PAUL G. BENNETT

Paul Grover Bennett, 82, died peacefully in Honolulu on March 9, 2023, in the company of his wife and four children.
A man of many accomplishments and experiences, Paul will be remembered most for his warmth, authenticity, generosity, openness, and humility, as well as his unique ability to nurture meaningful connections. He was a beloved grandfather, “Gumps,” who loved to play silly games with his 11 grandchildren, a devoted and loyal husband to his wife, a loving father who exemplified kindness and generosity, an admired brother to his siblings, and a warm, caring friend.
Born on September 1, 1940, in Ancon, Canal Zone, to Lieutenant Colonel Arden Bennett and Mercedes Reluz, Paul enjoyed being the second oldest of six siblings, and sharing stories of their childhood with his children and grandchildren. At Balboa High School, Paul was voted “most likely to succeed,” and participated in Junior ROTC.
Paul was awarded an NROTC appointment to Northwestern University, arriving from Panama with only a light jacket, dashing from building to building in winter to escape the cold. After earning his undergraduate degree, he proudly served four years in the US Navy – including as a Supply Officer in Vietnam. Following his discharge, Paul attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business. While at Stanford, he met his future wife, Diane Huarte, at an event hosted by his sister, Ruth. They had a whirlwind, 6-month romance and married in December of his second year.
After receiving his MBA, Paul began a lifelong career in international agribusiness when he accepted a job as a financial analyst with Castle & Cooke (Dole Bananas). This career choice was certainly never dull, taking him and his growing family to six different countries, including Central and South America, as well as the Philippines. Subsequently, Paul joined C. Brewer as President of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. He ended his career as CEO of Sakata Seed America. While with Sakata, he served as Chairman of the Board of the American Seed Association. To the amusement of his children, Paul loved to share his deep knowledge of broccoli, bananas, macadamia nuts, and seeds with their friends at parties and gatherings. Even though he was a CEO, he enjoyed telling people that he was a “farmer.”
After retiring from a 40-plus-year career, Paul’s greatest joys were traveling with Diane and their friends, time spent with his grandchildren, and having more time to devote to his life-long stamp collection. He shared his professional expertise with stints on the boards of Grupo Qualia, Seed Programs International, and Verdant Partners. He was an active member of the Exchange Club of Honolulu, the Outrigger Canoe Club, and the Pacific Club.
Paul is survived by his wife of 55 years, Diane; his daughters Courtney and Kim; his sons Chris (Katie) and Mike (Mele); 11 grandchildren: Max, Grace, Owen, Ava, Connor, Caroline, Sam, JP, Maggie, Mia, and Miles; his siblings: Vena, Ruth, Arden Jr., and Allen; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother William "Bill".
Paul will be interred in a private family ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, on Oahu. It is a site that held special meaning for him both because of his own military service and his interest in military history. His family will hold a Celebration of Life for family and friends on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. at the Pacific Club.
For those wishing to make donations to commemorate Paul’s memory, his family suggests two organizations: Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children on Oahu, which recently provided life-saving care to his grandson Sam,
https://giving.hawaiipacifichealth.org/make-a-gift/kapiolani-health-
foundation/ or checks made out to Kapiolani Health Foundation with “In memory of Paul Bennett” in the memo line; and the UC Davis Mind Institute for their work on autism research, which benefits his grandson Connor (https://give.ucdavis.edu/MIND) or checks made out to UC Regents and note “To the MIND Institute, In memory of Paul Bennett” in the memo line.