Chris Honda honored, surprised

November 20, 2009 - Hilo, Hawaii
VIDEO by Tim O Bryan

Hawaii County Fire Fighter Chris Honda wasn't expecting a dinner in his honor at the Hilo Yacht Club on Tuesday night.

The surprise banquet organized by his family and peers honored Honda's achievement in winning the 2009 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians "Paramedic of the Year".

Honda, who also serves as a mobile intensive care technician, was nominated for the national award by Battalion Chief Ralph M. Yawata, in recognition of his role in maintaining the department’s EMT training program. Honda stepped up to help instruct the fire department's 36th Recruit Class when a key instructor's retirement left the training program in danger of stalling.

The county says Honda's commitment also involved taking a pay cut when he came off the 24-hour fire line. Honda was also the County of Hawaii Employee of the Year in 2008.

Honda was raised in Hawaii Kai on O’ahu, and is a graduate of Kaiser High School. He attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and graduated with a bachelor’s of arts degree in liberal studies. He played baseball for the UH-Hilo Vulcans from 1990 to 1994, and also has an associates degree in paramedics through Kapiolani Community College.

At Tuesday's special dinner, Honda was adorned with lei and congratulated by Mayor Billy Kenoi, Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira, and a written statement from U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye.