Waikiki Neighborhood Board member John Robert Dew was so passionate about Waikiki that terminal illness couldn’t keep him from trying to improve the district.

Dew, who died at home on March 17 from complications related to cancer, was still discussing neighborhood improvements just days before his death. He wanted to see more city support for the maintenance of Kuhio Mini Park, which local businesses, concerned residents and the Honolulu Police Department transformed in 2013 from a graffiti-laden drug and homeless haven into a community park with indigenous plants and a colorful mural.

"The plants are dying," the 76-year-old Dew said from his hospital bed at Straub. "That’s just unacceptable."

He was hoping to inspire another cleanup. But, his ambitions were cut short by failing health.

"I’m not surprised that he was doing that," said Linda Wong, a vice chairwoman of the Diamond Head-Kapa­hulu-St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board.

"He was very passionate, emphatic even, when it came to his causes. He was a frequent visitor to our neighboring board to discuss issues of mutual interest. That level of involvement is just not something that you see often."

Neighborhood safety and beauty also were important to Dew. Despite his advanced years, he joined the Neighborhood Watch and made a few patrols. He also mounted a last-minute effort to save the historic mosaic that had decorated the Miramar at Waikiki Hotel for more than four decades. However, Taubman Co. LLC, the redeveloper of the International Market Place, removed the artwork in June 2014 to make way for its new plans.

He also questioned the city on the bid process for its Waikiki concessions, and advocated for the reopening of a 24-hour public restroom. When he had an issue that was important to him or to the community, he could be relentless.

"John’s sometimes off-subject comments that really had nothing to do with the subject being discussed, but were important issues to him and his neighbors, were to say the least interesting," said Waikiki Neighborhood Board Chairman Robert Finley. "His intentions were good. Some of the ways that he branched out were strange, but what the heck, he represented the diversity that is Waikiki."

Long before he got involved with neighborhood politics, he was involved in the Waikiki business community and in local charities. According to his longtime partner Richard Perez, Dew was a self-made businessman who owned a string of properties in California and Hawaii.

"He moved here in 1964 at the age of 26," said Perez, who was Dew’s partner for 45 years. "He came on a dream and he was really fortunate because he hit the golden years."

In the early years, Perez said Dew worked at Hopaco at Ala Moana and at the Wigwam in Kalihi. After saving enough money, he went into business for himself, opening the former SOS Store at the Outrigger Waikiki, another one in the Outrigger Reef, and a dress-shirt store called Longsleeves Limited in the International Market Place.

Perez said Dew also had stores in California and worked as a floral designer in a shop near Laurel Canyon. Perez said the two also opened up Store 52 and Classic Consignment in the Tri-Palms area.

"He had luck and the right timing, but more importantly, he knew how to put a business together," Perez said. "He learned how to make ends meet from his father, who was a jack-of-all-trades."

But no matter where Dew worked, Perez said, his partner always had a heart for Waikiki, where he spent four decades.

"John’s story actually began in Madison, Ind., where he was born. However, he and the people that he used to work with were the pioneers who helped build Waikiki tourism as we know it today," Perez said. "He loved Waikiki so much … if there is such a thing as reincarnation this is where he’d want to be again."

Perez said helping others was one of his partner’s highest priorities.

"When John was in the hospital this last time, a hospital worker came up and thanked him for helping, along with the Honolulu Variety Club (a service organization), to get her son a heart," Perez said.

"John was so pleased when she told him that the little boy had grown into a man."

Entertainer Jeff Apaka, who served on the Waikiki Neighborhood Board with Dew, said Dew had a positive impact on Waikiki both as a businessman and volunteer.

Apaka said Dew also had a funny side that accompanied almost everything that he did.

"He had lots of idiosyncrasies that made him different than anybody else," Apaka said. "I’d run into him on the streets of Waikiki and ask how he was and he’d say, ‘Oh, I was just out feeding the chickens and then you came along.’"

Perez said Dew dealt with many celebrities in his businesses, but always treated everyone the same.

"We had millionaires and billionaires come to shop. No matter who came, he always was very gracious and very down-to-earth," Perez said.

Dew’s ashes will be scattered at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the ocean off Waikiki. Perez said those who wish to pay their final respects should meet at the surfboard racks by the police substation.

Dew is survived by Perez, his sister Edna Dew Whetstone of California, and a niece and nephew.