Hawaii island businessman Larry Mehau dies
STAR-ADVERTISER / JAN. 8, 2011
Larry Mehau
Larry Mehau, an influential and controversial supporter of the Hawaii Democratic Party for many years, has died.
The Hawaii island rancher and businessman was 86 years old.
Mehau’s son-in-law, Tony Vericella, said Mehau died Tuesday. He declined to comment further and asked that the family’s privacy be respected.
“We appreciate everyone’s positive thoughts and wishes,” said Vericella.
Mehau formerly served as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources. He was also the owner of a security guard business, Hawaii Protective Association, Ltd.
Mehau was once accused of by a Honolulu City Prosecutor’s aide, Rick Reed, of being the “godfather” of organized crime in Hawaii — a charge he strongly denied. He sued Reed for libel and invasion of privacy. In 1992, a Circuit Court jury decided the case in Reed’s favor.
48 responses to “Hawaii island businessman Larry Mehau dies”
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Thank You for serving Hawaii. You will always be remembered in our hearts and prayers, Mr.Larry Mehau.
Are you serious?
I think he’s being facetious.
I love Bumpy, too.
If you want to know the facts/truth about Larry Mehau and all his associates, including Don Ho and various mobsters, read former Advertiser Investigative Reporter James (Jim) Dooley’s book released about 4 months ago: “Sunny Skies, Shady Characters–Cops, Killers and Corruption in the Aloha State: http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Skies-Shady-Characters-Corruption/dp/0824851641/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450912672&sr=1-1&keywords=james+dooley%2C+sunny+skies
“Hell Bent” is another good book on the subject.
What makes the book relevant? Because he calls himself an investigative reporter?
EVERYONE can speak all the negatives they want about “Larry”; and all my very good memories of him are of a man who was always there for me and was a significant force in building my business and career and watched over me–like an ANGEL. I will always remember him for all the good he did for MANY… My prayers are for the repose of his soul and for THE FAMILY that he loved.
Ke Akua pū me ʻoukou.., ALOHA!
Well said.
Aloha Larry. Mahalo for all the great times over the many years.
Hmmmn……
Rest in peace. A great part of Hawaii history.
“Influential” is putting it mildly.
https://youtu.be/Ic6KR2CcUyA
This is how you can tell Political Correctness has gone amok in this day and age. Just 20 years ago, the title would have read “Underworld mobster dies”
Aloha. The Don is gone.
we were just talking an hour ago about mob life here and somehow his name popped up……….how ironic, rip
I guess Nappy Pulawa going preach da eulogy.
Wow! A name that will always be tied into Hawaii infamy. The wild west
Influential businessman? That’s a real knee slapper.
How times have changed. Is it just political correctness
run amok that we can’t call a thug what he is/was?
Brave comment made from behind your keyboard. The man has passed, when is it ever justified to make a comment such as yours? Did you fear him and feel that with his passing you can now make these comments. Have you ever met the man? My work sometimes involved visits to his company. He always treated us with respect, never intimidating. His wife was one of the nicest person you could ever meet. Lots of aloha from them both. My condolences to the Mehau family. Aloha.
And Don Corleon was quite a proper gentleman too.
Just don’t get in his way.
They say this about a lot of criminals…
What I have to say is based on my personal experience with the man. What personal experiences do you have to backup the pilau comments you make? The man has passed, have you no respect? You are a sorry person if this is what you would say to a family who has experienced a loss and is grieving. Yes this is a open discussion but you have no respect for the dead. How would you feel if someone attended your parent’s wake and spoke as you do. If your family upbringing is not representative of your comments then you are a disgrace to your family.
So dogchow, does that mean when Manson dies in prison we can’t talk about him in a negative way? Extreme example, yes but no more preposterous than your remark.
Marcus, yes, your example is extreme and you are entitled to you opinion. You could mention Hitler if you wanted. Would I post the same for them, absolutely not. If you think your reply is appropriate to my comments than it is what it is. I will not disrespect you as others have to the deceased in this article. I have personal experience with the man and I have not benefited any from my past association. Others seem to be talking out of their “A” or based on what they have heard or read. I am not naïve but there are both sides and again the article was in regards to someone’s passing. A rule that I hold to myself is would I state my comments to an individual or their family in person as opposed to behind a keyboard. As preposterous as it may seem to you, yes I would to those who have made hurtful negative comments in regards to the deceased. Thank you for your reply.
Most people respond to what is heard or read because they are not personal friends of the subject. That does not, in itself, lesson their critique. I still don’t get your argument that just because someone is dead, they can’t be discussed in positive or negative.
Marcus, a time and place for everything? A family’s loss just before Christmas and someone labeling him a thug? The article was about his passing. That is all. I apologize if I offended anyone with my comments. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Many mobsters sponsor Little League teams. Drug lords in South America donate shoes and uniforms to poor schoolchildren. Many serial killers do nice, cute things, like dressing up as a clown and entertaining the neighborhood kids. And when they finally get caught, someone always says, “He couldn’t have chopped up and eaten all those people, because he rescued my cat from a tree!”
Just a smear campaign from the Charles Marsland/Rick Reed group of people who jumped on innuendo and ran with it. Did business with him in the early 80s and he was a good client.
PS Many times people can’t acknowledge that a Hawaiian can be a success in Hawaii
Not PC, I believe its called, “self preservation”.
like a lot of people… great to have as a friend, bad to have as an enemy
Enemy or enema?
come on SA staff was not he also the bodyguard for the late senator Dan Inouye and trouble shooter. I remember about over ten years ago when Inouye’s hair dresser accused Dan of putting his hand up her dress and she filed a sex harassment case, but Mehau or his cohorts stepped in and talked to the hairdresser behind closed doors and the case never came forward I guess she dropped it after a visit maybe by Larry Mehau. still wondering what happened.
he was always willing to help in any way to resolve difficulties. a real peace maker.
I agree God Bless Him.
Definitely a thug…
Larry Mehau was one of the toughest cops ever to be with HPD. I remember when he was on the Metro Squad in the 60’s, he could take on anybody, one on one, no matter what the other guy had in his hands. Mr. Mehau was one tough hombre, but also generous and kind to all who deserved it. Nuff said. RIP, Larry Mehau, you will be remembered.
Strange stories the SA chooses to print, they’re becoming a mouthpiece for the ruling democratic party of Hawaii. Every article seems to have a democorrupt slant to it.
This is his second death. First time in 2007 as called by KITV.
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Surprise of his death thought he pass on long ago. He was quite a guy and an off spring of one of Hawaii’s prominent family. Rest in peace Mr. Mehau. Sincere condolences to his family.
Larry’s true story has not been publicly told. Let him tell everything to Christ our Savior and let us all pray for mercy for him.
Larry Mehau was in the right place at the right time. Like him or not, he kept things under control. Yeah, he was controversial but The Democratic Party would be non existent. He was the right guy!
Meaning a mobster was good for the democratic party. Larry, Henry and Nappy hey thanks for being part of the machine which makes our kids move away to have an affordable place to live.
That’s the whole story? Jeez, this guy was huge in modern Hawaii History and 6 “paragraphs” is all he gets. Good grief.
This guy is a Saint when compared to the Bush Family Clan in Texas.