Fire Department honoring Honolulu heroes
Advertiser Staff
The Honolulu Fire Department will honor Orlando Maiava and Michael Kahahawai on Thursday for acts of bravery in separate rescues last November.
Both men will receive civilian medals of valor from Chief Kenneth G. Silva in a 9 a.m. ceremony at HFD's Charles H. Thurston Training Center.
On Nov. 2, Maiava assisted a swimmer in distress at Hau'ula Beach Park by entering rough surf and bringing the swimmer to shore.
Kahahawai was among three Hawaiian Electric Co. employees who rescued a colleague that had come in contact with an enerized source at a Hawai'i Kai job site on Nov. 7. The workers brought the injured man down to the ground and used an automated external defibrillator to administer aid until emergency responders arrived.
Brock Arita and Bradley Miller, who were with Kahahawai, will be awarded certificates of commendation.
Others who will be honored with certificates of commendation Thursday are:
On July 26, Pavao, a federal firefighter who was off-duty, and the two civilians entered a burning home on Fort Weaver Road and rescued a resident.
Puana, a retired HFD captain, who rescued a neighbor from a burning house in Waimanalo on Oct. 30.
The three men saw a victim engulfed in flames May 23 in Waikiki and put out the fire using extinguishers and T-shirts before the arrival of emergency responders.
Aea, an HFD captain, was off-duty when he used a garden hose to help extinguish a fire in Kapolei on Oct. 16.
Five Ideal Contruction employees who help control a house fire in 'Aiea on Nov. 5 before fire companies arrived.
Entered a Salt Lake apartment on Dec. 2 and removed a smoking pot of food from the stove that had been left unattended.
Six Delta Construction employees who assisted HFD at a Aug. 16 wildland fire in Kapolei by using a front-end loader to cut a fire break and a water tanker to protect the perimeter of the fire.
Assisted HFD with a wildland fire Dec. 15 at Ko Olina by using a front-end loader to cut an access route to the fire and unlocking gates and directing firefighters to existing roads for access.
Used their personal vessel to transport emergency personnel and equipment to a disabled boat in Kane'ohe Bay on Aug. 26.
Administered CPR to an unconscious person Jan. 3, 2008, in Kane'ohe.
