Kahului, HI - He was born in Spanish Camp B at the old Puunene Hospital to Harold Alves Vares a machinist at the HC&S Puunene sugar mill and Eleanor (Cravalho) Vares a homemaker. The next year on the exact same day and the exact same month his only sister Kathleen M (Vares) Phillips also joined the family. He was a kolohè rascal growing up and loved working on engines or anything mechanical - but especially motorcycles and car engines. That's what led him to join the US Air Force in 1963 and he became a jet propeller mechanic in Wiesbaden Germany, continuing his love of wrenching! That's where he met his wife and fell in love! He finished his enlistment and returned home to Maui at the end of his enlistment! He worked as a mechanic for heavy equipment and fixed cars for anyone that needed his help. At some point he felt the need to continue serving his country and enlisted in the Army Reserves with his brother William E. Vares and his favorite and only brother in law Albert (Deacon) Phillips. He then decided that he wanted to serve his country full time and he was promoted to a position that took him to to several Reserve installations in the mainland and left Maui. He retired in Tampa Florida as one of only a select few Command Sergeant Majors of the Army in the entire military service ranks. Soon after retirement began he moved back home to Maui.

He spent his retirement years growing plants - especially orchids. His favorite hobby was building computers and watching movies. He was a very giving person and always helped anyone out in need, and he loved to cook.

He is survived by his ex-wife Deborah (Vares) Atzori, his son John Kenneth Alves Vares (Laurie Sato Vares), and Harold Anthony Alves Vares (deceased) and his grandson Spencer David Vares (Maile Kekiwi Vares) and his 2 great-grandchildren Kaile Muzik Kekiwi Vares and Myztik Kekiwi Vares.