Richard Davi, 71, who drew national attention to Hawaii’s health care developments as leader of the Kapiolani Health Care System for 32 years, died Monday of heart failure at Kuakini Hospital.

Davi, born in California, ended up in Hawaii after he was stationed here in the Navy. He attended the University of Hawaii for two years, then obtained a business administration degree from the University of Portland.

Using his administrative and people skills, he built Kapiolani from a facility with $4.5 million in assets and $2 million in revenues to a maternity and women’s specialty hospital with $261 million in assets and $247 million in revenues.

“Dick was a giant in the health care field here for years,” said Rich Meiers, Healthcare Association of Hawaii president and chief executive officer.

Davi had served as president of the association’s board and headed various committees and task forces, not only in the association but with the American Hospital Association, Meiers said.

“He was a very innovative individual who had the foresight to plan for health care for our community and state, to the point that we now enjoy a very fine reputation in regard to health care within the nation.”

John Walker Jr., president of Kapiolani Health Foundation, has been associated with Davi, the foundation’s president-emeritus, for 24 years. “The people of this state have benefited tremendously from his vision and accomplishments. We were very fortunate to have had his leadership for so many years.”

After serving as personnel director at Queen’s Medical Center from 1957 to 1962, Davi joined Kapiolani Hospital as assistant administrator. “It was just a cute little kind of maternity hospital,” his wife, Jeannine, recalled yesterday.

Six months later, Davi was named to replace the administrator, who died suddenly. He became president of Kapiolani/Children’s Medical Center in 1978 and was president and chief executive officer of the Kapiolani Health Care System until retiring in 1994.

Under his leadership, the little maternity hospital grew into a highly respected, nationally noted health care system with two hospitals, research facilities and other health care organizations.

The hospital also operates such community-based programs as the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawaii Poison Center, Teen Intervention and Family Support Center, which Davi encouraged as part of hospital service to meet community needs.

In 1978, he consolidated Kapiolani Hospital’s maternity operations with Kauikeolani Children’s Hospital at the Punahou location. The result: one of the top women’s and children’s health care centers in the country.

As Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii president in 1987, Davi was instrumental in shaping a view of health care as a big business and a key player in the state’s economic development.

With Kapiolani’s acquisition of Pali Momi Medical Center in 1989, his vision of an acute care hospital caring for all family members was fulfilled.

Besides his business career, Davi was active in the community and “was always there for family

and friends too,” Jeannine Davi said. “I don’t know how he always stretched himself so far.”

Davi established the Division of Maternal and Child Health of the American Hospital Association. And in 1981, he was one of two hospital administrators in the nation to receive the association’s prestigious Meritorious Service citation.

He was current president of the Oahu Country Club. He was an officer or director of the American Hospital Association, Hospital Association of Hawaii, Aloha United Way, Regional Medical Program of Hawaii, Association of Western Hospitals, Hawaii League for Nursing, Hawaii Medical Services Association and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

Other survivors include son Dana; daughters Debra Brown and Malia Larson; two grandchildren; mother Anne Hight; brother Lawrence Davi, and sister Diane Farley.

Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Central Union Church. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Richard Davi Scholarship, Kapiolani Health Foundation, 55 Merchant St., 26th floor, Honolulu 96813.

Cornelius D. “Corny” Downes, 75, former Star-Bulletin journalist who had a puckish sense of humor and courage to challenge controversial issues, died yesterday at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center.

Downes, longtime Kailua resident, was known as an “idea man” and a punster while working at the Star-Bulletin from 1952-1967. He held various positions as a writer and editor.

“He’s a wonderful, whimsical person who made the world better,” said A.A. (Bud) Smyser, Star-Bulletin contributing editor.

“Part of his whimsy was to look at the globe and see Hawaii and Bachuanaland as an antipode of each other on earth. No state in the United States had an antipode that wasn’t water.

“He encouraged a relationship between Hawaii and what later became Botswana, even to the point where President Lyndon Johnson sent Gov. (John) Burns to Botswana when it became an independent nation.”

Downes edited several of the Star-Bulletin’s annual progress editions “and he focused on Hawaiian history and created issues worth saving forever,” Smyser said. Some have been reprinted in a book, he said.

He worked every position on the newspaper’s copy desk, served as state editor, night editor, page one make-up editor and special editions editor.

Downes left the newspaper in 1967 to become information director of the state Planning and Economic Development. He worked 19 years for the state, producing a 14-page special section on Hawaii for Fortune magazine in 1982.

He was interim press secretary for Gov. George Ariyoshi. The New York Irishman also was also “chief harpist” of the Irish for Ariyoshi Association, I.Ari.A.

He edited the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Log before joining the Star-Bulletin. He turned to journalism after becoming a staff member and editor of the Pearl Harbor Banner from 1942-1946.

Survivors include his wife, Miyuki; sisters, Catherine and Claire, both of New York; sons Paul, Patrick, Michael and Stephen of Honolulu and Lawrence of New York, daughters Mary of Seattle and Margaret Mary of Honolulu, and 10 grandchildren.

Services are pending.

Jon “Bengal” L. Chun, will be remembered in services Friday. He was killed in an accident Friday. Services over ashes: 2 p.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church, 45-435 Aumoku St., Kaneohe. Call after 1 p.m. Additional information for an obituary yesterday was provided by the mortuary.

Frank “Papa Em” Emery, 98, of Greenland, N.H., father of Dorothy of Hawaii, died Thursday at home. Born in New Hampshire, he is also survived by two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services: 4 p.m. today at Unity Church, Diamond Head. Donations suggested to Friends of Hanauma Bay.

