Edwin Lindsey Jr., a founder of a group that developed projects to preserve and revive Hawaiian culture on Maui, has died. He was 70.

“;He was an amazing person,”; said Theo Morrison, executive director of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. “;He was someone we need more of.”;

Lindsey died Wednesday at his family's ancestral home in Lahaina after a prolonged illness.

Lindsey, who taught at Hana High School for several years, then at Iao Intermediate School until retiring as a social studies teacher in 1996, was a founder of the group Na Kupuna O Maui.

His group established an arts-and-crafts fair to enable residents to sell island creations under the Lahaina Banyan Tree, with some proceeds helping to support native Hawaiian programs.

Lindsey served as a Hawaiian cultural adviser to several groups and was instrumental in securing land from a developer to set aside a cultural preserve at Honokowai Valley, where native Hawaiians are restoring taro patches.

He was a founding member of the group Hui O Wa'a Kaulua, which is building a double-hulled sailing canoe in Lahaina, and a major force behind another group building a double-hulled sailing canoe in Olowalu.

“;He's going to be missed for his hard work,”; said Patty Nishiyama, a leader of Na Kupuna O Maui.

Land developer Peter Martin said he and Lindsey did not agree on some issues, but Lindsey never let their differences influence their growing friendship.

“;He was very accepting of a broad spectrum of people,”; Martin said.

He is survived by his wife Puanani, daughter Lahela Constantino, sons Edwin and Jonathan, brother Charles, sisters Mary Helen and Roselle Bailey and two grandchildren.

Visitation is 4-9 p.m. next Friday at Waiola Church in Lahaina, with services starting at 6 p.m.