Zachary 'Kava Man' Gibson

Zachary Bradford Gibson, 52, of Honoka'a died on November 4, 2018 at Pohai Malama in Hilo, Hawaii. Born on May 12, 1966 in the Philippines at the Subic Bay U.S. Naval Base and raised in the San Francisco bay area, he worked as a journeyman plumber for the Cardelini's in Redwood City, CA and trained as a French chef at the Barbarossa in Menlo Park, CA. Cooking was his passion. Zack graduated Woodside High School, attended college in San Diego, met his wife Johanna, married in San Francisco and moved to Hawaii in 1995. Once in Hawaii, he started farming medicinal plants on family land on the Hamakua Coast for Pu'u'ala Farms. He was the founder and owner of Kanaka Kava restaurant, a traditional Awa bar serving Native Hawaiian cuisine in Kona, Hawaii. Zack's huge personality and endless energy made him a natural host, who loved to entertain and make people laugh. At Pu'u'ala farm, he started a volunteer worker program for participants to learn about organic and sustainable farming. Zack was an avid fisherman, both off shore and spear fishing. He spent many days on the Ho'okele, the family boat pulling in ahi, ono, mahi and marlins. He loved to travel in the US and abroad. He visited Egypt, Cambodia, Peru, Thailand, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Zealand where he absorbed the culture and history there. Zack is survived by his parents William E. Gibson and Kahala-Ann Trask Gibson, sister Haunani Trask Gibson, brother William Trask Gibson, former wife Johanna Gibson and many extended family members. Please send condolences to Dodo Mortuary, 199 Wainaku Street, Hilo Hawaii 96720. Phone: (808) 935-5751. Celebration of Life Services are open to close friends and family: Saturday, January 19th, 12 noon Kanaka Kava located at 75-5803 Ali'i Dr, Suite B2, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Sunday, January 20th, 12 noon Pu'u'ala Farm and Ranch located at 44-2224 Government Main Road, Honoka'a, Hawaii. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MD Anderson Center in memory of Zachary Gibson.