William (Bill) Hannafin Austin's Obituary
William (Bill) H. Austin, 74, of Kurtistown, Hawaii, passed away peacefully at home on September 30, 2025, surrounded by family and friends after a battle with lung cancer.
Born on December 12, 1950, in Easton, Maryland, to Nancy and Herbert Austin, Bill was the youngest of six children. He lived a vibrant, full life deeply rooted in nature, recovery, family, and the Hawaiian land he came to love and call home.
An avid horticulturist, Bill cultivated rare palms and anthuriums with care and joy, turning his gardens into living works of art. Bill was also a devoted breeder and handler of Brittany spaniels, raising generations of dogs with warmth and pride. He greatly enjoyed spending endless days bird hunting with them on Mauna Kea, his magical mountain. He also found great joy in body surfing, earning several awards, and remaining closely tied to the ocean throughout his life.
For more than 31 years, Bill was an active and compassionate presence in the Alcoholics Anonymous community in Hilo, where he mentored and guided many through their recovery journeys. He was known for his calm voice of reason, quiet strength, and a quick wit that brought laughter and light to those around him. His sense of humor and positivity never faded, even in his final days.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Maya Davis, and his grandchildren, Sheldon and Delainey Pierce, of Fort Worth, Texas. He is also survived by his beloved life partner, Nong Elkins, of Kurtistown, Hawaii, with whom he shared many joyful years, and by her children and grandchildren of Las Vegas, Nevada, all of whom he loved as his own. He is further survived by his siblings Nancy Jane Reed, Jack Austin, and Bobbie Brittingham, all of Maryland.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nancy and Herbert Austin, and his brothers, H. Rieman Austin and Walter F. Austin II. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
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