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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 13, 2003

Local developer Stanley T. Himeno dead at 75

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Businessman Stanley T. Himeno, who developed the Honolulu International Country Club in Salt Lake, died Monday. He was 75.

Stanley Himeno was a football and baseball star at UH.
Himeno was born on Feb. 16, 1928, in Honolulu. He graduated from McKinley High School and received an education degree at the University of Hawai'i, where he also was a star athlete in football and baseball.

Himeno began his business career as a car salesman with Hull-Dobbs Co., a Ford dealership in Honolulu. He later was sales manager for Universal Motors and then general manager for Volkswagen-Hawai'i.

While in the car sales business, Himeno got the bug for land development. He also became involved in politics and in 1962 was named to the City Planning Commission by then-Mayor Neal Blaisdell.

Himeno's most well-known project was a controversial one — the Honolulu International Country Club. In 1974, he unveiled plans to fill the island's only natural lake to build the private golf course.

Many residents objected to the use of the land and said the area should be converted into a public park instead. But in June 1977, HICC was officially opened.

Himeno also was a political insider, and political ties ran deep in his family. His daughter Sharon is married to former state Attorney General Warren Price and was nominated by then-Gov. John Waihee to the Hawai'i Supreme Court. Her appointment was rejected by the Senate, however, in 1993.

Himeno is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters, Sandra Himeno-Okamoto, and Sharon; three grandchildren.

Private services have been held. Donations may be made to the Himeno Endowed Scholarship at Hanahauoli School.