Pentagon hero back for 'Top Cop' award

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Federal police officer and former Hawai'i resident Isaac Ho'opi'i, who carried injured people from the burning Pentagon while guiding others to safety in the hours after the Sept. 11 attack, is back in Hawai'i to receive a "Top Cop" award.

Isaac Ho'opi'i, credited with saving at least 17 lives in the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon, says he's proud to be recognized as "a local boy making good for Hawai'i." Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Ho'opi'i is in the Islands for the second time since his extraordinary rescue efforts at the Pentagon, and he is glad to be back for more than the usual reasons.

"Obviously, one reason is I love Hawai'i; I miss the people, the ocean, the food," said the 39-year-old born and raised in Wai'anae. "But it's also kind of spooky up there right now, with that sniper getting around. You're looking behind you every other second."

Ho'opi'i, a Department of Defense officer in the Pentagon's bomb-sniffing canine unit, is credited with saving at least 17 lives that terrible day in 2001. He raced into the burning Pentagon and carried out eight injured people after a hijacked airliner slammed into the building.

Without protective gear or an oxygen tank, Ho'opi'i walked as far as he could through the burning building, yelling for people to come toward his voice. People eventually crawled toward him and the voices of other rescuers in the dark and smoky corridor.

Since his heroic actions, he has been honored many times, including having a chance to carry the Olympic torch on part of its journey to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. He was also promoted to sergeant earlier this month.

"I'm very, very honored to receive this Top Cop award, and every other recognition that I got," he said. "But I also try to keep things in perspective. I was just doing my job. And everyday, the victims and their families are always on my mind.

"Now even the littlest thing means a lot. If the sky is clear that morning when I'm heading to work, I'm just thankful its going to be a nice day. I watch the kids play and have fun in my daughter's softball league that I help coach. I come to appreciate all the everyday stuff we sometimes take for granted."

Ho'opi'i plans to stay in Hawai'i until the end of the week. While Ho'opi'i was having breakfast at Sam Choy's restaurant on Thursday, a waiter recognized him and offered congratulations.

"He thanked me for what I did," Ho'opi'i said. "I appreciate the compliment, but when he mentioned he was proud that a local boy was making good for Hawai'i, to me, that was the ultimate compliment."

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-8110.