HONOLULU (NEWSnet/AP) — The death count from the wildfire that destroyed the Hawaii town of Lahaina in August 2023 has risen to 101.

Maui police confirmed the identity of an additional victim, 76-year-old Paul Kasprzycki.

Police found Kasprzycki’s remains near a side street in an industrial area, spokesperson Alana Pico said. They identified him by comparing X-rays taken before and after his death, she said.

Steve Brodersen, a childhood friend, said Kasprzycki excelled as a carpenter and woodworker. He did “fantastic” work, but mostly to satisfy his own interest, said Steve Brodersen, who knew Kasprzycki from when they were both in the eighth grade.

“He never marched to marketing on any given day,” Brodersen said.

Kasprzycki came to Hawaii while racing a boat he made from Santa Monica, California, to Honolulu in the 1970s.

“He just never came back,” Brodersen said.

Kasprzycki attended University of Southern California, where he studied ancient history, Latin and philosophy. He was Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude in 1969.

Kasprzycki’s older brother Jan last spoke to him on the day of the fire. He told Kasprzycki to get out of Lahaina, but he refused, insisting he would ride it out with his five cats.

The family plans to scatter Kasprzycki’s ashes at Jan’s home in Olinda, about 4,000 feet above sea level on the slopes of Haleakala volcano.

“One of the best views of the ocean is is from up here,” he said. “He’ll get to see it every day 24/7.”

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