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Posted on: Sunday, July 2, 2006

Frank Fasi

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

Advertiser library photo

Six-term Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi was the driving force behind O'ahu's city politics longer than any other politician in the 20th century.

Although he also served as a territorial senator and Honolulu councilman, Fasi will forever be remember as the city's most colorful mayor.

Loved by many, despised by as many others, Fasi's combative style was a part of the political fabric of O'ahu far longer than the 22 years he actually occupied the city's top political seat — such as during those times when he was out of office and campaigning to get back in.

Elected mayor in 1968, 1972 and 1976, he lost in an upset in 1980 to state Budget Director Eileen Anderson. He staged a political comeback in 1984 and took the office again in 1988 and 1992.

Fasi wasn't choosy about party affiliations, having run as a Democrat, Republican and independent. Ever flamboyant and confrontational, "Fearless Frank," as he liked to be called, relished a political donnybrook. More often than not, he prevailed.

For years, he waged war against Honolulu's major daily papers — barring reporters from his office and once filing a lawsuit in a failed attempt to end the two papers' joint operating agreement.

His most famous victory occurred when drivers for the old Honolulu Rapid Transit Co. went on strike in 1970. Fasi wrangled millions in federal grant money, bought used buses from the Dallas Transit Authority and started a city-owned company that went on to become TheBus.

But Fasi's Achilles' heel proved to be his never-ending desire to be governor. Having lost three shots at it in the 1970s, he resigned as mayor in 1994 to give the governorship one more try. After he lost that bid too, he was unable to ever win back the mayor's seat.