Keith Allen Kindla's Obituary
Keith Allen “Nio” Kindla
February 11, 1966 - March 8, 2026
Keith Allen “Nio” Kindla, 60, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Kihei, Hawaii.
He made his home on the beautiful shores of Maui, where he lived, worked, and truly found his calling. After a courageous five-year battle with kidney cancer, he is now at peace. Nio was surrounded by friends, loved ones, and his island community in his final days.
Watching someone you love slowly slip away changes you forever. And yet, even in those moments, Nio showed strength, courage, and a quiet dignity his family & friends will never forget.
Keith is preceded in death by his loving mother, Leila Hockenjos Kindla (Aug 2013) and his devoted father, Alfred Frank Kindla (April 2026) both of Bandera, Texas.
Keith is survived by his siblings: Suzanne Tonne (Jeff), Kelly Stine (David), Patti McClaugherty (Scott), and Bryce Kindla (Casey), as well as Terry Huth, a cherished, lifelong friend of the Kindla family.
He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Caroline and Abigail McClaugherty, Clancey Tonne, Carter and Ashley Kindla, Audrey Lopez (Stino), and Alyssa Stine; and his great-nephews, S.J. and Aiden Lopez.
He is lovingly remembered by many cousins, classmates, and dear friends from his hometown of Bandera, Texas, and by the many friends who became like family during his years in Hawaii.
Keith was born in San Antonio Texas in 1966. During Keith’s early years in Alaska, where his parents taught school, he learned to ice skate, race down snowy hills on a sled, and build snowmen in the long winter days. Along the shores of Hoonah, Alaska, a small fishing village, he became an avid whale watcher—experiences that shaped a childhood full of adventure and wonder.
Keith attended Bandera Independent School District in Texas from First grade through 12th grade and graduated from Bandera High School with honors in 1984.
Like many young people who grew up in Texas, Keith loved rock and country music. He learned to country-western dance at a very early age. He enjoyed spending time at rodeos and the Cabaret Dance Hall in Bandera, Tx and various other honky-tonks like the Mayan Dude Ranch Ghost Town and the Longbranch Dance Hall. He especially cherished Friday nights “dragging Main”—cruising through town, catching up on the latest happenings, and discovering where the next “gathering” might be.
During his high school summers in the early 1980s, Keith worked as a ranch hand at the Twin Elm Guest Ranch in Bandera. There, he met people from all over the world and from many walks of life. These experiences helped shape his friendly, outgoing nature and strong work ethic. He truly loved his time at the ranch and held a special appreciation for the owners, Mary and Frank Anderwald.
After graduating, Keith attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas from 1984 to 1989. While there, he was an active member and officer of the Sigma Nu fraternity and resided in the fraternity house. Known for his outgoing nature, he played a central role in organizing events and gatherings, building meaningful friendships that remained with him throughout his life.
In 1990, Keith moved to Austin, Texas, where he built a successful career with the Popp and Ikard law firm, working his way up to administrator over the years. During that time, he enjoyed spending weekends at Lake Travis and camping throughout the Texas Hill Country.
In 2003, Keith traveled to Maui, Hawaii with his best friend, Terry—a trip that would change the course of his life. He fell in love with the mystique of the island and, later that year, made the bold decision to start fresh, selling his belongings and moving to Maui. Embracing this new chapter, he adopted the name “Nio.”
On Maui, Keith combined his love of food and people as a sous chef with a Hawaiian company called Private Maui Chef, where he took pride in creating memorable dining experiences. He became known for his crepes and his ability to craft thoughtful, customized meals for a variety of dietary needs. Above all, he simply loved making people happy and cooked every meal with care and heart.
Keith also embraced the island’s creative spirit. With the help of a friend, he learned the art of making and spinning large, colorful flags. As a dedicated “flagger,” he could often be found on Kamaole Beach, dancing and spinning flags to music—bringing joy and a sense of wonder to all who passed by.
One of Keith’s greatest accomplishments was being one of the founding members of Grow Some Good, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating healthy communities through local agriculture, nutrition education, and hands-on outdoor learning.
What began as a small school garden at Kihei Elementary grew into a thriving program reaching thousands of students across multiple schools. Keith was the driving force behind its success for over a decade. He poured his heart into the work—spending countless hours tending the gardens, even hand-watering beds when irrigation wasn’t available, determined to see the program succeed.
He helped create spaces where students could connect with nature, learn where their food comes from, and develop an appreciation for healthy living. Keith also brought the community together by organizing volunteer workdays, encouraging families to take part and support the gardens.
One of his greatest joys was planning the organization’s annual benefit dinners, where local chefs prepared meals using ingredients grown in the school gardens. These events reflected Keith’s passion for bringing people together, celebrating community, and sharing the fruits of hard work.
Through Grow Some Good, Keith left a lasting impact—nurturing not only gardens, but also the lives of thousands of children and their families.
Keith found peace and purpose in the beauty of the islands he called home. Surrounded by the spirit of aloha, he leaves behind a legacy of love, generosity, and connection to the earth.
Now, we are left to find our way forward without him. We are searching for strength in the belief that he is now free from pain, and we take comfort in knowing his spirit lives on.
There are no words big enough for a loss like this. Keith was not just a friend, a brother, a son, and an uncle—he was part of our hearts, our memories, our history, and our lives. He shared a lifetime of moments only friends & family truly understand—laughter, struggles, stories, and a bond that time can never erase.
Though our hearts ache beyond what we can say, we are deeply grateful for every moment we had with him. A piece of our heart went with you, Nio. We will miss you every day for the rest of our lives.
We love you.
“A Hui hou”—until we meet again.
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