By Lucy Jokiel

Nothing seems more heroic and adventurous to many young kids than to be a firefighter, leaping onto a shiny fire engine, with flashing lights and a wailing siren, as they race to put out a blazing fire and save lives.

Kilipaki “Paki” Vaughan remembers when he and his first-grade Iolani classmates went on a field trip to the old McCully Fire Station. “My uncle, Mogul Crabbe, was the fire captain, and he really made a big impression on me,” recalls the now-40-year-old Vaughan. “I grew up around his family and always heard him talk fondly about his job.” 

About 10 years ago, after earning his law degree at the William S. Richardson School of Law, Vaughan passed the competitive written firefighter test. To prepare for the rigorous two-day physical agility test, he played volleyball, softball and basketball nearly every day after work.

As a trainee, he spent three months taking classes on fire behavior and received hands-on training in being a first responder; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; fire, lifeguard and water rescue; ropes and knots; and vehicle extrication. He was then assigned to fire stations in Kalaheo and Waimea for nine months of demanding on-the-job training before becoming a full-fledged firefighter in 2004.

Assigned to Lihue Fire Station’s Rescue Company, Vaughan and his crew often risk heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation and serious injury. A recent annual survey by CareerCast.com ranked firefighters as having the most stressful job in America.

Over the past six years, Vaughan has responded to about a dozen “codes” (cardiac arrests). He’s still haunted by memories from New Year’s Day in 2007 when a young couple rushed their 3-day-old infant to the fire station. “The baby had stopped breathing,” says Vaughan. “We did CPR but couldn’t bring him back.”

Every month, Vaughan is on duty for 24 hours a day for 10 days. On a typical work day, he joins his crew at Kalapaki Bay for nearly an hour of standup paddling before they begin their shift at 7 a.m.  He walks briskly around the station for about an hour and lifts weights for 45 minutes daily. During down times, Vaughan relaxes by playing his steel guitar, joined by his captain and chief playing their ukulele and another firefighter on guitar.

During his 20 days off duty, Vaughan treasures the time he spends with his 2-year-old son, Piko, and his wife, Mehana Blaich, a Native Hawaiian advocate. He speaks Hawaiian with his mother, Ipolani, who teaches Hawaiian language on Oahu, and he has used it on emergency calls. He also helps promote the language as a disc jockey for Kauai Community Radio (KKCR).

Last year, Vaughan was promoted to the rank of firefighter II.  In April, he was one of 17 employees recognized by Kauai County for their outstanding service and commitment to the community.

Vaughan is the son of well-known Hawaiian musician and historian Palani Vaughan. “My dad is happy that I’m doing something I enjoy,” he says. “If there’s a big fire on Kauai, I get text messages from him asking how I’m doing.”

Citing the foremost joys of being a firefighter, Vaughan says, “I love staying in shape, the camaraderie of working with my crew, and helping people in a tight-knit community like Kauai.”