A Memorial to the fallen Honolulu Police Officers

January 21, 2020

For a very long time in our history of Hanggliding and Paragliding in Hawaii we have had a very special relationship with First Responders. Be they Hawaii Police Officers, Hawaii Fire Department Officers, DLNR, Hawaii Lifeguards, and many others. They have all come to our aid when we've needed it, they have all responded to our emergencies when we needed it. Every morning the First Responders here in Hawaii get up, shower, get dressed in their uniforms, have breakfast with their families, and kiss them goodbye as they are headed off do a typical days work. They never say "Today will be my last". Nope, they just go. They meet their fellow officers, drink coffee, hang out and talk about the weekend, the kids, the families, the crazy jokes, etc. Then as they respond to a mundane call to a local crazy person they joked about before and all hell breaks out. Two officers are killed in action, several wounded officers and civilians, and fire breaks out. Complete chaos in seconds. Families are torn apart, friends are lost, neighborhoods destroyed, and those First Responders we trust are devastated by loss and unimaginable grief. Today we grieve for our friends the First Responders, our friends at HPD East and Waikiki that have watched us soar above their heads for many years. The friends that have responded to the alien complaints our flying escapades and those we have laughed with, kidded with, and ran away from gliders bunched over our shoulders as we jumped fences and laughed as though we got away. We salute you, grieve with your families, and we will truly miss your smiling faces as we soared above you. Take a moment to remember our newest angels at Diamond Head, officers Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama. Every time we fly Diamond Head we will honor you for your sacrifice and duty and we will observe a silent prayer as you watch over us. Thank you and mahalo for your ultimate sacrifice and duty with honor. Thanks you for your service. We will always honor you. Hawaii Paragliding Association