The Maui News

Five-term Maui County Council member and former Council Chair, Gladys Baisa, passed away Monday morning at the age of 83.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gladys Baisa, whose contributions to Maui County are many and significant,” said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen in a statement. “We extend our sincere condolences to her husband, Sherman, and the rest of her ‘ohana at this difficult time.

“I am grateful for her sage advice over the years and the friendship she extended to my family and I. Maui has lost an iconic leader, and she will be greatly missed.”

Along with her time representing Upcountry on the council and serving county administrations, Baisa built a legacy of dedication and innovation in the nonprofit sector. She served as Maui Economic Opportunity’s Chief Executive Officer from 1983 to 2005, a time of substantial growth for the agency.

“Throughout her decades-long service to Maui County, her compassion for community members stood out, whether it was by starting services for families at MEO, serving on associations and boards, or working with other leaders to make sure residents were a priority,” Bissen said. “She took on many roles, including MEO Executive Director, Council Member, Council Chair and other county leadership roles.

“She will be remembered for her incredible leadership, kind heart and unwavering integrity.”

Maui Economic Opportunity also released a statement mourning Baisa’s passing, noting she was the nonprofit’s fourth chief executive who in her 22 years at the helm left a lasting imprint on Maui County with programs, including reintegrating recently released inmates into the community, helping low income and disadvantaged residents start a business, and supporting Mexican/Hispanic laborers brought to Maui to work in agriculture.

Gladys, 83, mobilized kupuna to promote and support their own well-being with transportation, health and other services, looked for ways to fundraise, including the Basil Project that grossed more than $300,000 annually, and secured the donation of 11.5 acres in Waiehu that currently is slated for the 120-unit 100 percent affordable rental project, the Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua Affordable Housing Community.

“She was a true trailblazer, advocate for low income, disadvantaged and seniors, and she was a role model for women leaders,” said MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe. “Gladys dedicated a good portion of her life to MEO and many of the programs that we administer today were started under her leadership. Please keep her family in your prayers.”

In all, Gladys had a 37-year career at MEO, as the agency’s first full-time accountant and later as fiscal officer before succeeding Joe Souki as Executive Director.

The program Being Empowered and Safe Together (BEST) was created by Gladys and continues to help incarcerated men and women reintegrate into society upon release. She reached out to friend and motivational speaker Lou Tice to lay the foundation for BEST and garnered funding.

Gladys brought the MEO Business Development Center Microenterprise program to Maui, which continues to provide microloans, the Core Four business planning course and business expertise to support low income residents, while generating jobs and strengthening the economy.

In the early 1990s when there was a shortage of agricultural workers, Gladys helped bring in several thousand Mexican immigrants to work in the pineapple fields and many decided to stay.

Born in Paia, Gladys was class valedictorian of Maui High’s Class of 1958. She earned a Licensed Practical Nurse certificate from St. Francis School on Oahu, and an Accounting Certificate from Maui Technical School, the predecessor of UH-Maui College, according to a Maui County Council resolution honoring her retirement in June 2020.

Her survivors include her husband, Sherman, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There were two other things about Gladys that the Council Resolution noted.

She loved sweets and often said that you should eat dessert first just in case of an earthquake.

And when enshrined in Akaku’s Walk of Heroes in Kahului, she described herself as “Ms. Fix It.”

“I’ve always liked to bring people together to focus on a goal,” she said. “If there’s a community problem, I’ll find a way to get involved because that’s what aloha is all about. If you want to do it well, you must commit your life to the job. My advice to the youth of today is to focus on appreciation. Be kind and do what’s right.”

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.