The passing of Bill Paty this past August marks the loss of one of Hawaii’s prominent community leaders.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser properly cited Paty as a distinguished WWII military hero and for his outstanding service as a dedicated leader in Hawaii’s agriculture industry, as chairman of the state’s 1978 Constitutional Convention, and in governing our lands and natural resources (“Former Land Board chairman, WWII hero William Paty dies,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17).

However, not mentioned was Paty’s outstanding leadership in maintaining positive relations with Hawaii’s U.S. military commands. He served as Hawaii’s civilian aide to the secretary of the U.S. Army for many years and was a charter member and chair emeritus of Hawaii’s Military Affairs Council (MAC).

Born and reared in Hawaii, and blessed with the teachings of aloha espoused by Aunty Pilahi Paki, he gained the support of senior military commanders in respecting our precious island environment, and instilled our spirit of living with aloha, thus ensuring that Hawaii’s communities lived in harmony with the military.

Charles Ota

Aiea

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