Hawaii’s first certified arson dog dies at 13
Of all the dogs on the Big Island, it’s likely none were better known than Kaimi.
The state’s first certified arson dog, Kaimi retired Dec. 31, 2019, and died Saturday at the home of his handler, Acting Fire Chief Robert Perreira. He was 13.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow, losing my buddy, my partner. He stayed home the last year because he was retired, and when I leave home, he’s making noise, because he knows I’m leaving,” Perreira said Thursday.Perreira said Kaimi’s loss is felt by his family, the department and the other arson K9 teams they met in their travels.
“I’ve had other dogs before, and you’ve got to let ’em go,” he said. “Someday, it’s going to happen. It happened quickly. I just didn’t think it would be … .”
Perreira’s voice trailed off, and it was apparent the emotional bond he shared with Kaimi since their first meeting is still very much alive.
