AUSTIN DIAS Obituary

AUSTIN DIAS Austin Dias was born June 12, 1941 on O'ahu and grew up on Kilauea Sugar Plantation on Kaua'i. He attended Kilauea School, Kapa'a High School, and then went on to Leuzinger High School in California, where he graduated in 1959. He attended the University of California-Santa Barbara, where he played quarterback on the football team. While he was there he earned his undergraduate and Master's degrees and then went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his Ph.D. in Spanish Literature. A Vietnam Veteran, Austin was a professor at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa for 36 years, acting as Department head of Languages and Literature of Europe and the Americas for many of those years. He enjoyed exercising, eating, spending time with his 'ohana, and most especially his grandchildren. Austin is survived by Barbara Dias and Doss Tannehill; siblings Patricia and John Balmores, Stella Stewart, Keith and Clara Dias, Donald Kim; children Christopher A. Dias, Jessica A. Dias Tafao, Ali Dias Marumoto, Benjamin J. Dias; and grandchildren Diego Pola Tafao, Joaquin Ifo Tafao, Viggo Kennethson Tafao, Makua Austin Marumoto, Haumea Barbara Marumoto, Kahikina Kellan Marumoto and Safiya Catherine Dias. Austin died in his home in Kalihi on March 20, 2024. A visitation will be held Thursday, 4/18, 2024 10:00 at Borthwick Mortuary Maunakea Chapel, 1330 Maunakea Street, Honolulu, Hawai'i, followed by a service and fellowship at 11:00. In lieu of flowers Austin's family requests that donations be made to Kilauea School (2440 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI 96754).