Jesse Spencer: Role Model, Leader, Visionary

We lost a great man and a pillar of the Maui community on Monday.  I’ve know the Spencer Ohana for over 20 years now, and I’m really going to miss their Patriarch Jesse.

Jesse once told me something that I really took to heart.  I asked him about his success and why he got in the business.  He said, “At any rate, there is no substitute for good, hard, honest work. Remember that.” Such a simple, yet profound piece of advice that has always stuck in my mind. “Hard works beat out talent everyday when talent fails to work hard.”

It was always a light hearted mood when we spent time together

Jesse Spencer and Joyce Spencer originally moved to Hawaii in the early 1960s to develop homes for working class families. Their projects have created countless jobs on the island, and more importantly, made the dream of home ownership on Maui a reality for hundreds of hard working families

Back In 2009, Jesse helped my best friend Curtis realize his dream of owning a home in Kenolio Makai (an 18 lot subdivision in North Kihei).

Curtis during construction 

Spencer homes decided to the develop this subdivision to basically keep their trade contractors employed. Instead of laying off their hard workers, Jesse kept them busy. Even in the toughest of times. That’s what kind of man Jesse Spencer was.

The economy was so bad I’ll never forget it. Curtis and I had looked at so many distressed properties, and nothing was the right fit. Jesse personally took time out of his busy schedule to help Curtis build a brand new, custom home that was perfect for his lifestyle.

Jesse Spencer was famous in the Maui community and was loved by everybody who knew him.  He was a caring, giving man with an immaculate track record. I’ll forever remember him digging trenches on his back hoe…his favorite place to be! Rest in Peace Jesse. You will be missed.

Aloha,