Saving lives and property brings honor to citizens
Star-Bulletin staff
Orlando Maiava and Michael Kahahawai each received the Honolulu Fire Department's Civilian Medal of Valor Thursday for risking their lives to rescue people.
Fire Chief Kenneth Silva presented the awards at a ceremony at the Charles H. Thurston Training Center.
Maiava saved a swimmer in rough surf last November at Hauula Beach Park in Windward Oahu, and Kahawai was among the three Hawaiian Electric Co. personnel who rescued a co-worker from electrocution and rendered aid.
The other HECO co-workers, Brock Arita and Bradley Miller, received Certificates of Commendations for their part in the Nov. 7, 2007, Hawaii Kai accident for performing exceptional acts of service or bravery at lesser levels of personal risk.
Other Certificates of Commendation went to the following:
» Civilians Eddie Baker and Ronald Hata and firefighter Mitchell Pavao entered a burning home on Fort Weaver Road and pulled an occupant to safety on July 26, 2007, in Ewa Beach.
» Retired fire Capt. Francis Puana entered a neighbor's burning home and rescued an occupant on Oct. 30, 2007, in Waimanalo.
» Romulo Ancho, David Barker and Victor Montoya saw a victim engulfed in flames and used an extinguisher and their T-shirts to put out the fire on May 23, 2007, in Waikiki.
» Off-duty fire Capt. Albert Aea used a garden hose to help extinguish a house fire on Oct. 16, 2007, in Kapolei.
» Ideal Construction workers Floyd Awa, Evan Kinilau, Paul Perreira, Guy Salis and Don Teixeira controlled a house fire in Aiea before fire companies arrived on Nov. 5, 2007, in Aiea.
» Shannon Fisher entered an apartment and removed from the stove a smoking pot of food left unattended on Dec. 2, 2007, in Salt Lake.
» Six Delta Construction employees, Jeffery Austin, Scott Baquiro, Gordon Goodhue, John Liese, Ryan Uyeunten and Jesse Visconde assisted firefighters at a wildfire in Kapolei by using a front end loader to cut a fire break and a water tanker to protect the perimeter of the fire Aug. 16, 2007, in Kapolei.
» Kimo Kendrick assisted firefighters at a wildfire by using a front end loader to cut an access route to the fire, unlocking gates and directing firefighters to access roads on Dec. 15, 2007, in Ko Olina.
» Lenny Silva, Tuufuli Uperesa and Nuialapati Uperesa used their personal vessel to transport emergency personnel and equipment to a disabled boat in Kaneohe Bay on Aug. 26, 2007.
» Fred Burkhart, Jenna Johnson and Bryceson Tenold administered CPR to an unresponsive person until the arrival of emergency crews Jan. 3 in Kaneohe.