Hannibal Tavares

Maui County mayor

What is Hannibal Tavares known for?

Hannibal Tavares, a prominent alumni from Maui High School, was born in Makawao, Hawaii on September 24, 1919. Born and raised in Hawaii, Tavares made significant contributions to his home state. His impactful life journey led him to become the 2nd Mayor of Maui, a position he held from October 1979 to January 2, 1991. His mayoral tenure was marked by steadfast leadership and resilience, and to this day, Tavares remains the longest-serving mayor of Maui. More about Maui Mayors

Tavares ascended to the mayor's office following a special mayoral election in 1979. This election was necessitated by the sudden departure of the then Mayor, Elmer Cravalho. Tavares effectively completed Cravalho's term and was subsequently re-elected, solidifying his legacy as Maui's longest-serving mayor. He retired from office in 1991 and was succeeded by Republican Linda Lingle. Tavares passed away on January 17, 1998, at the age of 78 in Wailuku, Hawaii.

His significant legacy was carried forward by his daughter, Charmaine Tavares, who served as the Mayor of Maui from 2007 to 2011. The Tavares family, descendants of Portuguese immigrants who settled in Hawaii, have made a lasting impact on Hawaiian politics and society. More about Charmaine Tavares

During his life, Hannibal Tavares was not just a political figure, but also a devoted family man. He was survived by his wife Harriet Y.T, three children, Charmaine Tavares, Sharon Klaschka, and Gary Tavares; three sisters, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. More about Hannibal Tavares