Alma Essig, 88, of Illinois, mother of Dwain of Honolulu, died Saturday in Skokie, Ill.. Born in Michigan, she is also survived by sons Elmer Jr., Rupert and Robert. Private services. No flowers. Donations suggested to American Mental Health Association.

Ileana R. Hano, 73, of Honolulu, died Sunday in Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Daniel P. Jr.; son Daniel III; daughters Ileana K. Derovin, Danna K. Lyman, Lana K. Hano and Diane K. Lindsey; sisters Mildred L. McCarthy and Elizabeth Topolinski; brother Daniel P. III; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Ethel M. Hong, 87, of Honolulu, founder and chairman of Ethel’s Dress Shoppe, died Sunday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Herbert; son Herbert Jr.; sister Ruth Izumi; and two grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Private burial. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to charity.

Ellen S. Jackson, 89, of Vallejo, Calif., a retired Hawaii public schoolteacher, died March 13 at home. Born in Oakland, Calif., she is survived by daughter Frances; son Roland; sister Jean Kluegel; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. No services. Burial on the mainland.

Hanako S. “Violet” Kihara, 84, of Hilo died Sunday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hanapepe, Kauai, she is survived by son Richard H.; daughter Mine H.; sister Fujiko Yoshida; and five grandchildren. Private services.

Grace L. Lam, 87, of Honolulu, former president of the Chinese Women’s Club, died March 15 in Honolulu. She was also chairwoman of Program Concern Reception for the Hawaii Chinese Civic Association and a delegate of Republic of China for the 11th International Conference of Pan Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association in 1968. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by daughters Muriel L. Kao and Noreen Lam; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Private services. Donations suggested to Hawaii Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Patricia J. Landes, 46, of Makawao, Maui, a trail guide with Pony Express Tours, died Saturday at home. Born in Hawaii, she is survived by brother Dennis E. Services: 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Haleakala Ranch pasture, Thompson Road, Keokea. Potluck gathering after at Lun and Duke Baldwin’s home, 500 Aulii Drive, Kula 200.

Lealofi T. Lavatai, 59, of Honolulu died March 17 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in American Samoa, she is survived by husband the Rev. Tulei; son Joseph; daughters Naomi Lake, Paepaeulupo‘o Suesue, Puniloa Filimaua, Martha Bode, Mary Fa‘apouli and Ofeira Imo; brothers Faatoialemanu Tufele II, Tupuoga Pele and Liamatua Tufele; sisters Gaioi Galeai, Vaivai Imo and Grace Samoa; and eight grandchildren. Wake: 6 p.m. Friday at Moanalua Congregational Christian Church, 602 Turner Ave. Services: 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Antonio “Tony” Matias, 62, also known as “Daniel” and “Jalisco” of Honolulu, a retired operations maintenance supervisor at Kapiolani Community College, died March 9 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by mother Emily C. Ordanza; fiancee Hazel Yamamoto; sisters Frances Jackson, Lani Y. Ayala and Ellen Castro; brothers Antonio and Ro Castro; and stepdaughter Jan Givens. Wake: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Service: noon Saturday at the mortuary. Call from 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Dennis L. Mays, 26, of Wahiawa, died March 17 at home. Born in Oceanside, Ca., he is survived by wife LizaStarlene; son Sebastian; daughter SheMariah M.; parents Linda and Dennis Winegar; sisters Tanya and Marilyn Baker; brother Jonathon; and grandparents Pearl and Marlin Giebler. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Valley of the Temples Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Elizabeth W. Mokiao, 83, of Kailua-Kona, formerly of Makaha, died last Wednesday in Kailua-Kona. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Harold Mokiao and Joseph Kauwale; daughters Meilani McComber, Winolo Isaacs and Elsie Kihano; sister the Rev. Iwalani Kamoku; 24 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 9:30 a.m. Casual attire. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park.

Kiichi “Kitty” Okada, 72, of Honolulu, a retired timekeeper at American Can Co, died last Wednesday in Straub Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Ethel U.; son Asher A.; daughter Carol Y. Hamamoto; mother Chiyono; brothers Masaji Kurozumi, Dennis K. and Albert T. Okada; sisters Jean Y. Yamaguchi and Sue S. Okada. Memorial services: 2 p.m. Saturday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Richard “Dick” K. Okahashi, 83, of Honolulu, a retired office machine sales representative, died Tuesday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Clara M.; daughters Iris N. Takayama and Sharon S. Hamura; brother Chikara; sisters Kazue Okahashi, Rosalind S. Urata and Helen T. Kimura; and four grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Friday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Masa Seki, 98, of Honolulu died March 16 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Fukushima Ken, Japan, she is survived by sons Walter H., George T. and Masao; daughter Mary H. Otani; 21 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. Private services.

Marie A. Stanley, 91, of Corvallis, Ore., formerly of Honolulu, a retiree of Liberty House, died March 12 at Heart of the Valley Care Center. Born in Lynn, Mass., she is survived by foster daughter Beverly Durham. Private scattering of ashes at sea. Donations suggested to the Honolulu Symphony or Hawaii Opera Theatre.

Juana B. Yapit, 91, of Honolulu, formerly of Haleiwa, died March 14 in Convalescent Center of Honolulu. Born in the Philippines, she is survived by sons Benjamin “Primo” Pimental, Jesse Baptista and Rudy Belmonte; daughters Jovita “June” Halms, Rosa “Esther” Canianes and Carmen Townes; 43 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.