COURTESY PHOTO
Left to right, Frank D. Abreu Sr., Lucille Abreu
and Frank M. Abreu, pictured here in 1987, have
carried on the family tradition of becoming
police officers.

Some families fill
decades of service

Legacies remain a source
of pride within the police
and fire departments

GENERATIONS ON THE JOB

---

Nelson Daranciang / ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Nalu Kukea fulfilled a childhood dream six years ago when he became a member of the Honolulu Fire Department, just like his father and grandfather. In May another dream came true when he qualified to become a fire rescue specialist, just like his father and grandfather.

"I always wanted to be a fireman," said Kukea, 30, "but once in the department, I wanted to get into fire rescue."

Kukea's grandfather, Joe Kukea, was the department's first fire rescue captain. Nalu's father, Kala Kukea, was also a fire rescue captain.

When pressed, Kukea modestly acknowledged his desire to one day become a fire rescue captain, just like his father and grandfather.

While neither the fire department nor the Honolulu Police Department keep records on it, the ranks of both are filled with family legacies.

Frank M. Abreu, 37, is carrying on a nearly 50-year family tradition as a Honolulu police officer.

His grandmother, Lucille Abreu, started the tradition in 1953 as HPD's first policewoman. At the time, they were called matrons.

COURTESY PHOTO
Joe Kukea, back row center, was the Honolulu
Fire Department's first rescue captain. His son
Kala also was a fire rescue captain and recently,
his grandson Nalu realized a dream by becoming
a fire rescue specialist with the department.

She would later be responsible for lowering the height requirement for police recruits, changing the title on the HPD badge from patrolman to officer and becoming the first woman detective.

By the time she retired in 1978, two of her sons had already picked up the torch to carry on her legacy.

"Growing up, I remember watching my father and uncle in their uniforms, riding in their police cars," said Abreu. "I was fascinated by the idea (of being a police officer). I even dressed in my father's uniform."

When he turned 21, Abreu said, his father completed 25 years in the department and "was looking for somebody to pass the torch to, and I stepped up to the plate."

Abreu has been in the department since 1987 and was promoted to detective sergeant in May. He is the only Abreu family member in HPD since his father and uncle retired.

Abreu carries on another tradition started by his grandfather, who named his four sons Frank after himself. They, in turn, named all their sons Frank. Abreu said his brothers and cousins also named their sons Frank. So far, there are 23 Frank Abreus over four generations and counting.

Both of LeRoy Maltere's grandfathers and a great-grandfather were HFD captains. He said bad eyes prevented his father from becoming a firefighter.

"I believe he was disappointed he couldn't become a firefighter," he said. "He was real proud and happy when I got in."

Maltere, 30, has been a firefighter for five years. He hopes to become a battalion chief.

But tradition is only one reason to follow in a family member's footsteps.

"My reason for joining was to help people," says Peter Finnegan, 32, whose great-granduncle, grandfathers and two uncles served in the Honolulu Fire Department.

With a grandfather and uncle in the HFD before him, Carlton Yamada said it was his brother, a federal firefighter, who influenced his decision to join the department.

"He gave it a real positive attitude," said Yamada, 30. "You feel good when you help people."