David J. Gamboa

David J. Gamboa, age 70, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026, in Kauai, Hawaii — the island that captured his heart twice and became his true spiritual home. Born January 21, 1956, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Jose and Virginia Gamboa, David first discovered Kauai's rugged magic as a young man alongside his brother Frank, the two lived simply and close to the land amid the island’s wild beauty. Decades later, he returned to spend his golden years where the trade winds whisper through naupaka, and the ocean's endless rhythm called him home.  He rode his custom Big Dog chopper along the Garden Island's breathtaking coastal highways.

Kauai wasn't just David's home — it was his heartbeat. From the towering cliffs of Na Pali to the winding roads of the North Shore, he embraced the island's aloha spirit, finding peace in its crashing waves, lush valleys, and the freedom of open highways lined with plumeria and ocean vistas. His motorcycle became his vessel to explore every curve and overlook, chrome gleaming under Kauai's golden sun.

David is survived by his siblings; brother Frank Gamboa (Millie), sisters Mary Ellen Bernal (John Sr.) and Joan Gamboa. Cherished by nieces Regina Gamboa (Janine), Stephanie Marcial (Marco), and Melanie Bernal Bustos (Gabriel), nephew Joey Gamboa; and 5 great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jose and Virginia Gamboa, nephew John Bernal Jr., and niece Deana Bernal, and now joyfully reunites with them in the eternal aloha of the afterlife.

In the Hawaiian tradition of hoʻomanaʻo — to remember with aloha — David's family invites you to honor his life by cherishing Kauai's beauty, riding safely on open roads, and living free in the island spirit he loved so deeply. No service by request. A hui hou, David.

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