Steven Ito Obituary

STEVEN TAKEO ITO 80, of Honolulu, passed away on July 21, 2025, from complications following emergency surgery. Born and raised in Honolulu, Steven had a lifelong appreciation for style, which led to a successful early career in retail. He worked as a men's department manager and buyer for two local stores, and later managed a women's apparel shop. His path eventually shifted toward ministry after earning a bachelor's degree in religion from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. He served for decades in commissioned and interim roles with the United Church of Christ, both locally and nationally, with a passion for youth and campus ministries, hunger action, peace with justice, and pulpit supply. Steven was a strong advocate for the marginalized, speaking out on issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, access to utilities in public housing, and fair working conditions and wages. He was known for his wry humor, love of Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit, and devotion to DC comics. A lifelong music lover, he played drums in a local ensemble and dance band, the Enchanters, and enjoyed everything from Big Band and bossa nova to Broadway musicals and Japanese marching bands. A former athlete himselfcompeting in bowling, track, tennis, and archerySteven was a proud spectator and superfan of his daughters' sports, UH Wahine volleyball, and Shohei Ohtani. A celebration of Steven's life will be held at Nu'uanu Congregational Church on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Visitation begins at 9:00 a.m., with services at 11:00 a.m. Accessibility accommodations will include preferential parking, accessible restrooms, ALDs, ASL interpreting, braille and large print worship materials, and assistance with mobility and food service. He is survived by his wife, Ann; daughters Vanessa (Ryker Wada) and Vania (Ian Matsumoto); grandchildren Ezekiel and Elijah Wada, and Namie, Eiji, and Kanna Matsumoto; cousins Eileen Nishikawa and Kimberly Mabe; and the family's beloved cat, Mei. He was predeceased by his eldest daughter, Vesper, in 1987. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC