Frederick Eugene Buck, a Waikiki retailer instrumental in expanding Lanai Sportswear into more than 20 locations on Oahu, the neighbor islands and California, died Saturday at St. Francis Hospice in Nuuanu. He was 83. FREDERICK EUGENE BUCK / 1919-2003
Isle retailer expanded
throughout stateBy Dave Segal
dsegal@starbulletin.comBuck, the father of local radio talk-show personality Michael Buck, of KHVH 830 AM, joined his first wife, Nancy, in Lanai Sportswear at her Lewers Street store in Waikiki. He became president a few years later after their marriage dissolved and, with sons Mark and Michael, helped oversee the company's expansion.
Michael Buck recalled that in those days only two of the company's 14 stores had the same name because it was during a period when "you had to be different" to be successful.
"The three of us used to walk around Waikiki every day and see tourists carrying bags with our (stores') names on it," Mike said. "Tourists would walk into many of our stores not knowing it was the same company. It was creative to be all things to all people. The real joy of it was that we were on the cutting edge of things in those days, and that was very pleasing. If it had said 'ABC' on everything, tourists would have felt they already would have been in that store."
Buck was a captain in the Marines during World War II and served as a pilot in the Pacific. He catered to U.S. servicemen and their families during the Vietnam War by joining with other local businesses in offering discount programs and special value packages. Buck coined the term "R&R discount" that appeared in advertising booklets throughout Waikiki.
Lanai Sportswear also included primitive art shops and a Waikiki superstore, Buck's, in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. Buck and his sons also opened the first color copy shop in Hawaii at the Dillingham Transportation Building in downtown Honolulu. They also developed residential property and constructed beachfront homes on Maui.
Buck sold the company in 1983 and moved to San Francisco before returning to Honolulu in 2001.
Born in San Francisco on May 31, 1919, Buck moved to Hawaii in 1948 when he was recruited to be the menswear buyer for McInerny Co. He later moved from the retail to wholesale business when he became an executive with the Alfred E. Shaheen Co.
Buck was a member of the Waikiki Rotary, a spouse member of the Outrigger Canoe Club and an avid tennis player.
He is survived by his wife, Filomena, of San Francisco; sons Michael F.K. and Mark E. Buck; of Honolulu; daughters Maureen A. Kilcoyne and Maile M. Ostrem, of Honolulu; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services will be held at the Outrigger Canoe Club at 8 a.m. Thursday. Aloha attire is requested.