Attorney Galiher, female passenger, killed in copter crash on Molokai
GALIHERLAW.COM
This photo from the Galiher DeRobertis Waxman website shows founding partner Gary Galiher.
A helicopter piloted by prominent Hawaii attorney Gary Galiher crashed on Molokai, killing him and a female passenger, authorities said this afternoon.
Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said the wreckage was spotted at 1:31 p.m. and rescue crews confirmed an hour later that there were no survivors. He said the wreckage was located about 1.3 miles mauka of 793 Kamehameha V Highway, about a half-mile north of Galiher’s property, on a remote slope thick with foliage and inaccessible by foot.
Maui police are coordinating recovery of the victims and the preservation of the scene for federal investigators, Taomoto said. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said.
Galiher, described by colleagues as an experienced helicopter pilot with a second home on Molokai, and his passenger departed Honolulu Tuesday evening in a Hughes 369D helicopter and was expected to land on a private landing strip, authorities said.
Galiher, 70, was the founder and senior partner of Galiher DeRobertis Waxman, and is known nationally for representing clients in mesothelioma cases over 35 years. Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related form of cancer.
One of Galiher’s employees called 911 about 6:55 a.m. after no one could get a hold of him this morning, and the search by MFD and the U.S. Coast Guard began, authorities said.
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The aircraft was scheduled to land at a private helipad at a residence on the eastern side of Molokai Tuesday night, authorities said.
The Coast Guard deployed its C-130 plane, HH-65 helicopter and 87-foot cutter Kittiwake, while MFD launched its Air 1 helicopter.
Coast Guard officials confirmed that a female passenger was aboard the helicopter, along with the pilot.
“My understanding is that’s it’s a friend of his, but I don’t know,” Ilana Waxman, managing partner at Galiher’s law firm, told the Associated Press.
“He was an incredible person and an incredible lawyer,” she said, calling Galiher’s death a tragic loss for the Honolulu legal community. She said he was “an extremely experienced pilot” who had a Molokai home for decades.
“That is the one very small silver-lining is he was doing what he loved, and he was where he loved to be. But that’s a small comfort, I have to say,” Waxman said. She said he made the interisland trip often.
According to the law firm’s website, Galiher has “represented mesothelioma clients and assisted with their cases in over 40 states and several foreign countries, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements.”
A graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Galiher started his law firm in 1977, according to the firm’s website.
Molokai was a special place for Galiher, Waxman said, recalling how he told her that he helped pay for law school by diving for black coral off the island. “When he had some money from the success of his law firm, that’s what he wanted— not a house on the beach in Kahala,” she said. “He wanted a place on Molokai.”
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
37 responses to “Attorney Galiher, female passenger, killed in copter crash on Molokai”
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Don’t understand the time lapse to report….
me neither.
Not good, probably would have heard from them or the emergency beacon if the helicopter was down intact on land, unless they are in rugged terrain and the beacon is damaged. Helicopters despite being more versatile, are unfortunately higher risk than fixed-wing aircraft due to many dynamic components that can fail, so the incident/accident rate is higher.
Flying a helicopter at dusk over water is not a good idea.
Sue, sue, sue.
“Attorney Galiher, woman passenger, killed in copter crash on Molokai.”
Condolences to his Ohana and friends.
Well said, reader503 and ….appropriate.
You can’t help but wonder if the family of his passenger will sue his estate for her wrongful death, because you know that’s what he would do.
And they’d lose. And you’re a piece of shit.
Surprised SA allows potty mouths on this board. Besides Lover boy, ryan02 has a point.
Ryan02, Maybe you could hold off on inappropriately mean comments for awhile while others take time to respectfully post condolences.
Too soon to make the 100 Lawyers at the bottom of the ocean joke?
Too tacky even to consider.
BuhByeAloha, Was your comment really necessary?
“Attorney Galiher, woman passenger, killed in copter crash on Molokai.”
Condolences to his Ohana and friends.
NO Class.
To bad. My late wife worked for him about the time he prevented asbestos companies from filing bankruptcy to get out of paying damages in the 70s.
Does not look good but hope and prayers for a happy outcome.
Flying a chopper in high winds never a good idea.
true dat.
…hope they find him! I remember him from the Haleiwa Boat Harbor. Like us he Loved the Ocean and like to troll for big game fish .As a “Waterman” there’s a good chance he’s still out there! Let’s bring him home! IMUA!
MoiLee, I’m pretty sure the article point’s to both the Pilot and Passenger had died in the crash, there is no need to look for anyone. My Condolence to their Ohana.
According to other media, the wreckage has been found in a remote portion of Pukoo. There are no signs of survivors.
Thoughts & prayers to the family & friends of those on board the helicopter.
My deepest ALOHA to their ohana.
Sincere condolences to the family. Gary was a good guy.
Unless you were one of the many people he sued. Just saying.
Keep building up that bad karma.
You’re being ugly. That’s what makes you happy?
BuhByeAloha,
Maybe tossing in a condolence would be nice instead of just being nasty? Or keeping quiet while others try to show some Aloha and respect towards the deceased?
From your comment, I believe you didn’t know Gary. I knew him a bit, and he worked on behalf of people he felt were victims.
This is a horribly tragic day for his loved ones. Even if I hadn’t known him, I think it’s incredibly unkind to make such a flippant remark about someone who just passed.
God bless the families – such a tragic loss to all involved.
Condolences to the family
He was a very experienced pilot. Flew it hi Molokai place all the time.
RIP. Fought hard for working people. Great loss to the legal profession.
Aloha Gary. Very good man, he helped my dad with his case for mesothelioma. Rest in piece. Also to his passenger and their families.
So sad. Never knew him personally but he seemed like a very humble man. Our condolences to his family.
How come they have not identified the woman passenger? Curious.
Most likely waiting for the family to be notified.
What a sad thing.
I remember when he was a special education teacher at Haleiwa elementary.