Posted on: Sunday, December 29, 2002

Three rescue captains retiring from HFD

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Retiring Honolulu fire Capts. Francis Puana, Aaron K. Young and Raymond K. Lum have spent 63 of their 85 total years with the department as rescue specialists. The three men represent half of HFD's rescue captains.

Christmas Day was Puana's last day on the job. He has completed 30 years of service, including 27 years with Fire Rescue.

Assigned to Rescue 1, Puana, 53, has been involved in numerous ocean and mountain rescues and recoveries, including the 1999 Sacred Falls tragedy. In 1995, he and his unit recovered the bodies of a Fire Department pilot and two police officers killed in a helicopter crash during a search mission in Hau'ula.

Young, 59, also spent 30 years with the Fire Department. He has been with Fire Rescue since November 1981 and worked on the 1995 Hau'ula recovery effort. Young supervised the compilation of two rescue manuals on training and operation.

Lum, 59, spent 25 years with the department, including 17 years in rescue.

"We are grateful for a job well done and wish them continued success in their future endeavors," said Chief Attilio Leonardi. "The legacy that they have created, which will be hard to surpass, will ensure the continued protection of the citizens and visitors."