A Kona police officer and five residents were honored by the County Council Tuesday for heroic efforts that saved the lives of two women caught in high surf last year.
Community Policing Sgt. Michael Hardie nominated Officer Reuben Pukahi for the Haweo Award for his dedication to duty, performance of a selfless act and risking his own safety to assist in the rescue of two swimmers in distress.
Hardie said around 10:30 a.m. Aug. 10, 2021, he was making checks with Pukahi near the bathroom and shower area at Honl’s Beach when the two officers observed an 8-year-old boy attempting to enter the ocean with a bodyboard and no swim fins.
“The surf was very large with dangerous conditions at the time,” Hardie recounted. “It appeared to us that the boy was very inexperienced and appeared to be a tourist.”
As Hardie and Pukahi crossed the street to warn the boy of the dangerous conditions, they observed two older females attempting to enter the water on the opposite side of the beach.
Hardie said the women were wearing masks and snorkels, and appeared to be inexperienced tourists unaware of the dangerous conditions.
Pukahi was able to make contact with the boy and his parents prior to him entering the water. They were receptive to the advise Pukahi gave them and opted not to enter the water, however, the two women got in the water before the officers could intervene.
“Within approximately 1 minute, both females were swept away from the shore by the strong currents directly into the path of the large surf and became separated,” Hardie said.
Several local surfers in the water at the time paddled over to assist them, with another bystander on the beach jumping in to assist.
Hardie said the situation at that time was getting worse for the women and Pukahi changed out of his police uniform and into surf attire. He then commandeered a bystander’s surfboard and paddled out to assist.
“I witnessed Officer Pukahi paddle through the surf to one of the females who had become separated from the surfers assisting her,” Hardie recalled. “He was able to pull her onto the surfboard and bring her back to shore safely, just prior to her being swept on the rocks.”
Both women suffered minor abrasions and refused medical care.
“Officer Pukahi is an avid, very experienced waterman, and it was a blessing that he was present during this incident,” Hardie said. “I strongly believe that if not for the assistance of Officer Pukahi and the local surfers who came to the females’ aid, this incident could have ended in tragedy. One of the women stated she thought she was going to die.”
Councilman Holeka Inaba started the Haweo Award program last year.
“The purpose of this program is to recognize employees of our fire and police ‘ohana who go above and beyond the call of duty. As part of this program, I ask that fire and police leadership alternate each month to select one department employee to be the recipient of the award to be presented during the Committee on Parks and Recreations and Public Safety meetings,” said Inaba. “The word ‘Haweo’ for which this award is named means to glow or to be radiant. The fire department and police department each perform incredible work, and I find it important to recognize department employees who serve as glowing examples of Hawaii County’s finest public servants.”
Council members praised the actions of Pukahi and the surfers.
“Five young men stepped up, potentially putting them in harms way to assist,” said Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas. “It gives me a sense of pride in our local surf community and is a testament of your understanding of your kuleana.”
“This is Big Island style,” said councilman Tim Richards. “Help, and don’t say anything. Jump in, and don’t say anything. You just do it and don’t worry about getting credit for it.”
Damian Nelson, Herby Lee, Rhinehart Jensen, Chayden Palomares and Nicholas White, the surfers who assisted in the rescue, were also honored with the award.