HONOLULU -- One of Hawaii's most well known and accomplished politicians has died.

Images Frank Fasi Through The Years

Former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi died Wednesday night at his Makiki home of natural causes, according to his son David Fasi.

Frank Fasi was 89 years old. Participate in our real-time Live Wire blogging and commenting.

He first served in the Territorial Senate in 1958 and was elected mayor seven years later. He served a total of 22 years as mayor and also ran for Congress and governor as a Democrat, Republican, Independent and in his own Best Party. He lost his last four attempts to take office.

Fasi has been described as a maverick, firebrand and a trailblazer, while others say he often rubbed people the wrong way.

He is credited with establishing the bus, satellite city hall and neighborhood board systems.

In an e-mail released Thursday, his son David wrote:

"Frank F. Fasi, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, died peacefully of natural causes late last night at his home in Makiki surrounded by his adoring wife and children. The man affectionately known by many in Hawaii simply as 'the Mayor' truly loved this city of Honolulu and devoted much of his life in trying to improve it. A tireless champion for the “little guy,” he was particularly interested in helping those who could not help themselves. He will be dearly missed."

"Born in Hartford, Conn., on August 27, 1920, he is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joyce, and their children, Charles, Frank Jr., Gina, David, Gioia Fasi Arrillaga and Salvador, as well as his children from a previous marriage, Toni, Kathleen, Carl, Paul and Francesca Brittain, and numerous grandchildren. The Fasi family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of mourning. Funeral arrangements are pending."

The Honolulu Municipal Building was renamed the Frank Fasi Municipal Building and Civic Center. Fasi made a great effort to turn the Civic Center into the green belt it is today.

In the early 1970s, council members refused to give up a big asphalt parking lot that was there. Fasi had it bulldozed in the middle of the night while the council members were still sleeping.

"Frank Fasi earned a reputation as a maverick among the establishment politicos during his years in public office, but he was the bold and gutsy leader who shaped modern Honolulu. His enduring achievements are all around us: TheBus, the Fasi Civic Center, senior citizens programs, Honolulu City Lights, farmers markets, satellite city halls, and on and on. Even rail transit was a centerpiece of his administration," Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in a written statement.

Read more statements by Hawaii politicians.

“Our state has lost a true leader and an outstanding public servant who worked tirelessly to make life better for the people," Gov. Linda Lingle said in a written statement. "When it came to getting things done, Former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi did whatever it took -- finding innovative, sometimes unconventional, often controversial solutions."

"Frank Fasi was a good friend with a good heart dedicated to helping the people of Hawai'i. Frank was a kind hearted leader who would reach out to island families and help them as much as he could. Frank accomplished so much. When you look around O'ahu, you see his legacy everywhere."

Fasi's biggest political rival was Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi, who beat the mayor three times in campaigns for the governor's office.

Fasi claimed Ariyoshi was behind an attorney general investigation into corruption over the Kukui Plaza housing project. Charges against Fasi were dropped.

An Ariyoshi cabinet member, Eileen Anderson, beat the incumbent Fasi in 1980. Fasi was back in the mayor's office four years later.

He outsmarted Waikiki T-shirt vendors by putting up planters on the sidewalks.

Undeterred by a constitutional amendment aimed at Fasi that forced him to resign to run for governor, he gave up the mayor's office for the last time in 1994, rejecting both Republicans and Democrats to run for governor as a candidate for the "Best Party," which he invented.

He lost and would not win again, failing twice to unseat his former managing director, Mayor Jeremy Harris

In 2004, at age 84, he finally called it quits for good.

"I think I've had it. The last hurrah has taken place," Fasi told KITV.

Some Of Fasi's Biggest Projects:
TheBus system
Satellite city halls
People's Open Market
Neighborhood boards
Honolulu City Lights holiday displays

Fasi's Political Career:
1952: First race for Honolulu mayor, loses to Johnny Wilson in Democratic primary
1954: Beat Wilson in primary, loses to Republican Neal Blaisdell
1958: Won first election, a seat in the Territorial Senate
1959-62: Lost races for U.S. Senate, mayor and U.S. House
1964: Wins seat on Honolulu City Council
1968: Defeats D.G. "Andy" Anderson to become mayor
1972: Defeats Anderson to win second term as mayor
1974: Loses to George Ariyoshi in Democratic primary for governor
1976: Wins third term as mayor
1978: Loses to Ariyoshi in Democratic primary for governor
1980: Loses mayor's race to Eileen Anderson
1982: Forms own third Independent Democratic party, loses to Ariyoshi for governor
1984: Fasi becomes a Republican, wins back the mayor's seat
1988: Wins fifth term as mayor
1992: Wins sixth term as mayor
1994: Quits to run for governor on his own Best Party ticket. Loses to Ben Cayetano
1996: Loses mayoral race to Jeremy Harris and Arnold Morgado
1998: Seeks Republican nomination for governor, but loses to Linda Lingle
2000: Seeks his seventh term as mayor, loses