HILO » Big Islander Reynaldo Lucero Sr. planned to return to his Philippines homeland this month, a belated visit following the death of his father and an uncle in September .

On Saturday, Lucero, 61, went fishing with his friend Antonio Logronio Sr., 52, at Cape Kumukahi, southeast of Hilo.

Both were washed into the sea and drowned. Lucero died trying to save Logronio, Lucero's children said.

The children are now asking the public for help in giving their father his last trip home to Davao City. They need $10,000 for airfare and funeral arrangements.

Donations can be made to the Reynaldo Lucero Sr. Memorial Fund at any branch of Bank of Hawaii.

Lucero moved from the Philippines to Stockton, Calif., in 1993, then came to Hawaii in 1995. Lucero and Logronio had been very close for 10 years, said son Renante Lucero, 24.

On Saturday, Lucero planned to go to a funeral with son Randy, 31, but Logronio asked him to go fishing instead.

“;He had a hard time saying no to a friend,”; said Lucero's daughter Renalyn Guillermo, 26.

Logronio's wife, Mercedes, went along. Fire Department rescue personnel got a desperate call from her at 11:45 a.m.

Logronio was washed into the sea, Guillermo said. Lucero tried to save him by extending his fishing pole, but the segmented pole came apart.

Holding one end of a jacket sleeve, Lucero threw the other end to Logronio, using it as a rope.

But Lucero was a small man, not able to pull his friend from the water.

Suddenly another wave caught Lucero, whose head was badly injured on a rock when he fell into the sea.

Unable to swim, Logronio treaded water while Lucero floated unconscious.

Logronio made a last wave to his wife on shore just as rescue personnel arrived. He showed no sign of life when rescuers reached him, 250 yards offshore.

He was a good man, Guillermo said.

“;He's close to people,”; she said. “;It's just his nature. He's always positive.”;

Guillermo said her father would tell them, “;When something goes wrong, don't worry. Good things will come, even though we were treated badly. Don't make a big deal out of it.”;

“;He's a healer,”; Randy Lucero said. He'd relieve pains with massage, and even kids with a chest cold felt better a day after a chest massage, Guillermo said.

Both their own mother and Logronio's wife are suffering, they said. “;As a son, it breaks your heart to see your mother in pain like that,”; Renante said.

Besides the three children in Hawaii, the oldest child, Reynaldo Lucero Jr., 36, lives in the Philippines. There are 10 grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 26 at Dodo Mortuary.