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Tuesday, January 30, 2001



Boating supply scion
Charles McWayne helped
revive TransPac in 1953

OBITUARIES


By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Charles Andrew McWayne Jr., scion of a kamaaina family and former president and vice president of McWayne Marine Supply, one of Hawaii's oldest businesses, holds a special place in boating circles: He and his father actively organized and spearheaded the TransPacific Yacht Race.

McWayne died Jan. 21 in Honolulu at age 80.

His father, the late Charles Andrew McWayne Sr., was chairman of the race in 1928 and served as timer, starter and judge in later TransPacific races. Father and son revived the event in 1953.

In World War II, the younger McWayne served with the Army's 42nd Rescue Squadron for three years after the Pearl Harbor attack. His education included Punahou from 1927 to 1939 and later Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., and the University of Oregon.

McWayne Marine Supply, known earlier by another name, opened in 1823 at Honolulu Harbor, supplying goods to whaling vessels. James Robinson, McWayne's great-grandfather and a ship's carpenter, founded the firm.

McWayne's ancestor Robinson had been shipwrecked on a reef about 1,200 miles west of Honolulu. He made his way here with other shipwrecked sailors in a boat they built from the wreckage. The boat was sold and Robinson opened the ship supply store with his share.

The family boating supply firm eventually moved to Kewalo Basin in 1950.

The company later was sold to Finance Factors, then Amfac Inc. before its purchase by Servco Pacific in 1984. With the business closing, its structure was demolished in 1994 to make way for a state waterfront improvement project.

McWayne belonged to the Pacific Club, Outrigger Canoe Club, Bishop Museum Association and Hawaii Historical Society.

He is survived by wife Kathleen; daughter Ann Kathleen McWayne Kennedy; son Allen Charles McWayne, and three grandchildren.

Services were private.



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