Aloha and Last Alarm
Upcoming
Retired Firefighter Francis Higgens
December 10, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
Punchbowl, National Cemetery of the Pacific
Burial to follow at Valley of the Temples
December 14: Celebration of Life on Hawaii Island
See, https://www.dodomortuary.com/obituary/francis-higgins
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2024
Retired FF3 Nathan Pellazar Sr
The late Pellazar Sr passed away on September 30, 2024. Service was held on November 2, 2024 at Nakamura Mortuary, Wailuku.
Retired Fire Captain Robert Shepherd
The late Capt. Shepherd, aged 90, passed away on September 28, 2024, and, remarkably, his beloved wife Carly joined him just six days later on October 4, 2024. Capt. Shepherd’s firefighting career began in Honolulu before joining the Hawaiʽi Fire Department in 1975. He served in Waimea until his retirement in 1989.
Retired FF STANLEY HO’OKANO
FIRE FIGHTER (FF) III KALEOLANI ING
The late FF Ing passed away on August 27, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department on May 23, 2007, and served 17 years 3 months. A service was held on October 11 at Diamond Head Mortuary in Honolulu.Retired FFII HOWARD ENOS
The late FF Enos passed away on August 9, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) on March 16, 1966, and served 20 years 3 months. His last assignment was with Battalion 1, 2nd Platoon. Service was held on September 10, 2024, at Mary, Star of the Sea Church, located at 4470 Aliʻikoa Street.
FF1 Tré Evans-Dumaran
IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial (FFFM)
September 21-22, 2024
Colorado Springs, CO
The Bell tolls for Tré
Video at Left: The moment when Tre’s name is announced, the Maui Fire Department flag carried by FF3 Jonathan Duncan and Tre’s IAFF Memorial flag carried by Capt. John Devlin joins the procession of fallen firefighters.
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
May 4-5, 2024
Emmitsburg, Maryland
Brother Tré Evans-Dumaran was also remembered at the 2024 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial (NFFM) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Candlelight Service and Memorial Live Streamed via satellite and online at https://weekend.firehero.org/. See, 2024 Roll of Honor
Retired FEO Shawn Ferreira
FEO Ferreira served the department for 25 years until his retirement in 2017. His last assignment was at the Waimea Fire Station. We ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Service was held on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Honoka‘a).
HAZEL KAHIWAHIWA KENNEDY
Spouse of HFFA Business Manager Francis Kennedy
and Mother of Oahu ARFF Chief John Kennedy
Hazel Kahiwahiwa Kennedy, 79, passed away on July 9, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Born on Jan. 2, 1945 in Honolulu, married to Francis J. Kennedy Jr. (deceased 2001). She is survived by 4 children, John, Marguerite (Sis), Daniel (Danny) & Thomas (Keona), 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grand- children, and 5 siblings. Service and Celebration of Life was held on August 5, 2024 at Diamond Head Memorial. See Obituary
Hazel is remembered for her support of husband Francis Kennedy who served as HFFA Business Manager from 1973 until his passing in 2001. Hazel often accompanied Francis in his capacity as HFFA union representative, sharing Aloha with spouses of other leaders and all she met, here and on the Mainland. We Mahalo the Kennedy’s for the lasting impact during the early years of HFFA. Remembering Hazel Kennedy
RETIRED RESCUE FF MICHAEL “MERKS” STEPHEN KOBAYASHI
Saturday June 15, 2024
Dodo Mortuary Chapel
Hilo, Hawaii
RETIRED FIRE FIGHTER III DAVID HANAWAHINE
The late FF Hanawahine passed away on May 13, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department on March 1, 1964, and served 25 years 9 months. His last assignment was with Engine 21, 2nd Platoon. A private service will be held.
Retired Fire Fighter III Michael Wilson
The late FF Wilson passed away on April 20, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) on January 16, 1976, and served 26 years 11 months. His last assignment was with the Fireboat, 2nd Platoon. Service was held on June 1, 2024 at the Calvary Chapel Honolulu.
RETIRED FIRE CAPTAIN KEN MASUYAMA
The late Captain Masuyama passed away on February 4, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) on October 16, 1954, and served 31 years 2 months. His last assignment was with Engine 23, 3rd Platoon. Services were held on April 27, 2024 at the Diamond Head Memorial Park Chapel.
