Nineteen Recruit Graduates Join Maui Fire Department Ranks

Nineteen firefighter recruits graduated on Friday with the Maui Fire Department’s 36th Recruit Class.

The recruits completed a 25 week training program, designed to train and evaluate individuals on the many skills and disciplines necessary to serve the public as a firefighter.

Graduating recruits were presented with the following awards, recognizing those who finished at the top of their class in the following categories.

Nohea Pangkee earned the Most Outstanding Recruit award. The honoree is selected by recruit training officers. It is presented to the recruit that excelled in every phase of recruit training, and demonstrated outstanding leadership ability, projected an exceptional attitude, and led their class in physical fitness performance.

Jared Lawrence earned the Academics Award, presented to the recruit with the highest scholastic average on all written course examinations administered throughout the training program.

Daniel Place was honored with the Functional Skills award, presented to the recruit who demonstrated the highest competency in functional skills assessments throughout the training program.

Kenneth Puaa earned the Firefighter Spirit, Ho’ulu Award, named in honor of the late Fire Captain, Charles Iwata, this award honors the true passion and firefighter spirit that Captain Iwata was so widely known for. This award is presented to the recruit who displayed a high moral character and exceptional attitude, and whose conduct expresses respect and heart towards others, and to the firefighting profession.

Fifteen of the firefighters will be assigned to Maui County fire stations on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. The list includes: Mahonri Aiwohi, Kaikane Beam, Ross Bisera, Michael Carter, Joshua Galvan, Aaron Griffith, Cameron Layer, Ikaika Neizman, Daniel Place, Kenneth Puaa, Charles Puaa-Spencer, James Puaa Spencer, Daniel Silvestre, Matthew Wilburn and Jacob Wolfson.

Four firefighters will serve at State of Hawaiʻi, Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting stations in Kona, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Kahului. They are: Hinaleʻa Cortez, Jared Lawrence, Nohea Pangkee, and Andrew Perry.

Recruits received their badges and took their oath in a long awaited ceremony held in Wailuku. Each recruit selected a special family member to carry out the traditional “Pinning of the Badge.”

Maui Fire Chief David Thyne delivered the time honored Firefighter’s Oath of Office, making it official.