John Joseph Grant's Obituary
John Joseph Grant, 75, of Hamakualoa, passed peacefully in his sleep on Monday, May 15, 2017 after several years battling cancer.
He was born in Liverpool, England to the late Jack and Josephine Grant on October 8, 1941 and immigrated to the U.S with his family as a young boy.
His lifelong passion and love for marine life nurtured by his parents, led him to pursue studies in Marine Biology at Sacramento State, where he completed his doctorate and was hired into California's Department of Fish and Game. His fondness for nearshore, benthic and tidal systems took him on many adventures documenting and prosecuting corporations for chemical pollution/runoff, "accidental" taking of wildlife and oil spills along the coast, to name a few of the many things he was involved in. When not at work, he enjoyed running marathons, competing in Highland Games (where he competed in caber tossing and tug-o-war) and creating beautiful koi ponds in the backyards of the homes he lived in.
When he retired in his 50s, he decided to come to Maui on a friend's request and got hooked on windsurfing. It was one of his main reasons for moving to Maui, where he not only began to learn about the history of these islands but also learned to love and defend its culture and people.
John was a fierce, no-nonsense man who championed the underdog and stood up for the rights of those who needed it. Whether it was stopping an attempt to lengthen Maui's main runway or helping to shape Kaiser's Patient Advisory Council, John was never afraid to push on to the end. He was a huge Liverpool Football Club fan, loved his discus, was a great carpenter who renovated every house he'd ever lived in, taught bagpipes for free to anyone who wanted to learn and started Maui's first pipe band.
He is survived by his only sister Maria (Mitch) Sine, of Brentwood, CA and his companion Trinette Furtado, of Hamakualoa, Mauinuiakama.
A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, June 11th from 10a-2p at Lae'ula o Kai Canoe Hale at Kanahā Beach Park (last entrance). Shared memories and bagpiping will precede the paddle out and release of his ashes, with food and more music until 2p.
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