Ever since he had taken the first bite of that horrible devil fruit, Kukuis life had been down hill in terms of difficulties. His hair felt leafy, he had twigs growing in places he didn't want twigs growing, and people generally try to either avoid or kill him because of his powers. Now the biggest downside in his opinion was that he had 2 very large and distinct weaknesses. Seawater, and fire. 

What Kukui had thankfully learned in his long travels however was that, although both individually where etremely detremental to him,  together they actually cancel eachother out. So as the flames began to surround him, kukui was pleasently suprised when he felt his damp body rapidly drying, making it easier to store energy for his next play!

Before the fires could fully dry him, and start burning him, he focused a large amount of power into his legs. His lower half became almost like a tree and started rapidly growing and extending, raising Kukui into the air far above the pirates and the buildings before his tree like lower half spit him out, allowing him to stand atop the new tree. 

Looking out, Kukui looked for an escape. The docks seemed filled with pirates and the commotion would surely bring the marines. He needed to get off this island, but he'd need a boat. He couldn't make a boat with his powers, he needs time and materials like cloth and nails, both of which he didn't have, and he couldn't steal one, since it looked like almost all on the dock were burning.

Then he saw it, in the distance a sole boat a bit away from the water! If he could just get from ... from 30 feet in the air on a burning tree to half a mile out into water on a distant boat ... He can survive. "... Well, I'd survived worse. I think." He said as he came to an idea. A VERY. VERY. VERY. stupid idea. "OK ok OK ok OKAY!" He said psyching himself up. thin branchs began to form on his back into a large spread over a wide area, leaves forming as it began to take the shape of wings. 

"Ki Ki no, er, makeshift glider!" He yelled as he jumped, purging his wooden armor as he used the leaf canopy as a glider to fly above the crowd, hoping to reach past the pirate crowd. His plan was to glide above the enemies and land safely, then run to the lighthouse so he can get high enough to glide to the boat.