Henry Lukela, former newspaper executive

Advertiser Staff

Henry N. Lukela, a retired executive with the Hawai'i Newspaper Agency, died Nov. 9. He was 76.

LUKELA

During World War II, Lukela served in the Army and was stationed in Korea. Following the war, he joined the Internal Revenue Service and worked his way up to an agent.

In 1955, Lukela went to work as an income-tax specialist with Peat Marwick and Mitchell, and four years later he opened his own practice after earning his CPA license.

Lukela began his long career with the Hawai'i Newspaper Agency in 1964 when he was hired as an internal auditor in HNA's business office. Except for one year when he worked for the state, Lukela was with HNA until his retirement as a senior vice president on his 64th birthday in 1990.

HNA was established under a joint operating agreement by the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin. HNA handled both newspapers' advertising, production and circulation, and it was Lukela's job to keep the books for both.

Longtime HNA and Advertiser employee Bob Marciel said he was amazed at Lukela's ability to serve both newspapers.

"He knew the newspaper business inside and out," said Marciel, Advertiser circulation sales manager. "He was able to serve his two publishers extremely well, and that's not an easy task. He was capable of pulling these two parties together, even though one out-weighed the other, and that was the Star-Bulletin at that time, but he had his allegiance to the Advertiser as well."

In addition to his work at the newspaper, Lukela served on the boards for Leonard's Bakery, Pacific Business News and Pacific Garden Center.

Lukela is survived by his wife, Jean; son, Henry Jr.; daughters, Debbie, Donna Mahuna and Kathleen; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Kamehameha Schools Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel, service at 4:30 p.m. Inurnment 10 a.m. Saturday at Nu'uanu Memorial Park. No flowers. Casual attire.