Opinion ID: 2550923
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Local Residents of Maui

Text: While members of the Utah and Georgia groups were helping Meghal, local Maui residents Harry Bobo Pahukoa, III (Bobo), J.D. Pahukoa (J.D.), Sam Holi (Sam), Guy Akiu (Guy), and Ben Kimo Morton (Kimo) were at the residence of Harry Pahukoa, II, which is located about a quarter-mile from Ke`anae Landing. [5] Sometime in the afternoon of January 30, 1997, a tour van driver came up to the Pahukoa residence, shouting for someone to call 911. Sam immediately drove to Ke`anae Landing with Kimo and J.D., arriving in less than thirty seconds, and they all proceeded to the lower platform to help bring Meghal out of the water. At this point, several members of the Georgia group, the Utah group, and the three Maui men (Sam, Kimo, and J.D.) were on the lower platform attempting to help Meghal. Once Meghal was pulled onto the lower platform, Sam suggested that they move Meghal up to higher ground. However, at that same instant, Donald called out that he knew how to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and went down to the lower platform. As Donald began to perform CPR, a wave struck the landing area, sweeping everyone who was on or near the lower platform into the ocean, that is, Meghal, Mitesh, Bhupendra, Donald, Cathy, Billy, Sam, J.D., and Kimo. While the above-described events were occurring, Bobo and Guy were still at the Pahukoa residence as Bobo was getting some rope and two life vests before heading to the landing area. At some point, Bobo's friend, J.J. Hueo (J.J.), also arrived at Ke`anae Landing with his surfboard. By the time Bobo, Guy, and J.J. reached the landing area, all of the nine people referred to above were in the water. Bobo was able to pull his brother, J.D., out of the water with the rope. Bobo then jumped into the water, wearing one life vest and carrying the other. Bobo swam over to Donald and one of the Georgia men and gave them the life vests. Bobo then rescued Billy and brought him to the upper landing area where the others could hold onto him. A few minutes later, Bobo re-entered the water, taking J.J.'s surfboard, and rescued Cathy. Unfortunately, Bobo and the other Maui residents could rescue only J.D., Billy and Cathy; Meghal, Mitesh, Bhupendra, and Donald either drowned or sustained fatal injuries from being thrown onto the rocks by the waves.