As the search for the hundreds of missing people on Maui continues, some of those who lost their lives in the deadly wildfires are slowly beginning to be identified, confirming their families’ worst fears.

One of the first people to have been formally identified among the dead is Buddy L Jantoc, his granddaughter said.

Keshia Alaka’i told Sky News that she “broke down” when local police called her on Saturday to confirm that Mr Jantoc’s remains had been found, following deadly wildfires which swept through the island in Hawaii on Tuesday.

“He would call me every time there was a tropical storm or heavy rain,” she said. “When I didn’t hear from him, I knew something was wrong.”

Mr Jantoc, 79, lived in the Hale Mahaolu retirement home in Lahaina but Ms Alaka’i said she’s heard nothing about whether there was an evacuation plan or not when the fires hit.

Mr Jantoc picked Lahaina to be “his forever home”, she said, and had lived there for 30-plus years.

He was a well-known musician in the area, performing at the local bars, hotels and shopping malls.

Hawaii’s wildfires disaster is a ‘continuation of long standing frustration and pain’

Hawaii wildfires: Governor warns dozens more could be dead

Hawaii wildfires: Mick Fleetwood’s restaurant destroyed as he says situation on the ground is ‘catastrophic’

“Besides his family, his other love was music”, Ms Alaka’i said. “Music was his life. He played every instrument. His house was like a music store. He didn’t really have a sofa, just guitars.

“Hawaiian music was his favourite. We all dance hula, and he would sing.”

Read more:
Governor warns dozens more could be dead
Oprah Winfrey and camera crew turned away from Hawaii shelter
Dramatic before and after shots show impact of blaze

“He was loved by many”, she added. “My papa was always the light of the party, kind, generous, never had a mean thing to say, he was always positive.”

Ms Alaka’i said she doesn’t know what condition her grandfather’s body is in, but she plans to ask authorities to move his remains to Honolulu where she lives so her family can grieve his loss.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“It hurts”, she said. “The biggest frustration is that there was no warning, no sirens… I am broken, exhausted and frustrated.”

Sky News has contacted the Maui Police Department and the Hale Mahaolu retirement home for comment.

Related posts:

Tiger Woods driving at ‘excessive speed’ at time of serious car crash, police say Amazon offers to pay college fees for 750,000 workers in battle for staff US DoJ urges court to investigate Maxwell juror who was ‘victim of sexual abuse’ Three white men who chased and shot black man out running sentenced to life in prison US abortion debate promises a noisy and divisive road ahead Buffalo shooting ‘carried out by sick, demented individual fuelled by diet of hate’ who is now on suicide watch Boy, 6, who shot teacher used mother’s gun – as police reveal more details of shooting Harry says ‘dangerous lie’ told about his book – and claims Taliban remarks were taken out of context American football player Damar Hamlin who suffered cardiac arrest mid-game is released from hospital Texas mall gunman may have been neo-Nazi sympathiser, police say ‘Such a beautiful soul’: Two victims of Texas mall shooting named Prince Harry’s US court case could land him in very hot water with the authorities