, but full of light, he fit into the palm of his father’s hand and into the heart of everyone he met.

From the beginning, Vinnie lived with quiet strength. He faced health challenges that most could never imagine, yet he didn’t dwell on pain, he focused on love. He gave more than he took, smiled more than he struggled, and reminded everyone around him that life itself was a gift.

The greatest lesson Vinnie ever taught us was simple and timeless: your health is your wealth. Not the kind of wealth that fills a bank account, but that being truly rich means waking up with gratitude for breath, movement, and the chance to love another day.

 

 

A Life of Love, Adventure, and Strength

Vinnie faced challenges that could have held him back, but he never let them.

When he lost his mother, it could have broken him but instead, it awakened something deeper. That loss expanded his compassion and strengthened his love for family.

When our parents were working, Vinnie became our caretaker, a second parent to me, Koa, and Kiana. He made sure we were fed, safe, and loved. 

He didn’t just look after us, he shaped us.

Vinnie then began a new chapter of adventure. He traveled the world with his grandparents, experiencing different cultures, new foods, and unfamiliar places with the love he carried everywhere. 

At the end of a cruz with his grandparents Vinnie decided to live in Australia for 2 years by himself, far from home but on an adventure. He built friendships, explored new places, and learned what independence truly meant. 

After Australia, he continued to move between Maui and San Francisco, living life at his own pace, connecting deeply with everyone he met, and always bringing his unique light.

 

 

Ambassador of Aloha

Vinnie embodied aloha in its purest form. He didn’t give because he had to, he gave because it was who he was. Whether it was time, laughter, or a quiet moment of kindness, he made everyone feel seen and cared for.

He lived by the truth that the more you give, the more your spirit grows. That generosity is the purest form of abundance. Even when he had little, he shared everything, his joy, his strength, his light. He made people feel like family.

 

 

Hoʻoponopono

In Hawaiian culture, Hoʻoponopono is the practice of making things right, of cleansing the heart through forgiveness and love.

Vinnie lived this without needing to say the words. He never held grudges. He let go easily, spoke softly, and forgave quickly. Through his example, he taught us that true healing begins within.

 

 

A Soul That Couldn’t Be Contained

Vinnie’s story didn’t end when his time here did, it simply changed form. 

He lives on in the laughter that fills our home, in the way we treat others with kindness, in the courage to chase our dreams. 

He lives on in Mission Mālama, in the purpose, the connection, and the love behind every action we take.

His belief in giving without asking for anything in return has become the foundation of our mission.

Some days, we feel him in the smallest moments, like the warmth of the morning sun, a soft breeze across the ocean, or the quiet voice reminding us to slow down and be present.

Other days, we see him in the people we meet, the ones who live with aloha, who give without expectation, who remind us that the light always finds its way through.

Vinnie’s spirit lives on because he taught us the truth of aloha: that love doesn’t fade, it flows through time, through people, through the choices we make every day.

And when we live with that love, he’s still right here with us, smiling, guiding, and reminding us that life is a blessing.

 

 

From Loss to Legacy

Vinnie’s story is one of strength, love, and pure aloha. Though his time on this earth was shorter than we wished, his impact reaches farther than we’ll ever know. He showed us that life is measured not by years, but by the love you give, the peace you bring, and the light you leave behind.

His spirit continues to guide us through every wave, every sunrise, and every act of care we give to this world. When we live with compassion, when we forgive, when we give without expectation, we carry his legacy forward.

 

 

🎥 Watch Vinnie’s Tribute Video