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Kihano was
friend to many

A former House speaker,
Daniel Kihano dies
at age 66

OBITUARIES

By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

Daniel Kihano was the quiet, helpful sort of person that fellow politicians considered a friend, first, and speaker of the house, second.

"Danny was always in sympathy with the needs of the poor," said state Rep. Joe Souki, who succeeded him as speaker when Kihano retired in 1992.

"He was a very kindly man, a humanist, perhaps too nice for this kind of business," Souki said.

Kihano, 66, died yesterday morning at St. Francis-West Hospital.

Although he served in the state Legislature for 22 years, including five as speaker, Kihano's public image suffered when he was convicted in 1997 on federal charges of wire and mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to obstruct justice and witness tampering. In May, U.S. District Judge Alan Kay granted Kihano a "compassionate release" from prison after he suffered a near-fatal heart attack while serving a two-year sentence in Lompoc, Calif.

Had less than a year to live

Doctors said Kihano had less than a year to live.

"He went from a person of stature to where he ended up, and it is very unfortunate," said Souki, a Maui Democrat.

"I still believe the courts and the community were too harsh," he said. "When you consider the contributions he made for the people of Hawaii in over 20 years, just one fault put him and the family through such shame. Ultimately, it was the stress that killed him."

Kihano was convicted of taking more than $27,000 of his campaign money for personal use and then trying to cover it up.

At the time of his release from prison, his attorney, Ben Cassiday, noted that Kihano was very sick and "his crime was not so serious that he should have to die in prison."

Friends said that after Kihano returned home, he saw the birth of two grandchildren and spent time with his family.

A Democrat, Kihano served the Crestview-Waipahu area for 22 years. He became the House speaker in 1987 after House Speaker Richard Kawakami died of a heart attack.

Kihano in 1993 was appointed as an executive assistant in the managing director's office of Mayor Frank Fasi's administration, and was co-chairman of Fasi's 1994 gubernatorial campaign.

Mayor Jeremy Harris reappointed him as an executive assistant that same year. He retired as an executive assistant in city managing director's office three years later.

Praised for service by Cayetano

Gov. Ben Cayetano issued a statement extending his sympathy and condolences to Kihano's family, calling him a dedicated public servant who will be remembered for his service in the House, "where he made tremendous contributions to help the people of Hawaii."

"As speaker of the House, his leadership style was very low key," Cayetano said. "But as a result, he was very successful in working in harmony with members on both sides of the aisle for the common good of the people."

The governor ordered that Hawaii's flag be flown at half staff on the day of Kihano's memorial services.

Kihano was born March 16, 1933, and graduated from Waipahu High School and Honolulu Business College. He was the former owner of the Danny Kihano Insurance Agency.

Funeral services are pending.