Maui police Friday identified the victim of a Wailuku house fire as Shiro S. Hironaka, a former leader in Hawaii’s banking industry. He was 94.
His body was found Thursday in the downstairs unit of a two-story house on Naniluna Place. Police said the fire caused an estimated $630,000 in damage to the building and contents. The cause of the fire is undetermined, firefighters said.
When police and firefighting units arrived, police said, a woman living in the upstairs unit told them a man could be in the downstairs unit. Police said authorities tried to enter the unit, but it was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters entering the unit after the fire was extinguished found Hironaka. Police said the cause of death is pending an autopsy.
Hironaka was a retired executive vice president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii division of American Savings & Loan.
"Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time," said Richard Wacker, president and chief executive officer of American Savings Bank, the successor to American Savings S&L. "Sam was an important figure in Hawaii business and an important part of our bank’s history."
Hironaka founded Maui Savings & Loan in 1962.
American Savings & Loan purchased Maui Savings in 1973, and Hironaka continued to work for the new owner.
Hironaka served as a mentor to Allan S. Kitagawa, former chief executive officer at Territorial Savings Bank.
Kitagawa said he was working for an accounting firm in Honolulu when Hironaka hired him as controller for American Savings. "We just hit it off," Kitagawa said. "He taught me everything I know."
Kitagawa said Hironaka was successful because he had a good business sense. Also, "he was a very gracious and hospitable guy. … I’m going to miss him."
