Paul Stephens

1973 - 2025

Paul Stephens
September 14, 1973 - July 16, 2025
Paul Eric Stephens of Ewa Beach, HI, formerly of San Antonio, TX passed away at home from a cerebral hemorrhage on July 16, 2025. Paul Stephens was born on September 14, 1973, in San Antonio, TX to Drs. Preston and Anne Stephens.
Paul was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Preston C. Stephens, his grandparents, Ford & Helen Stephens and J Richard & Ruth Young; an uncle, Dr. James W. Young, an aunt, Helen Stephens Weeks and a cousin Stephen Weeks.
Paul is survived by his wife Nenette Pumaras Stephens, sons Matthew Stephens, Kai Stephens and daughter Kiavah Anne Stephens; mother Dr. Anne S. Kiehle (Jim), brothers Scott (Christa and children Ryan and Reese ) and Mark; half brothers, Preston(Danny) and Craig; step brothers, David Kiehle(Tara), James Kiehle (Nancy), John Kiehle (Amanda), and step sisters Cynthia Kiehle and Katherine Kiehle.
Paul graduated from Winston Churchill high school in 1991. While at Churchill, he played varsity basketball and also played the tuba/sousaphone in the varsity band.
After high school, Paul attended college at Abilene Christian University. While a student at ACU, he went on a mission trip to Arizona that left a lasting impression on his life. After his year at ACU, he decided to join the Navy, see the world and . resume his college studies after the Navy. In the Navy, he served on the USS Independence aircraft carrier and traveled to many different countries including Japan. He met Yumiko Shinoda while stationed in Japan. After his tour in the Navy, they returned to San Antonio and were married. They have one son, Matthew Stephens.
After the Navy, Paul resumed his university studies and received his BBA from the University of Phoenix. Due to life events and challenges, Paul and Yumiko parted ways. He married Nenette Pumaras and moved to Hawaii for a couple of years and then back to San Antonio where they lived for over 10 years. During those years, they had two children, Kai and Kiavah. They returned to Hawaii in 2015.
Paul changed the course of his career path after the Navy, when he returned to San Antonio and began a career in food service as an assistant manager for Luby's cafeterias. As Luby's began to close their stores, Paul went to work as Director of Food Service at Junior Colleges in Waco and Tyler.
Paul changed direction again and began a very successful career in sales and marketing. It was in this area that he sharpened his people skills and excelled in sales.
He worked in sales for San Antonio BMW and Mercedes Benz before moving to Hawaii in 2015. He received salesman of the month numerous times. He continued to sell BMW's in Honolulu before changing direction and branching out in a marketing & sales career with Salem media group and iHeart Media. For a brief period during the Covid shut down, Paul taught high school algebra and math and quickly decided that he couldn't make enough money as a teacher to live in Hawaii so he pursued a slightly different path in real estate. He received his real estate license and went to work for JW Marriott in KoOlina, HI, selling vacation packages. As a sales executive for Marriott, he soon became a member of the Million Dollar sales club for outstanding performance. The executives at the Hawaiian Hilton lured him away with a huge bonus package he could not refuse.
From childhood to adulthood, Paul excelled at all he endeavored and literally never met a stranger. .All who knew him, admired his love for family, God and country. His big personality and zest for life earned him the nickname "Big Bird" by his peers. Paul will be remembered in our hearts with every laugh and story told.
A memorial service is scheduled for September 14, 2025 at 3:00 pm in the chapel at Sunset Ridge Church, 95 Brees, SAT 78209.