Spokane consultant Mike Veith, former Kaua'i finance director

Advertiser Staff

Former Kaua'i County Finance Director Mike Veith died Sunday while participating in a triathlon in Washington state. He was 57.

Veith, an accountant, was finance director under former Mayor JoAnn Yukimura and later was president of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. In recent years, he worked as a hydrogen energy consultant in Spokane, Wash. His firm, H2 Energy Systems, was working on building a solar-powered fuel cell for the garden's headquarters on Kaua'i.

"He was a great guy. When he was with the county, you could always count on him. Honest, straightforward and a lot of integrity," said Glenn Sato, former Kaua'i county economic development director.

Veith was a competitive long-distance swimmer who participated in a relay race two years ago that set a national record. When in Hawai'i, he participated in open-ocean swimming events.

No cause of death had been determined. He is survived by his wife, Cristi, and several children and grandchildren.

A service is planned in Spokane tomorrow.