Longtime state Rep. Gene Ward died Friday, April 4, just days after retiring from the seat he held for nearly three decades. He was 82.
Ward, a Republican who represented Portlock, Hawai‘i Kai and Kalama Valley, served in the state House of Representatives from 1990 to 1998 and from 2006 until Monday. He had recently announced his retirement, which was effective Monday March 31, citing recent health setbacks including anemia, sciatica and, most recently, pneumonia.
“On this Aloha Friday, my father, Gene, peacefully passed away in the early morning. On behalf of my mother and I, we want to thank the community for the abundance of prayers and kind thoughts. My father did what he loved most, serving others, until the end. We will miss him, but he will live forever in our hearts,” his wife Faredah and daughter Johanna Ward said in a statement that was reported by a number of local news sites.
Ward was a veteran of the Vietnam War. From 1999 to 2004, he was a senior democracy adviser in the USAID Office of Democracy and Governance, and from 2005 to 2006, he served at the Peace Corps' Country Director of East Timor, his website notes.
Gov. Josh Green on Friday ordered that the U.S. and Hawai‘i state flags be flown at half-staff at the Hawai‘i State Capitol and all state offices and agencies, as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard, until sunset on Monday, April 7, in recognition of Ward's service.
"The passing of Gene Ward is a profound loss for Hawai‘i. Gene dedicated his life to public service with passion, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the people he represented,” Green said in a statement. “From his service in the Peace Corps and the Vietnam War to his decades in the State House, he brought a global perspective and deep love for Hawaiʻi to everything he did. His leadership in supporting small businesses, strengthening international relations and advocating for local communities has left a lasting impact on our state.
"Gene was a fighter in every sense — whether championing issues he believed in or overcoming personal challenges with resilience and determination. Jaime and I send our heartfelt aloha to his family, friends and all those whose lives he touched. Hawai‘i has lost a dedicated leader, but his legacy will continue to inspire us."
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
