Whitney Theodore Anderson

Born in Honolulu on December 8, 1931, Whitney Theodore Anderson was the youngest of two sons of John Dominis Anderson and Evelyn Garrida Anderson raised in Alewa Heights and Waikiki. A patriot, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Europe.

He returned to Hawaii and married Hannahbelle (Hannie) Rice, a friend since childhood. They wed on January 18, 1958. Their loving marriage would endure for 65 years. Their only child Kimberly was born a year after they wed. Whitney and Hannie founded several businesses; Honolulu restaurants Blue Hawaii and Sunrise Inn; a Kaneohe bar called Whitney’s; florist shop Haliipua in Kaneohe; a cleaning business; and a janitorial supply company. Despite their entrepreneurial endeavors, they still had time to share their lives with animals. They raised German Shepards and were avid horse lovers. Whitney was a pa‘u rider in many community parades including Aloha Festivals.

As part of a lineage in which community stewardship were inherent to family values, Whitney was a force for decades in the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. He served as president of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and as president of the overall state Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

His grandfather J.C. Anderson served in the Territorial House of Representatives from 1923 for four terms during the territorial era. Whitney’s patriotism coupled with his love of community and family won him a seat in the in the State House of Representatives in 1978. He would serve Kailua in that capacity for 14 years, holding the esteemed positions of House Minority Floor Leader and House Minority Leader. In 1994, Whitney was appointed to the Hawaii State Senate by Gov. Ben Cayetano upon the retirement of Senator Mary George. He was re-elected in 1996 and served as Senate Minority Leader until 2000. Upon his retirement in 2000, Whitney was the only Hawaii state senator of Hawaiian ancestry.

When asked at his retirement from the Legislature what he will miss most about public service, he said the many colleagues who became friends along with the camaraderie of rank-and-file staff members at the State Capitol whose work kept government operating. Read more in The Honolulu Star Advertiser. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/11/27/hawaii-news/former-state-senator-whitney-anderson-known-for-fiscal-conservatism/

He retired from public service in 2000. Whitney credited some of the proudest moments as being a part of the life of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. At 91, he also got to hold his great-great-granddaughter.

Whitney is survived by his wife Hannie; daughter Kimberly and son-in-law John Puchalski; brother and former state Sen. D.G. “Andy” Anderson; grandson and former Honolulu City Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson; granddaughter Hali’ipua Koa (Jovin); granddaughter Kanani Cusson (Stephen); 12 great-grandchildren & one great-granddaughter.

Services are open to the public and will be held on Sunday, December 17, 2023 in Kaneohe at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Services, 45-425 Kamehameha Highway: visitation from 10:30 to Noon; eulogy at Noon by Governor John Waihee and Councilmember Calvin Say; funeral service at 12:15 pm officiated by The Very Reverend Monsignor Gary Secor, lunch at 1 pm; and burial service at 2 pm.