Desmond Byrne, leader of Common Cause Hawaii and Co-Founder of Honolulu Information Services
The Grassroot Institute of
Hawaii also is honoring as an Unsung Hero, Desmond Byrne, a well-known local
businessman who died in 1999 in Honolulu on his 64th birthday after an extended
bout with cancer.
Remembered by his peers as one of Hawaii's "bright lights," Byrne was
best known for his career in business and civil service, including heading
Common Cause Hawaii. As leader of Common Cause from 1983 to 1988, Byrne imposed
the highest standards on government officials and demanded honesty and openness
from them.
Byrne also was the founder and co-owner with his wife, Jo, of Honolulu
Information Services, a company that sells facts about Hawaii business and
government, and tracks legislation.
Those who had the privilege to meet Byrne called him a "tireless advocate
for good government," "a champion of democracy and
accountability", a "bright light" and "a true hero in our
community." They note his great sense of humor and good spirit.
Small Business Hawaii's Small Business Person of the Year for 1995, Byrne was
recognized as an outstanding businessman.
Born in Bouremouth, England, Byrne was educated at Belmont Abbey School in
Hereford, where he graduated in 1951 before joining Price Waterhouse. He was
accepted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1957
and completed a master's degree in business administration at the University of
Hawaii in 1983.
After serving in the British Army, he was appointed Secretary of China Light
& Power Co. Ltd. in Hong Kong, and subsequently became the director and
treasurer of Duty Free Shoppers Ltd. in Hong Kong. After serving as comptroller
of Butlers Bank Ltd. for two years, Byrne returned to Honolulu and took over as
treasurer of Malia International and then transitioned to vice president of a
data processing services firm, Computab Inc.
Byrne also was extremely active in the Hawaii non-profit community. He is
credited with founding the Film Society of Hawaii and served as president of the
Friends of East West Center and the Friends of the Library of Hawaii. He was
chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii and Common Cause Hawaii. And
intriguing to many in Hawaii, he was a member of all four political parties in
Hawaii: Green, Libertarian, Republican and Democrat
Jo and Desmond Byrne