John Gilbert Acain

John was born in Paia to Mamerto and Julia (Rodrigues) Acain and raised in a strong Catholic family with siblings Edward, Myrna, Lucy, Sister Julia Marie CSJ, Sister Catherine Anthony CSJ, Leroy, William, Jane, Richard, Gilbert, Catherine, Joseph, and George. He carried a love for Jesus and lived by the principle of service through action—not just words. He was a quiet, strong, and devoted man who lived his life with purpose, humility and hard work.

John served honorably as a medic in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War Era. He worked as a Construction Insulator for Union Local 132 in Hawaiʻi. He was a craftsman and known for his strong work ethic and determination, travelling to the mainland and Guam, to provide for his family. He loved working on classic cars; his thinking was nothing is ever too damaged that it cannot be fixed.

John leaves behind his wife Leilani and daughter Jennifer (Jeremy) Alderete, grandchildren Janessa, Jayden, Julianna, Jiyanni, Jordin, Javis, great granddaughter Celeste, and hanai daughter Missy (Jayeda) Matsumura and hanai grandchildren Pono, Rylee, and Aria Matsumura-Pasco.

John also leaves behind siblings, Myrna (Paul, deceased) Ham, Lucy, Sister Catherine Anthony CSJ, Gilbert (Norma), Catherine (Burton) Tsue, and George (Dawn) Delara, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and great grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visitation and Catholic Mass will be at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Makawao on Monday, July 7, 2025. Visitation begins at 9:30AM and Mass is at 11AM. John will be laid to his final rest with burial at the Saint Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery, near to family who preceded him in death, parents Mamerto and Julia Acain, siblings William (wife Peewee), Leroy, Richard, Sister Julie Marie CSJ, and Jane (husband Ernest) Leong.

Aloha ʻOe A Hui Hou…farewell, until we meet again.