Former Hawaii County prosecutor Ono dies at 68

Former Hawaii County Prosecutor Jon Ono died April 30. He was 68.

The Honolulu-born Ono, who practiced law for more than four decades, became first deputy under then-prosecutor Paul De Silva. He was appointed to the top spot when De Silva became a judge in the late 1970s, and remained in office as an elected official until his retirement from the post in 1992.

In the 1970s and ’80s, Ono was involved in the prosecution of underworld figures including Alvin Kaohu, convicted of manslaughter for ordering the 1977 beating death of Benny Madamba, a gambling supervisor in Hilo for Kaohu’s rival gang leader Henry Huihui.

Ono also hired his successor to the office, Jay Kimura, as well as Kimura’s successor, Charlene Iboshi, in the late 1970s.

Both Kimura and Iboshi described Ono, who went into private law practice after leaving office, as a dedicated family man and a very private person.

“It’s a big loss for his family and the community,” said Kimura, who described Ono as “very professional” and “a very good boss.”

On a personal note, Kimura said Ono enjoyed fishing, golf and outdoor activities.

“He preferred a more private life as opposed to being a public official,” he said. “I know in later years he kind of stayed out of politics and had a very quiet practice.”

Iboshi said Ono coached youth sports and possessed a dry wit and distinctive laugh. She described him as an “analytical type of prosecutor” who helped create the blueprint for the way the prosecutor’s office operates now, obtaining funding to establish programs such as the organized crime unit and the victim-witness assistance program.

“He really had an interdisciplinary approach to prosecution and recognized the value of training,” she said. “He was a great prosecutor.”

Information on services and survivors are in an obituary published today.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.