Thirteen sons follow fathers' footsteps as firefighters
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
A former police officer wounded in a September 1998 shootout near Makapu'u Lookout, a 44-year-old ex-mechanic looking for a fresh start and 13 sons following in the footsteps of their firefighter fathers were among 68 members of the Honolulu Fire Department's 84th Recruit Class that graduated last night.
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"It's a very unique class, the second largest in (HFD) history," said recruit training Capt. Steve Barrett, who helped Farrington High become the final public school to win an Interscholastic League of Honolulu basketball championship in 1970. Last year's recruit class of 70 graduates was the largest ever, Barrett added.
The Rico family, from left to right, mom, Bobbie, son, Aldann, dad, Battalion Chief Ron Rico, and son, Barron. Parents were asked to pin the firefighter badges on class graduates at the Honolulu Fire Department's 84th Recruit Graduation dinner held in the Grand Ballroom of the Pacific Beach Hotel.
Earl Haskell, who was shot in the abdomen by Peter Moses three years ago, is one of two former Honolulu police officers in the graduating class. The other is Steven Keawe, whose brother Pat is a Honolulu firefighter.
"I left HPD for personal reasons and the Fire Department offered me another avenue to serve people," said Haskell, who resigned his police position on March 4, one day before starting 17-plus weeks of HFD recruit training. "It's the same type of work. The big difference with the Fire Department is the emergency medical training is more in depth."
Kaua'i resident Henry Shultz, meanwhile, is the oldest rookie firefighter in the state at age 44.
"I was stuck in a dead-end job and decided to make a change," said Shultz, who left his job after 11 years as a mechanic for crash and fire rescue in Lihu'e to become a firefighter. Named the most inspirational recruit in his class, Shultz is one of three new state-employed firefighters and will be assigned to the Kaua'i Airport.
"I give him a lot of credit for holding his own with 20-year-old boys," Barrett said.
The graduating group of firefighter sons includes brothers Barron and Aldann Rico, whose father is Battalion Chief Ronald Rico, a veteran Central and Leeward O'ahu firefighter.
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"I've never heard of it happening here before," Capt. Byron Akiona said of brothers graduating together. Akiona is the son of retired rescue Capt. Peter Akiona Jr. Four of Akiona Jr.'s children became Honolulu firefighters, including Kahalu'u engineer Debbi Akiona, the first woman recruit graduate.
Earl Haskell, left, is a former police officer who was wounded in a shootout at Makapu'u Lookout in 1998. Henry Shultz, right, is the state's oldest rookie firefighter at age 44.
Besides the Ricos, others with father-ties to the department are: Simeon Kawika Alo, Ben Cazimero Jr., Randolph K. Ebright, Cory Hamishi, Kawika Harbottle, Royce Ishida, Spencer Lonoae'a, Kevin Neves, Alan Oliveira, Ka'imi Pelekai and Raeder Kinney Jr.
"It's highly unusual," Barrett said of the high number of sons. "But they had to go through the process, like everybody else. There's no special treatment."
The 84th Recruit Class members took the firefighter exam in 1998 and were selected based on test scores. Most of this group scored in the mid- to low 90s.
"I didn't actively encourage them to apply but I'm very proud they chose the same field of work that I've spent over half my lifetime in," said Ronald Rico, a 27-year HFD veteran.
Barron Rico, 27, has been assigned to the Kahalu'u station while Aldann, 23, will be at Waimanalo.
