A Kamaka Air training flight ended in tragedy on Tuesday afternoon when a small plane crashed near Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, killing two pilots. The crash occurred around 3 p.m. and left behind a trail of questions—and haunting final words from the cockpit.
The Victims: Promising Lives Cut Short
Authorities identified the victims as Hiram deFries, 22, and Preston Kaluhiwa, both young men with deep ties to Hawaii.
- Hiram deFries, a recent graduate of Punahou School, was pursuing his dream of earning a pilot’s license.
- Preston Kaluhiwa, a Kamehameha Schools alumnus, was described by family members as passionate about aviation and proud of his heritage.
“These boys had so much ahead of them,” said family friend Kalea Naeole. “It’s heartbreaking for our community.”
The Final Moments
Audio recordings captured a tense exchange between the pilots and air traffic control moments before the crash.
“We’re out of control here,” one pilot reported.
“Okay, if you can level it off, that’s fine. Any runway, any place you can do,” the tower responded urgently.
Witnesses described the small plane flying alarmingly low before it spiraled into the side of an airport-owned building. “I was sitting at my desk when I saw it fly past my seventh-floor window,” said Nancy Timco, a local office worker. “It was so low, I thought, ‘This can’t be right.’ Moments later, I heard a loud bang.”
The Crash Site
The plane struck a structure slated for demolition to make way for a parking garage. Honolulu Fire Department Chief Sheldon Hao called it “a best-case scenario,” as the building was unoccupied. Smoke billowed from the wreckage, but the flames were quickly contained.
Nearby worker Sergiy Shpanka described the scene: “We heard a loud sound and saw smoke. It was crazy—so low and then turning, then fire.”
Ed Sniffen, director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation, praised the pilots’ efforts to minimize further destruction. “The adjustments they made prevented this from becoming an even greater tragedy,” he said.
A Community in Mourning
Kamaka Air, an inter-island cargo service provider, expressed condolences to the victims’ families. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected,” the company said in a statement.
Dr. Jim Ireland, director of Honolulu Emergency Services, echoed the sentiment: “This is a heartbreaking day. We are grieving alongside the families and the community.”
Both pilots were remembered as dedicated young men with bright futures. “They represented the best of us—hardworking, driven, and full of aloha spirit,” said Kaluhiwa’s uncle, Kaiolohia Nainoa.
Looking Ahead
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash, focusing on mechanical issues, weather conditions, and pilot communications.
While questions remain, one thing is clear: the loss of these two young lives has deeply impacted Hawaii’s close-knit aviation and cultural communities.
“They may be gone, but their dreams will live on in the skies above us,” said deFries’ former instructor, Kealoha Mahoe.
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