3 local men get
national hero medals

One died trying to save his
family from fire; the others
saved drowning children

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Ulutunu Faumuina Jr. remembers his father for the kind of man he was.

"I'm proud of my dad for what he did," the 18-year-old said of Ulutunu Faumuina Sr., who died at age 53 with two of his young daughters and three grandchildren while trying to save family members in a fire Oct. 15, 1997 in Palolo that killed seven people.

Faumuina Sr. today was among three people awarded Carnegie medals for heroic lifesaving acts by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

Giao Hgoc Chau, 24, who lived on Liholiho Street, was also recognized posthumously for rescuing three boys from drowning when a wave pulled them into deep water at Haleiwa's Kawailoa Beach, also known as "Police Beach," on Nov. 9, 1997.

Cuong Trong Hoang, who was alive but unconscious when paramedics arrived at the scene, received a Carnegie medal for the same rescue that cost Chau his life.

The two men saved the lives of Jimmy Lam, 9, and his cousins Brandon and Trun Lam, 13 and 16, who were swept out to sea by a wave. The honorees will each get $3,000 and a bronze medal.

The Carnegie medal will likely be displayed with Faumuina Sr.'s other awards, his son says.

"Yes, I'm proud of his courage," said Faumuina Jr., currently living at Wilhelmina Rise with his mother, Edith Elaine, and two brothers and two sisters, who also survived the fire.

"But my father got a lot of other awards for what he did while he was living. I remember one for being worker of the month. That shows he was a pretty good guy.

"We remember him in our prayers and mostly every Saturday, we go to Laie to visit his grave."

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission was founded in 1904 by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie after he was inspired by rescue tales following a mine disaster. It has honored 8,299 people since then.

In addition to the three Oahu residents, 21 other people were named medal winners yesterday.