Robert Henry Bannister Jr., a longtime division chief for the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting and a lifelong resident of Oahu, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2026, at the age of 77, according to records compiled by Dignity Memorial. Born in Honolulu and living in Kailua, Bannister shaped decades of local infrastructure and community planning while maintaining a quiet, hardworking life away from the public eye.
Forty Years of Public Service and Community Life
For forty years, Bannister anchored his professional life in municipal governance. Inside the Department of Planning and Permitting, he rose through the ranks to serve as a division chief, steering complex municipal projects through Oahu's changing zoning rules. Yet, colleagues and family members noted that his professional credentials told only a fraction of the story.
Outside of city offices, he maintained deep roots in the region as a lifelong member of the Kaneohe & Kailua Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Friends often heard him describe himself with characteristic humility as “nothing special,” though those closest to him experienced a vastly different reality. He was known for a sharp wit, a keen intellect, and a steady, caring demeanor that grounded his family.
A Life Lived Between the Ocean and the Canvas
Coming from humble beginnings, Bannister cultivated a rich array of personal pursuits that defined his decades on the windward side of Oahu. He was an avid fisherman and a low-key throw net expert who knew the local waters intimately. Indoors, he applied a meticulous hand to Hawaiian-scape painting, capturing the light and color of the islands on canvas.
Rams supporter, while neighbors knew him as a lifelong home renovationist who could fix or build nearly anything he set his mind to. These varied interests created a vibrant daily rhythm that balanced demanding public service with creative and outdoor outlets.
Surviving Family Members Plan Upcoming Celebration of Life
Bannister is survived by his wife, Arlene “Evon”; his daughter, Jody, and her husband, Mark Matsumura; his sons, Brad “Kaipu” (and his wife, Tess) and Bobby (and his wife, Natasha) Bannister. He also leaves behind six grandchildren—Maila and Maicah Matsumura, Jaren (and his wife, Natalie) Feliciano, Jacob (and his wife, Ipo) Kamaka, Tyson (and his wife, Kiana) and Emma Bannister—along with two great-grandchildren, Maluhia and Haunani Kamaka.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Bayview Hall, located at the Bay View Golf Course at 45-285 Kaneohe Bay Drive. Visitation is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., with services to follow at 5 p.m. Organizers have suggested aloha attire for those attending to pay their respects.
