Airports Finding Your Childhood Best Friend Again
By: Brian Kamimoto
What began as a night medevac exercise at Kalaupapa Airport with the U.S. Coast Guard, turned into a reunion of two best friends. During the planning phase of the exercise, it was mentioned to USCG LCDR John Sauve, Air Station Barbers Point, that the squadron had a Maui boy flying with them. LCDR Sauve somehow managed to schedule the Maui boy for the exercise and the reunion was up and running.
Molokai ARFF Captain, Matthew Pires and USCG Lieutenant Wade Myers.
When you’re a kid, your friendships are one of the most important parts of growing up.
And if you manage to keep those friends through the trials of adolescence and into adulthood, cherish them.
Because they have no other real responsibilities, kids have time to cultivate their friendship. As a kid, friends come and go for various reasons.
What most people didn’t know was, Molokai ARFF Captain Matthew Pires, who served as an observer/evaluator for the exercise and USCG pilot, LT Wade Myers are best friends who lived up country Maui, where they literally lived a 100 yards from each other when they were kids. After high school, both took different career paths, but always with the purpose of helping others. Matt has been employed with the State for the past 11 years, which included stints with the Air Force and Air Force Reserve. Wade spent 11 years as an Army medevac pilot before transferring to the Coast Guard for the last four years.
Lieutenant Wade Myers and Lieutenant Joshua Smith conduct an orientation about the Dolphin helicopter.
But the childhood friends who stay, the ones we choose to keep around, are the most special.
He lives in Kapolei with wife Krystal, son Carsen (11), and daughters Mackenzie (7), and Rylee (5).
PAGE 6
See BEST FRIEND page 7
