Those not invited to former Mayor Frank Fasi's private service inside Honolulu Hale yesterday didn't miss the opportunity to pay their respects in a tranquil setting outside. About 75 to 100 people gathered on the Diamond Head side of the city's headquarters, where two large flat-screen televisions and speakers allowed the general public to observe the proceedings from the shady grass.

The small crowd was made up of people who knew his family or worked with him professionally, or had never met him but felt compelled to honor his life. Some were dressed for the business day in slacks and aloha shirts, while others wore jeans and sweatshirts and had backpacks slung over their shoulders.

No matter what the connection, everyone offered a story about how Fasi and his decades of public service had touched their lives.

Mae Meacham held signs for Fasi's campaign when she was just 14 years old.

  Hawaii residents thank Fasi for his service

 

The public turned out to experience or relive history, but most just attended Fasi's memorial to say “;thank you.”;

 

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“;When I found out he had passed, I thought I'd come to see him for the last time,”; she said. “;I like to say my last aloha. I wish there could be another mayor like him.”;

Jim Loomis, now retired and living on Maui, flew over to attend the service for personal reasons.

“;I had to,”; he said. “;I can't think of anybody who's had a greater impact on my life than Frank.”;

Loomis ran Fasi's Office of Information and Complaint from 1971 to 1979, and reflected fondly on the time.

“;He was great fun to work for,”; he said. “;Every morning you came to work feeling you were going to do something important.”;

Loomis said Fasi constantly talked about helping “;the little guy,”; but really meant it. For instance, when Emperor Hirohito visited from Japan, Fasi bypassed his political cronies and sent invitations to every 10th Honolulu resident with a driver's license—an action Loomis said “;drove the Secret Service bonkers,”; but underscored Fasi's determination to include average people in remarkable events.

Adele Davenport said she believed Fasi stepped on toes in his efforts to change policies that didn't work. But his concern for the people over party politics set him apart.

“;I wanted to come and show my respect for a dying breed,”; she said while waiting in line to greet the family and view the casket after the service. “;I did not know him. I just respected the man.”;

Fifty-year-old Clem Caneso's grandfather worked for Fasi, and he grew up playing with the Fasi children in their Makiki yard, calling the parents Uncle Frank and Auntie Joyce. Indeed, the former mayor's widow, Joyce Fasi, took time to call the Caneso family to apologize for the reduced seating capacity inside Honolulu Hale, which prevented them from including all of their friends.

“;We understand, and this is not bad,”; said Caneso, gesturing to the outdoor venue.

Irene Lewellen and her brother Howard had front-row seats in their canvas chairs. Their father now lives in Palau, and they attended on his behalf because he loved Fasi so much.

“;I didn't know a lot of what (Fasi) did until he passed away,”; said Irene Lewellen, who added that everything she heard impressed her even more.

Just before the benediction, Melveen Leed led the attendees in song. Everyone outside—even those who needed canes—stood and held hands, ending the service with few dry eyes and many good memories.