David Benz, a former executive at Aloha Airlines and Tongg Publishing Co., died Saturday of heart failure in Walnut Creek, Calif. He was 88.

Benz was executive vice president of Aloha Airlines, initially known as Trans-Pacific Airlines, during the 1950s, playing a significant role in its establishment and expansion. He also served as chairman of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau and president of the Friends of the East-West Center.

He was born in Shanghai and moved to the United States to enlist in the Army at the outset of World War II, during which he served in Army Intelligence and became a decorated officer with the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.

Following the war, he made Honolulu his permanent residence.

It was in Honolulu that he met and married his wife, Inez, and raised four children: Donna, Philip, Gregory and Jeffrey, all of whom attended Punahou School.

In addition to his work at Aloha Airlines and Tongg Publishing, Benz also held executive or board positions at several organizations, including the National Association of Photo-Lithographers, Hawaii Visitors Bureau, Pacific Area Travel Association, Printing Industries of Hawaii, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Chapter of the Red Cross, Hawaii Executive Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Honolulu Advertiser.

He also became, in 1986, the first inductee into the Hawaii Publisher's Association Hall of Fame.

In 1998, Benz and his wife moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to be closer to their four children, who were West Coasters by choice, according to an item by late Star-Bulletin columnist Dave Donnelly. In that Aug. 4, 1998, column, Donnelly gave Benz credit for putting business leaders in touch with newly elected Gov. John “;Jack”; Burns in 1962.

Friends and former colleagues called Benz an astute businessman who was a fair player and strong supporter of tourism.

Peter Fithian, owner of Greeters of Hawaii, remembers his leadership of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau, which they both served.

“;He was a very valuable contributor to the promotion of tourism,”; said Fithian. “;He was an early supporter of tourism - there were a number of us - and he was a very fine businessman.”;

Honolulu resident Dee Smyser called Benz a sharp businessman and lifelong friend to her and her late husband, Bud.

He was part of a citizens committee that was instrumental in opening today's Blaisdell Center, then called the Hawaii International Center, in the early 1960s, she said.

“;He was just a very supportive, compassionate kind of person,”; she said.

Benz is survived by his wife of 55 years, his four children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Services are scheduled for Saturday in California, but none will be held in Hawaii. The family requests no flowers, and donations suggested to a favorite charity. There are no services planned for Hawaii at this time.