EDITORIAL
Chris Hemmeter helped rewrite Hawai'i tourism

Hawai'i's business and development world has seen relatively few giants: Chinn Ho and Henry Kaiser come to mind. But few would dispute that Chris Hemmeter, who died this week at 64, belongs in that pantheon.

Hemmeter, known for his vast confidence and flamboyant ideas, rewrote the face of resort tourism in Hawai'i during the 1970s and 1980s. Almost single-handedly, he introduced the concept of mega-resorts that become destinations in and of themselves.

Not satisfied with the charms that Hawai'i naturally has to offer, Hemmeter finished off his resorts with exotic animals, art and collectibles from around Asia and the Pacific, waterfalls, fantasy swimming pools and more.

While some of his critics argued that these confections were over the top, there is no doubt that they worked. Hemmeter clearly saw something that others missed.

At the same time, when restraint was called for, Hemmeter knew how to apply it. His redevelopment and refurbishing of the old Armed Forces YMCA next to the state Capitol is a model of elegance and refinement.

Ultimately, Hawai'i simply became too small for Hemmeter's globe-spanning ambitions. After he lost out on a development proposal for the Aloha Tower (he envisioned among other things a sports arena and a waterway transit system linking Aloha Tower with downtown Honolulu) he moved his operations to the Mainland.

Unsuccessful forays into gambling developments soaked up much of the fortune Hemmeter had amassed. He spent much of the latter years of his life focusing on his own health.

Chris Hemmeter was an ideal example of what can be accomplished with the right mix of brash confidence and unfettered imagination. His contributions will be long remembered.