Maui Fire Department Announces 10 Promotions

March 27, 2019, 9:18 AM HST

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Top row (L to R) Lōkahi Herrod, Mike McDonald, Tracy Nakagawa, Henry Patao and Richard Alcon. Bottom row (L to R) Ikaika Blackburn, Laʻakea Chang, Clement Enomoto, Russell Jones and John Teves.

The County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety announced the recent promotions of 10 department personnel, including four individuals to the rank of Captain and six personnel to the rank of Firefighter III.

Firefighters Lōkahi Herrod, Mike McDonald, Tracy Nakagawa and Henry Patao have been promoted to the rank of Captain. Firefighters Richard Alcon, Ikaika Blackburn, Laʻakea Chang, Clement Enomoto, Russell Jones and John Teves have been promoted to the rank of Firefighter III.

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Captain Lōkahi Herrod is an 18 year veteran and most recently assigned as a Firefighter III at Station 4 in Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi. He will return to Kaunakakai station as a Captain. A graduate of Waialua High and Intermediate on Oʻahu, and currently a Molokaʻi resident, Captain Herrod is married to his wife Cheryl-ann, and has four adult children.

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Captain Mike McDonald has been with the Department for 13 years, and was most recently Firefighter III on Ladder 14 in Wailea. He returns to lead the Department’s Health and Safety Bureau, where he had previously worked from 2014 to 2016. Captain McDonald is a member of the EMS, CPR and Grant Writing cadres. He lives in Makawao with his wife, Chie and children Aidan and Nadia.

Captain Tracy Nakagawa is a 17 year veteran, and was previously a Firefighter III at Lahaina Station. As a Captain he is working at Wailea Station, after a short stint at Hoʻolehua, Molokaʻi. Nakagawa is a graduate of Maui High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Captain Nakagawa lives in Wailuku with his wife Joyce and children Tyler and Nolan.

Captain Henry Patao is a 24 year veteran, and was previously a Firefighter III with the Hazardous Materials Company based at Kahului Station. He is currently assigned to Engine 11 in Nāpili. Captain Patao is a member of the Maui Incident Management Team, and part of the Department’s Critical Incident Stress Management team. A graduate of Maui High School, Captain Patao lives in Wailuku with his wife Tammy and their eight children.

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Firefighter III Richard Alcon is an 11 year veteran, and most recently assigned to Kaunakakai Station on Molokaʻi. With his promotion, he has transferred to Engine 12 in Pūkoʻo, Molokaʻi. Alcon graduated from Molokaʻi High and Intermediate and Hawaiʻi Community College-Hilo. Firefighter III Alcon lives in Kaunakakai with his wife Jetta-mae and his children Keison, Kaya, Keylan and Axis.

Firefighter III Ikaika Blackburn in a 12 year veteran, most recently assigned to Engine 1, in Wailuku. With his promotion, Blackburn will transfer to Engine 4 at Kaunakakai Station on Molokaʻi. A 2000 graduate of H.P. Baldwin High School, and 2005 graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, he lives in Wailuku with his wife Shelley and their five children.

Firefighter III Laʻakea Chang is an 11 year veteran of the Department, who started his career with Hawaiʻi Island Fire Department in 2006. His most recent assignment was with Rescue 10, based at Kahului Station. Following his promotion, he will be working in the Department’s Training Bureau. Chang is a member of the Department’s Ocean Rescue, Swim Survival and Confined Space training cadres, as well as member of the Maui Incident Management Team. Firefighter III Chang is a 1997 graduate of HP Baldwin High School and 2001 graduate of Honolulu Community College, and lives in Waiehu with his wife Sheyna and children Kaikuolo and Kealaula.

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Firefighter III Clement Enomoto is a 12 year veteran, most recently assigned to Rescue 10, based at the Kahului Station. Following his promotion, he will be working in the Department’s Training Bureau. Enomoto is a member of the Department’s EMS/CPR, CERT, CISM and Helicopter Operations training cadres, and part of the Maui Incident Management Team. A 1992 graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama and 2015 UH Maui Emergency Medical Technician graduate, he lives in Waikapū and has a daughter, Jade.

Firefighter III Russell Jones is a 16 year veteran, most recently assigned to Engine 11, in Napili. Following his promotion, he will be working in the Department’s Training Bureau. Firefighter III Jones is a graduate of Burleson High School in Texas, and lives in Kahului. He has one daughter, Sarah.

Firefighter III John Teves is an 11 year veteran, most recently assigned to Engine 1, in Wailuku. Following his promotion, he will be working in the Department’s Health and Safety bureau. Firefighter III Teves is 1993 graduate of St Anthony High School, and lives in Wailuku with his spouse Larae and children Cruz and Caysen.