Airports

It’s the Final Aloha to Fire Chief Scott Pires

By: Brian Kamimoto

At the close of business day on May 31, Maui District Airport Fire Chief Scott Pires is retiring after 29 years with the ARFF department. Airport’s emergency plan.

Thus, begins a new chapter in Scott’s journey and certainly not the end of the story or his destination.

When asked to list any milestones in his career, he cited the ARFF 1003 program.

“We developed the training curriculum and accreditation with the Pro Board and delivered it to recruit classes that were incorporated into a first ever joint State and County recruit program,” said Pires.

During Chief Pires’ tenure, community service played a very important role, in both his personal and professional life. Chief led by example and left his mark on the patients and residents of Kalaupapa with his generosity.

It’s a little-known fact outside of Kalaupapa, but for the past couple of Thanksgivings, he cohosted dinner for all patients and residents.

During the height of the pandemic in 2020, 45 Costco rotisserie chicken plus fresh fruits and a special run of dark chocolate and Kalaupapa sea salt made by Maui Specialty Chocolates were flown in.

Last year the number grew to 90 rotisserie chicken and almost 200 Spam musubi’s. Kalaupapa’s emergency management services also benefitted under Chief Pires.

In January 2020, 25 participants from various agencies, test key elements of Kalaupapa In 2021, night medevac exercises by AMR/REACH and the United State Coast Guard helicopters.

Under his Chief Pires holds up the many accolades and awards during his service with DOT. tenure, ARFF offered CPR, First Aid and Stop the Bleed classes to all departments under the Airports, and sister departments that included Highways, Harbors and DLNR. Fire extinguisher training, and live burn training to firefighters from Pacific was also instituted.

Chief Pires built networking relationships with National Parks, US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard auxiliary, private helicopter companies with the ability to move things between islands with expediency.

Scott’s airport firefighting career began in 1993 when he was hired as a Firefighter II. In 1996, Scott was promoted to AFEO and assigned to Kapalua Airport until 1998.

In 1998, Scott was promoted to Lieutenant and stationed at Molokai Airport until 2007, when he transferred to Kahului Airport in 2008.

Airports

Civil Air Patrol-Kona Composite Awards ADM for Outstanding Assistance

By: Craig Bisgard

Showing their gratitude for all the years of support from the DOT, Civil Air Patrol has awarded Airport District Manager Chauncey Wong Yuen for outstanding assistance in their move to their new hangar and office space at KOA.

“We truly appreciate it. Everyone loves it,”

Kaj Loken-Kim, CAP volunteer and pilot poses next to the Civil Air Patrol plane in Kona Composite Squadron’s newest hangar. exclaimed Lt. Col Marlene Johnson of the CAP - Kona Composite Squadron.

Civil Air Patrol offers youth development, training in emergency response, and leadership in the aviation field.

The Kona Composite Squadron currently has 30 active cadets in its nonprofit volunteer branch.

PIRES RETIREMENT continued from page 4

Mrs. Pires, Fire Chief Scott Pires and Chief Mitchell reminisce the good times at Pire’s retirement party. Scott was selected as a Captain to lead Green shift in 2009 until 2014.

In 2015, Scott was chosen to the Maui District Airport Commander position.

Among the many things he’ll miss, is the conversations and interactions he shared with not only the ARFF department but the Admin sections as well.

Scott’s newest chapter will include lots of diving for squid, gardening, woodworking and spoiling his new grandchild.

Also plans on being an Independent Contractor to write Safety plans and ICS training in the private sector.