Man saves wife in Waialae house fire

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

An 85-year-old man braved high flames and exploding glass in saving his elderly wife from a fire that gutted their home in Waialae today.

Neighbors said Harry Akamine, who has a history of back and walking problems, grabbed his 85-year-old wife, Shizue Akamine, and pushed her down the staircase before saving himself from the fire.

A space heater near a living-room sofa likely caused the fire that destroyed the elderly couple's Waialae home, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

Four fire companies responding to the 6:06 a.m. fire at 1044 22nd Avenue had the fire under control at 6:12 a.m., Soo said.

The Akamines were taken to The Queen's Medical Center for treatment. Shizue Akamine suffered burns to her face and arms, while Harry Akamine was treated for burns on his hands, Soo said.

"Both of them were alert and conscious," Soo said. "When you look at their ages, both 85, he still had the wherewithal to aid his wife. His concern for his wife exceeded his concern for his own safety. Due to his effort and their neighbors, we surely feel that that was the reason why this didn't result in a tragic fatality."

After the fire, the couple's daughter thanked each of the firefighters who helped battle the blaze, Soo said.

"I found that heartwarming," said Soo. "We're really happy with the job the neighbors did in helping each other out."

Shizue Akamine told a neighbor she was preparing coffee for her husband, who was in another part of the house when the fire broke out.

She said her husband grabbed her and pushed her down the stairwell and followed her out, the neighbor said.

By that time, flames were 10 feet above the two-story wooden house, high enough to burn overhead electrical wires and hot enough to shatter windows, neighbors said.

Neighbor Robert Lum said he heard Harry Akamine "talking loud" next door and went to investigate.

"I looked through my jalousies and saw the fire," Lum said. "I called 911 and told my wife and my mother-in-law to get out of the house."

Lum rushed outside and said he was relieved to see his two neighbors safe and out of the burning house.

"That was my main concern. That they were out of the house," said Lum. It's gratifying no one was injured. We're a close-knit neighborhood."

After seeing everyone was okay, Lum said he rushed back to his house and grabbed a garden hose to spray water on the two homes. He said he managed to minimize damage to his house, but by that time the fire had consumed the Akamine house, Lum said.

Neighbors said the Akamines lived in the house for more than 40 years.

Fire officials estimated damage of $200,000 to the structure and $50,000 to the contents.


CORRECTION: Due to a reporter's error, a wrong first name was given for Harry Akamine in an earlier version of this story.