Capt. Byrd Gleason
Hawaii has lost a legendary diver, veteran Captain, tourism pioneer, and one of the best joke tellers to ever put on a wetsuit.
Maui's own Capt. Byrd Gleason, age 72, passed from this world after a very short stay at Maui Memorial Medical Center on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
His wife, fellow Master Diver and inseparable life partner of more than 30 years, Kim Gleason, was at his side. A tongue cancer survivor for more than 20 years, it would be COPD and complications from his successful cancer treatment that caused his death.
Byrd was born in Hartford, CT and attended Cathedral Grammar School and Northwest Catholic High School. In his early 20's he moved to Maui to open a popular restaurant in, at that time, sleepy old Lahaina town. Already a SCUBA instructor – he soon tired of the long hours and returned to his passion – diving and exploring the ocean.
Capt. Byrd spent just over 50 years in Maui and HI. He loved both deeply, the residents more. He was, at his core, a legendary HI waterman, and considered that recognition by fellow HI watermen (and women) the highest accolade to an adopted son…
Starting at the bottom, he was a guide, instructor, deck hand, First Mate, and then his cherished Captain's ticket. He considered taking people diving his calling, his responsibility as Captain to do it safely, sovereign.
It is hard to imagine his accomplishments in terms of years and time. In 1992 the most prestigious award in the diving world, the SSI Platinum Pro 5000, was introduced. Globally, only 1200 divers have ever earned the award.
Byrd was inducted in the first class, along with Jacques Cousteau and most of the famous divers in the world. A minimum of 5,000 dives was mandatory; Byrd amassed more than 18,000.
As an aside, his jokes, and ability to tell them, were known around the world. Simply, no one could tell a joke as well as Byrd…
With grateful thanks to the island of Maui and the diving/tourism community for their support of Byrd since the beginning. Ohana.
To his early mentor and lifelong friend, Ed Robinson, Mahalo.
From the Gleason family to our sister, Kim Gleason, thank you for taking such wonderful care of Byrd. Always at his side, you were not only the love of his life and eternal dive buddy, but his rock as well. Aloha makou ia 'oe.
A Celebration of Life is planned for later this year.
Aloha, master and servant of the Maui Channel, and life.