January is Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month

In partnership with the IAFF, January is designated as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide fire fighters with the tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments.

Learn more at Firefighter Cancer Support Network | Together we can…

IAFF Line-of-Duty Deaths

https://lodd.iaff.org/

PC: IAFF.org

Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service.

Learn more about IAFF proactive measures and ongoing initiatives aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of our members across the United States and Canada from this urgent threat. See, Cancer – IAFF

Open Enrollment

HFFA MetLife Supplemental Group Benefit Plan

Begins February 2 and closes February 14

Open enrollment information coming soon. Learn more about these voluntary, supplemental benefits that have been carefully designed and underwritten by MetLife to provide the highest level of coverage with the best group rates specifically for our HFFA active-duty members. All full-time active-duty members, working a minimum of 30 hours, are eligible to enroll during open enrollment. Members should subscribe to the HFFA NEWS to receive enrollment information.

In Memoriam

See In Memoriam for details and other upcoming services.

Retired Honolulu Fire Captain Byron Akiona

Friday, January 30th
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Kailua
Visitation 9:00 – 11:00 am; Service to follow
Celebration to follow at Waimanalo Halau
41-253 Ilauhole St, Waimanalo
Gather at 12:30 pm – Heavy Pupu
HFD Pass in Review at 1:00 pm

Refer to SN-26-027 for details

Kauai Retiree David Hamada

The family of Retiree David Hamada of Kauai shared news of his passing on December 27, 2025. Private services will be at Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe on January 24, 2026.

Honolulu Retiree Riley Medeiros

The family of Honolulu Retiree Riley Medeiros shared news of his passing on December 9, 2025. He resided in Nevada with his wife, Joy. Funeral arrangements are being made, with plans to bring him home. Will share more details when it becomes available.

NEW ITEMS & RESTOCK
Shop the HFFA Store

SHOP HERE. Call the HFFA office at (808) 949-1566 for assistance.

SERVICE HAS RESUMED

NIOSH and National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer

In April 2025, the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) was among the federal agencies which saw a reduction in work force. Among those fired or laid off were NIOSH investigators and support staff.

The NIOSH is the federal institute responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness since 1998. In the case of a line-of-duty death of a firefighter, will report on contributing factors as well as recommendations about how to prevent another fatality.

The agency handles the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer which studies cancer among firefighters and strives to understand and reduce risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters. Information provided to the NFR is matched with cancer diagnosis information from state cancer registries. This matching process will allow NIOSH to study the relationship between firefighting and cancer outcomes over time. View the Data Dashboard

NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Video: How the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer Works

Updated 5/23/2025

Cancer Awareness is year round

Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. In 2025, nearly 80% of IAFF members honored at the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in September 2025 died of occupational cancer. Of the IAFF member line-of-duty deaths, 247 out of 311 were due to occupational cancer

Cancer Awareness is year round. If you need assistance, visit https://www.firefightercancersupport.org/request-assistance

HFFA MetLife Group Benefit

Visit the HFFA MetLife Microsite for more information.

You are not alone

There is also growing concern about behavioral health issues in the fire service and the significant impact on wellness. The traumatic stresses faced by fire fighters, paramedics and EMTs throughout the course of their careers can have a cumulative impact on mental health and well-being.

Learn more at https://www.iaff.org/behavioral-health/

Beware of phone solicitations

Hawaii Fire Fighters Association is NOT conducting phone solicitations

Identity theft, frauds, and scams are the fastest growing crimes in our communities, and many Hawaii citizens are victims of these serious crimes. If you are contacted by someone asking for donations on behalf of firefighters, EMS or first responders, DO NOT DONATE OR GIVE OUT YOUR INFORMATION. Ask for the organization’s name and phone number to call and do your research first. Call the Attorney General’s office to report the suspicious activity. Please pass the word on to your family and friends.

Community and Crime Prevention Branch
Department of the Attorney General
235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401
Honolulu, HI 96813 (Map)
Telephone: (808) 586-1150

Visit http://ag.hawaii.gov/cpja/ to learn other ways to protect yourself from scams and fraud.

WORKING FOR YOU 24/7
HAWAII FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
HFFA Local 1463
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
WORKING FOR YOU 24/7
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
WORKING FOR YOU 24/7
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
WORKING FOR YOU 24/7
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
HFFA Local 1463
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
HFFA Local 1463
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
HFFA Local 1463
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
HFFA Local 1463
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES
HFFA LOCAL 1463

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WORKING FOR YOU 24/7

The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association (HFFA Local 1463) is an affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), AFL-CIO. Since 1963, HFFA Local 1463 has been the exclusive collective bargaining representative for all City, State and County fire fighters in Hawai‘i. Its primary role is to negotiate and administer the collective bargaining agreement which governs the terms and conditions of fire fighter employment while handling grievances, and perform labor-related and legislative activities in the interest of its members.

As of May 1, 2024, the IAFF membership rose to 345,493 members, making it the one of the largest and most influential labor unions in North America, committed to advancing the rights, safety, and future of fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and rescue workers across the United States and Canada.

The IAFF is the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the 21st century. With headquarters in Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Ontario, the IAFF represents full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics in more than 3,500 affiliates. IAFF members protect more than 85 percent of the population in communities throughout the United States and Canada. The IAFF is also one of the most active lobbying organizations in Washington, DC. The IAFF Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, is among the top one-half of one percent of the nearly 6,000 federally registered PACs in the country.

It is an undeniable fact that among labor organizations, HFFA and its parent union, the IAFF, are second to none when it comes to membership representation. Whether at the bargaining table or in the legislative halls of Washington, D.C.; from the county council to the Fire Chief’s office; in the courts and throughout the 50th state, Hawai‘i‘s fire fighters are ably represented.

You can count on HFFA Local 1463 members to bravely protect lives and property knowing that their Union is looking out for them. Because when seconds count, saving a life is all that matters.