When Susumu Ono was preparing to retire his post as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, he said he felt no pressure to extend his 29-year state government career.

That was in 1986, during the final weeks of Gov. George Ariyoshi's administration.

Not only did Ono continue to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources under newly elected Gov. John Waihee, he went on to serve as a consultant for five other state departments, was named associate director of the University of Hawai'i's Real Estate Research and Education Center and became a lobbyist for the Aloha Tower Development Corp.

Ono, a former pineapple field worker from Kahuku who went on to be a trusted aide to three governors, died on May 4. He was 77.

Ono's wife, Tsutayo, said her husband worked in so many state departments she couldn't remember them all off the top of her head. Besides DLNR and UH, he helped create the Department of Public Safety and also worked with the departments of Agriculture, Health, Education, and Budget and Finance.

Ono took on the varied positions because he embraced new experiences and opportunities. "He enjoyed the different things he needed to learn and accomplish," his wife explained. "He liked the challenge."

Those who worked with him say Ono was trusted in so many leadership roles because of his ability to work with people within the administration, as well as the Legislature and the public.

"There were a lot of people who had enormous respect for him because of that," said J. Douglas Ing, chairman of the Kamehameha Schools board of trustees.

Ing served on the Land Board with Ono and recalls the board tackling its first contested case over development of a controversial geothermal power plant on the Big Island. The hearings on Hilo stretched into the early morning hours.

"His approach to managing the Department of Land and Natural Resources was always a balanced approach. He took into account a broad range of considerations," Ing said.

When William Paty took over as chairman of the Land Board in 1986, he looked to Ono as a mentor and a partner in putting together a Commission on Water Resources Management.

"He was steady, very logical and had the ability to work through a problem to sort it out," Paty said. "He could take it apart and help you get the priorities straight."

Gerald Kato, a University of Hawai'i journalism professor and former Advertiser government reporter, said Ono never gave the impression he was working for any kind of personal or political gain.

"Sus was one of those guys who gave bureaucrats a good name," he said. "He was very good and very competent at what he did, and he did it honestly."

That's how Tsutayo Ono hopes her husband will be remembered. Not only was he a good and loyal husband and father, she said, "he was a hardworking, honest man who tried to make Hawai'i a better place for everyone."

Services will be held at the Hosoi Garden Mortuary at 3 p.m. Saturday, with visitation beginning at 2 p.m.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.