JAMES KNAEFLER / 1926-2004
Waikiki hotel
executive helped make
isle vacations affordableMore obituaries
Hotel executive James Knaefler, who helped turn Waikiki into an affordable place to vacation, died June 13 of a heart attack while traveling in Nevada. He was 78.
CORRECTION
Tuesday, June 22, 2004James Knaefler, who died June 13, is also survived by son Jim of Reno, Nev. A story on Page A20 on Sunday neglected to list Jim.
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Knaefler is credited with helping make tourism the state's No. 1 industry, and was known as an apprentice to hotel mogul Roy Kelley.
"It was mass marketing, initiated by the Kelley hotels -- Edgewater, Reef and Reef Towers -- in cooperation with the airlines that has enabled millions of the middle class to vacation in Hawaii, once enjoyed by the wealthy," said Knaefler's ex-wife Tomi, in a written statement.
Knaefler first came to Hawaii in the Navy during World War II. After the war, Knaefler moved to the islands and graduated from the University of Hawaii.
Kelley hired him as a hotel general manager and he quickly moved up the ranks to become Kelley's top executive, a position which he held for a decade.
Knaefler then went on to join the Waikikian Hotel as general manager and later became president and chief executive officer of the Cinerama Hawaii Hotels.
Throughout his career, Knaefler sought to lower room rates for tourists with tighter budgets and create packages for families.
He retired to his home state of California.
Knaefler is survived by wife, Aloha, son Mark, daughter Pamela K. McDonald, stepson Jordan Tsukiyama, stepdaughter Krysia Tsukiyama and seven grandchildren.
Services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The family requests no monetary gifts.
