Posted on: Tuesday, September 30, 2003

EDITORIAL
Robert J. Pfeiffer: a true Hawai'i original

Good corporate leaders can be recognized for excellence simply by building and maintaining a successful company.

And Robert J. "Bobby" Pfeiffer, who died Friday at the age of 83, was certainly that as chairman of both Matson Navigation and Alexander & Baldwin. Pfeiffer grew with the companies, from raw laborer to top executive. He saw the transformation of these two venerable companies into modern, successful corporate citizens of Hawai'i.

But that story fails to capture Pfeiffer's contributions to the state and Island society.

A descendant of eight generations of seamen, Fiji-born Pfeiffer was a waterman, a kama'aina and — most importantly — fervent champion of Hawai'i's place in the world. He actively supported many charitable interests, including preservation of the Hawai'i Theartre and creation of the Hawai'i Maritime Center.

Pfeiffer was an original. He will be missed.