Herb Campos, former Maui fire chief, dead at 68
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
WAILUKU, Maui — Former Maui Fire Chief Herb Campos, an active community volunteer, champion of Native Hawaiian health and Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, died Tuesday at the age of 68.
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Campos, who had survived cancer, a massive stroke and several heart surgeries, died at Maui Memorial Medical Center following a heart attack.
A heart attack claimed the life of all-around volunteer and former Maui Fire Chief Herb Campos.
Born on O'ahu, Campos graduated from Saint Louis High School in 1953 and joined the Honolulu Fire Department before moving to the Maui Fire Department in 1971. He worked his way up from driver to training officer to deputy chief and then chief, appointed by then-Mayor Hannibal Tavares. He led the department from 1985 to 1990.
Interim Deputy Chief Alan Cordeiro, who began his career working with Campos in Kihei in 1974, remembered Campos as a happy man and devoted father.
As fire chief, Campos was an excellent leader who worked with county politicians to keep the department well-equipped, Cordeiro said. Among his accomplishments were the construction of the Kahului and Napili fire stations.
When Linda Lingle was elected mayor, Campos retired and ran unsuccessfully for County Council.
Campos then took a job as Maui branch chief for HMSA and became a volunteer for numerous Valley Isle causes. When he wasn't working as a Little League coach and Boy Scout leader, Campos was a leader in several organizations geared toward improving the health of Native Hawaiians. He was also a board member of the Maui Food Bank and was active with the American Cancer Society.
In May 1998, he was appointed to the OHA board after the death of Maui trustee Abraham Aiona. He served for six months and lost in his election bid for a full term.
In 2000, Campos suffered a massive stroke while on vacation in Las Vegas. Although he recovered, his impaired speech prompted his retirement from HMSA.
Cordeiro said he last saw Campos at last month's opening of the Wailea Fire Station. "He was in good spirits," Cordeiro said.
His wife, Leilani Campos, said her husband fell ill Tuesday after mowing the lawn. His death came 2 1/2 months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.
"He was a good man," she said. "He always put others before himself."
Campos also is survived by his sons, Paul of Honolulu, and Herbert and Michael of Maui, his daughter, Helen Pahukoa of Maui, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services have not been announced.
