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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, April 20, 2001



Sakae Takahashi: a lost breed of public servant

Sakae Takahashi, who died this week at the age of 81, was a breed of public servant and community leader who has become increasingly difficult to find.

War hero, pioneering political leader, businessman, banker and community builder, Takahashi helped create modern Hawai'i in many different ways. And he did it without calling particular attention to himself or sacrificing principle.

Takahashi was a member of the original 100th Infantry Battalion and became, along with his good friend Dan Inouye, a prototype for the young AJA vets who returned to the Islands to make good in politics, business or — in Takahashi's case — both.

Takahashi's political career spanned from the pre-statehood O'ahu county board of supervisors to the state Senate, which he left in 1974. Unlike many of his colleagues who focused their energy purely on politics or government service, Takahashi became successful in business. He was a founder of Central Pacific Bank, an institution designed to help finance the opportunities being created by those early Democratic leaders.

It is said that challenging times bring out the greatness in men. In Sakae Takahashi's case, that adage was proved true over and again.