LIHUE — Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like announced that Joy Pigao, age 61 of Eleele, was sentenced on July 31, 2025, to serve 90 days in jail for stealing over $40,000 from Life’s Bridges Hawaii, Inc. Life’s Bridges is a Kauai-based nonprofit that provides bereavement support to anyone grieving the death of a loved one and also provides education on death, grief and suicide prevention.
Between July 8 and November 3 of 2023, Pigao stole approximately $44,195 in more than 40 separate transactions. During this time, Pigao was the Executive Director and a Board Member for Life’s Bridges.
Pigao pled No Contest to Theft in the First Degree, a Class B Felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like represented the State of Hawaii, and Craig De Costa represented Pigao. The Honorable Randal G.B. Valenciano presided over the case.
Prosecuting Attorney Like stated, “The actions of Ms. Pigao dishonor the memory of the individuals served by Life’s Bridges and the survivors of tragedies here on Kauai. We hope that this sentence prevents anyone else from being victimized.”
Pigao was also ordered to pay restitution to Life’s Bridges for the stolen monies.
Founder and Director of Life’s Bridges, Gina Kaulukukui, shared that Life’s Bridges was started in 2007 to meet the immediate needs of surviving family members following a sudden, unexpected, and traumatic death. She stated, “Joy Pigao did not just steal from me, Joy stole from our Board of Directors, our funders, but most of all from the families we serve. Her goal was not to just take our money; her goal was to destroy our organization.”
Source: The Garden Island