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Family mourns loss of Kauai helicopter pilot

By Jamm Aquino

Dec. 28, 2019

Video

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VIDEO BY JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Kauai police confirmed Saturday the seven people aboard the Safari Helicopters chopper did not survive the crash. Donna Dublin, wife of chief pilot Paul Matero, shared memories of her late husband with nephew Aaron Redding.
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Donna Dublin, right, wife of Paul Matero, speaks about her late husband with nephew Aaron Redding of Kihei, Maui, on Saturday in Wailua. A Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard, including the pilot Matero.
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Aaron Redding, nephew of Paul Matero, looks at photographs of his uncle flying helicopters at Matero’s residence on Saturday in Wailua.
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Aaron Redding, nephew of Paul Matero, shows a photo of his mother, Susan Matero, with Paul and a Safari Helicopters aircraft taken in October. Paul flew for Safari Helicopters, which suspended operations after a Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard, including Paul, a Wailua resident and pilot. “He was like my father growing up, just had the biggest heart ever.”
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Donna Dublin, right, wife of Paul Matero, speaks about her late husband on Saturday in Wailua. A Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard, including the pilot Matero.
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Safari Helicopters’ flight line is seen without any aircraft on Saturday in Lihue. The company suspended operations after a Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard.
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Photos of helicopter Paul Matero that span three decades are seen in the hallway of his residence on Saturday in Wailua, Kauai. A Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard, including the pilot Matero.
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2019 December 28 CTY - Honolulu Star-Advertiser photo by Jamm Aquino/jaquino@staradvertiser.com The Safari Helicopters main office is seen on Saturday, December 28, 2019 in Lihue, Kauai. A Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard, including Wailua resident and pilot Paul Matero. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash, but will take time and effort because of the location of the crash.
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Aaron Redding, nephew of Paul Matero, looks at photographs of his uncle flying helicopters at Matero’s residence on Saturday in Wailua.
10/19
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Safari Helicopters’ flight line is seen without any aircraft on Saturday in Lihue. The company suspended operations after a Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard.
11/19
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Aaron Redding, nephew of Paul Matero, shows a photo of his mother, Susan Matero, with Paul and a Safari Helicopters aircraft taken in October. Paul flew for Safari Helicopters, which suspended operations after a Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard, including Paul, a Wailua resident and pilot. “He was like my father growing up, just had the biggest heart ever.”
12/19
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Safari Helicopters’ flight line is seen without any aircraft on Saturday in Lihue. The company suspended operations after a Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard.
13/19
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Donna Dublin, right, wife of Paul Matero, speaks about her late husband with nephew Aaron Redding of Kihei, Maui, on Saturday in Wailua. A Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard, including the pilot Matero.
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The Safari Helicopters main office is seen on Saturday in Lihue. A Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard.
15/19
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Aaron Redding, nephew of Paul Matero, shows a photo of his mother, Susan Matero, with Paul and a Safari Helicopters aircraft taken in October. Redding was in Paul's residence on Saturday in Wailua.
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The helicopter flight line, with Safari Helicopters noticeably absent, is seen on Saturday in Lihue.
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The Safari Helicopters main office is seen on Saturday in Lihue. A Safari Helicopters aircraft carrying seven crashed off a remote area of Kokee on Thursday, killing all aboard.
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The helicopter flight line, with Safari Helicopters noticeably absent, is seen on Saturda in Lihue.
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A helicopter takes flight above the Lihue Helipad on Saturday.
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