HAWAII COUNTY RETIRED FIRE FIGHTER HIRAM ‘DUNA’ SIMEONA
The late fire fighter Hiram ‘Duna’ Simeona joined the Hawaii County Fire Department on November 2, 1987 and retired in February 2009 after serving 22 years. Services for were held Saturday, April 20, at the Kawaihae Surf Park landing wall.
HONOLULU RETIRED FIRE CAPTAIN HENRY KUHNS III
The late Captain Kuhns passed away on February 27, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) on June 1, 1968, and served 32 years 1 month. His last assignment was with Engine 39, 3rd Platoon. Service was held on April 27, 2024 at the private residence of the late Captain Kuhns, located at 41-420 Saddle City Road.
HONOLULU FIRE CAPT. WILLIAM NOTLEY GUNDERSON SR.
William Notley Gunderson Sr., 94, of Waimea, passed peacefully at home on March 10, 2024. He was a retired Fire Captain with the Honolulu Fire Dept., Army Veteran, Avid Hunter & Fisherman. Survived by wife, Yvonne Gunderson, children, Jan Espere, Billy (Ulu) Gunderson, Kiki (Kaiwi) Kihoi, Mike Gunderson, Mana (LiAnn Uyeda) Gunderson. Numerous grandchildren, great- and great-grandchildren. Private services wiil be held as he wished to return to Waikiki, his happy place where he met his wife of 72 years, on a wave. Donations in memory of our Dad would be appreciated at North Hawaii Hospice, 65-1328 Kawaihae Rd. Kamuela, HI 96743.
See, 2024-0412 StarAdvertiser Obituary – William Notley Gunderson Sr.
HONOLULU Fire Captain Richard Soo
The late Captain Soo passed away on January 23, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) on January 16, 1976, and served 27 years 14 days. His last assignment was with the Administrative Services Bureau.
A service was held on April 1, 2024, at the Mililani Memorial Park-Mauka Chapel. Burial followed at Diamond Head Memorial Park Cemetery located at 529 18th Avenue.
The Hawai’i Fire Fighters Association joins all of our firefighter ʻohana and the community, in mourning the loss of retired Fire Capt. Richard Soo who passed away on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. We also send our prayers and aloha to his beautiful wife, Barbara and his family.
When Richard took on the role as HFDʻs very first Public Information Officer in 1999, he created and built a strong network with the media and the community and always showed firefighters in the most positive light. He was admired, respected, and loved by all, and his impact is still felt today.
He was a 1969 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. Upon retirement, he started the initial fire prep academy in Papakolea. Although he couldn’t exclusively “target” Hawaiians, his goal was to focus on our native Hawaiian youth, teaching and training them to be able to pass the fire recruit process and allow them an opportunity to make a future for themselves in Hawai’i as a firefighter. The program continues to this day, and since the program started, more than 70 prep academy participants of all backgrounds have gone on to become Hawai’i firefighters – another enduring legacy of Richard Soo.
Brother Soo was also a great HFFA supporter. I could go on and on with more stories of what a wonderful firefighter and human being Richard was, as many have already shared. Please share your stories and tag us. We would love to read them!
Aloha,
Robert H. Lee, President
Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463
- HNN Hometown Heroes – Sept. 20, 2018
This fire captain is retired, but he’s still giving back to the community
HONORARY FIRE FIGHTER (FF) REN MIYASAKI
The late FF Miyasaki, son of FF III Roy Miyasaki, passed away on January 16, 2024. A Celebration of Life was held on April 6, 2024 at the Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuar.
Honolulu Retiree FF3 Phillip W. Neal
The late FF Neal passed away on February 13, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department on June 1, 1970, and served 32 years 2 months. His last assignment was with Engine 41, 3rd Platoon. A memorial service was held on March 24, 2024, at the Brighter Estate in Kamuela, Hawai‘i.
HONOLULU RETIRED FIRE CAPTAIN ALVIN EBISUYA
The late Captain Ebisuya passed away on February 15, 2024. He was appointed to the Honolulu Fire Department on May 1, 1966, and served 28 years 6 months. His last assignment was with Engine 2, 2nd Platoon. A private service was held.
Hawaii County Retired Fire Fighter Lawrence Balberde
Passed away on January 11, 2024. Services were held on February 7, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo. See Obituary
