Key Harris
fund-raiser dies

Attorney Peter Char died
on Sunday after a brief illness

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By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.com

Peter Char, a prominent local attorney and a key figure in city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle's investigation into the awarding of nonbid city contracts to major political donors, died Sunday. He was 59.

Char, a major supporter of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris who co-founded the law firm of Char, Hamilton, Campbell & Thom, died at the Queen's Medical Center after a brief illness. KHON-TV reported that Char suffered a stroke Friday.

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Peter Char co-founded the law firm of Char, Hamilton, Campbell & Thom.

Char was one of the state's top experts in the medical malpractice field and served as assistant treasurer of Harris' aborted 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

Harris described Char as one of his closest friends and that his death was "nothing short of a tragedy."

"Our relationship was one of family. He was the older brother I never had," Harris said. "This senseless loss leaves a void within our community and our extended city family."

Char was one of Harris' top fund-raisers.

Last November, Char went before an Oahu grand jury that was investigating Harris' campaign, but he left after less than five minutes. Before that, Char had denied wrongdoing on the part of the Harris campaign.

A 1961 graduate of Punahou School, Char attended Yale University where he received an undergraduate degree in history. He received a law degree from Northwestern University.

Char and Roland Thom founded their law firm more than 20 years ago. Prior to that, Char was a partner in the law firm of Cades, Schutte, Fleming & Wright.

Thom described his longtime friend and partner as a "consummate gentleman" whose integrity was unquestioned.

"Throughout the years, I knew him to have tremendous knowledge, tremendous integrity, a great sense of humor and love of life," added Dr. Stephen Wallach, who was the attending physician at the Queen's Medical Center.

Char is survived by his wife, Lynette, who is deputy director of the city Department of Enterprise Services; his two children, Janelle and Greg; a brother, Greg, of Denver; and two sisters, Judith Flagg, of Irvine, Calif., and Janice Chung, of Sacramento, Calif.

Services are pending, and funeral arrangements are being handled by Nuuanu Mortuary.