Manuel Agcaoili Aquino Jr.

Manuel “Popoy” Aquino, 80, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was born on February 9, 1945, in Santa Ana, Manila, Philippines, and lived a beautiful life filled with love, laughter, and family.

Popoy was the heart of his family, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He showed his love not through big words, but through the meals he cooked and the warmth he shared with everyone around him. He worked for many years as a breakfast chef at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and as a lunch and dinner chef at the Ala Moana Hotel, where his passion for cooking and friendly smile touched the lives of many. The care he put into everything he did, from his cooking to his friendships, left lasting memories in the hearts of everyone who knew him.

At home, Popoy’s kitchen was the gathering place for everyone. He loved to cook for his family, sing karaoke, which he enjoyed doing on his days off, and go fishing whenever he had the chance. His joy came from seeing everyone together, eating, drinking, laughing, and simply being a family. Those moments were what he cherished most.

He is survived by his loving wife, Vilma Emma Aquino; his children Jason Aquino, Vanessa Savage, Bernice Arguello, and Emanuel Aquino; grandchildren Myles Aquino-Malalis, Antonio Savage, Arianna Savage, Alyssia Aquino, Kailey Aquino, and Isabella Arguello; and great-grandchildren Kailea Avianna and Aaliyah Jade Aquino-Malalis.

Popoy will always be remembered for his kind heart, his sense of humor, and the way he made everyone feel at home. He loved making people laugh, bringing comfort through his cooking, and showing love in everything he did. His spirit will live on in every family meal, every song shared, and every story told about him.

He will be deeply missed but forever loved by all who knew him.