PO‘IPU — About 30 students welcomed the week by showing up at the Po‘ipu Beach Park as Kaua‘i Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau leaders opened up their annual junior lifeguard program. Kaleo Ho‘okano of the OSB said that Po‘ipu is
PO‘IPU — About 30 students welcomed the week by showing up at the Po‘ipu Beach Park as Kaua‘i Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau leaders opened up their annual junior lifeguard program.
Kaleo Ho‘okano of the OSB said that Po‘ipu is always a popular site, and was pleased with the turnout.
Site instructor Aaron Habermann got help from Kaipo Jaquias (both are OSB lifeguards) as well as some of the returning junior lifeguard participants.
“This is my first time helping,” Jaquias said. “In November, Aaron asked if I could help. I have three kids in the program, so I came to help.”
One of the lifeguards on the tower noted that it appeared that this year’s program has more participants, and having the state championships on Kaua‘i this year definitely helps bring people out.
The state championships are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6 at Duke’s at Kalapaki Beach.
Ho‘okano said that Kealia Beach did not have as many participants as Po‘ipu, instructor Eugene Ancheta reporting that nine students showed up Monday, but he was expecting 15 yesterday.
The increase in numbers at Kealia is due to a lot of summer programs ending on Monday.
Ho‘okano said that people interested in signing up should do so now, because there are a lot of things that can happen before the sessions start.
“We try to accommodate as many people as we can,” Ho‘okano said. “The main objective is safety.”
The free program is open to youth between the ages of 13 and 17.
In order to participate in the program, youngsters must be able to swim and run 100 meters, nonstop, and must be comfortable in various ocean conditions.
Participants must also bring their own lunches, goggles, swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen.
Next week’s program will take place at the Salt Pond Park from Monday through Friday, July 18 to 22. Kalapaki Beach sessions will take place from Monday, July 25 through Friday, July 29, followed by the Kaua‘i island championships at Hanalei Bay on Saturday, July 30. The state championships are scheduled for Kalapaki Beach on Saturday, Aug. 6.
For more information, people may contact the Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-6506.
- Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
