Seattle-born developer Richard Hadley, dead at 80

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

Richard Hadley, who developed a number of landmark structures in Honolulu, including Amfac Center, the Radisson Prince Kuhio Hotel and the Industrial Park project at Honolulu International Airport, died March 19. He was 80.

Although the Seattle developer became wealthy from these and other successes, he made headlines for more than decade for his attempts to revive ocean liner service between Los Angeles and Hawai'i.

In 1978, Hadley bought America's largest and fastest luxury liner — the SS United States — and began multimillion-dollar plans to renovate it. Ultimately, Hadley wanted to offer seven-day cruises to and from Los Angeles and the Hawaiian Islands. The idea cost him millions and ended in 1992 with the bankruptcy of his company, United States Cruises.

Hadley was born in Seattle in 1921, graduated with honors from the University of Washington and served as an Army Air Corps pilot during World War II.

He is survived by his wife Barbara and four children. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the Pacific Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic.