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By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Family members of the late Kane Fernandez, president
and CEO of E.K. Fernandez Shows, gaze skyward
yesterday afternoon during a flower drop at a memorial
at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Standing left to right
are Shelley Fernandez Katz, David Katz, Linda
Fernandez, Syndey Fernandez Fasi, David Fasi
and Scott Fernandez.

Carnival king
Kane Fernandez
remembered

A standing-room-only crowd
enjoys humorous and warm
stories from family and friends
during a celebration of his life

---

By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

When it comes to defining "carnival," Random House Dictionary might as well have been defining Kane Fernandez: "a traveling amusement show," quipped former Punahou School President Rod McPhee.

Longtime friend and hotelier Andre Tatibouet joked that carnival king Fernandez also helped support Hawaii's failing sugar industry by using half a sugar plantation in every glass of iced tea.

Friends and family told a standing-room-only crowd humorous and heartwarming stories about Fernandez at a celebration of his life last night at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Fernandez, 64, died of a heart attack Tuesday night. Catamarans and the Hokule'a's training canoe carried friends and family out in waters behind the hotel to scatter his ashes while a helicopter dropped flower petals on the ceremony.

Friends described Fernandez, president and chief executive officer of E.K. Fernandez Shows, as an avid fisherman, a world traveler, an astute businessman and a wonderful friend with a great sense of humor.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Kids have fun on an E.K. Fernandez ride at last
year's Punahou Carnival.

Pomare Ltd. head Jim Romig, who traveled with Fernandez to several different countries, said, "Kane just looked local no matter where in the world he was," making friends effortlessly.

While McPhee, Gov. Ben Cayetano and University of Hawaii President Kenneth Mortimer described Fernandez's generous philanthropic spirit, friend Bob Solomon described a nine-hour round of golf during which Fernandez spent long minutes searching for lost balls. "He didn't want to spend $2.50 on another ball," Solomon said.

McPhee said Fernandez kept the Punahou Carnival going through bad weather, mud, breakdowns and threatened lawsuits.

Fernandez graduated from Punahou in 1954 and from the University of Hawaii in 1958. He served four years in the Navy and joined his family's entertainment business in 1962.

His children Scott and Shelley Fernandez-Katz have followed in his footsteps.

Joked Scott, "Kane taught us all well, and in the last couple years he rarely showed up, so we know we can do it."

Friends said Fernandez's absence from the midway was a demonstration of his confidence in his son.

Fernandez's daughter, Sydney Fernandez Fasi, said her father had hidden from her the fact that he had an enlarged heart because he did not want her to worry.

She told him, "Dad, the fact that you had a big heart was the worst-kept secret."