LIHUE — People often tell Chris Pico what a great job he and other lifeguards are doing on Kauai.
But when he saw that the 5th Wave celebration on Friday night was sold out — more than 700 tickets to benefit the Kauai Lifeguard Association — that made him smile. Because that is clear evidence that people are doing more than praising lifeguards. They are putting their money down to support all they do.
“It’s amazing,” said Pico, north district watercraft operator. “What KLA does for us is just phenomenal.”
It was a festive, fun night of beautiful music, food, live art, $50,000 in prizes, auctions of custom surfboards and more and awards at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club for the 5th Wave that is helping KLA build an “Ocean Minded Community.”
People milled around, talking story, smiling and laughing, feeling good about this event that’s proven popular each year — even a year some worried attendance might be down.
Andy Melamed, KLA board member, helped with organization this year as he turned the reins over to Chantal Zarbaugh.
He said the more they help people learn about ocean safety, the more lives will be saved.
“We set the bar here on Kauai,” he said. “We’re small enough to be able to do that. We can create our own destiny.”
Dr. Monty Downs, KLA president, said ocean safety is one of many needs on Kauai, so he was pleased to see the large crowd and spirited atmosphere for the 5th Wave.
“I’m very thankful that people do help our cause amongst the others. It’s an important one,” he said. “I get to see it in the ER, families that survived because of our lifeguards. Without the work we do, families could be destroyed.”
“That’s what motivates me,” he added. “With this kind of support, we can help our lifeguards to become stronger and stronger.”
Laola Aea, KLA secretary and a past surfing champion, has extensive experience in the water. She noted that in a year when many donated to help with recovery from April’s flooding that affected hundreds of families, she wasn’t sure what kind of turnout there would be for the 5th Wave.
“I didn’t expect a full house,” she said. “It’s very rewarding.”
Aea will be a speaker at next week’s water safety conference at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club. She is confident that KLA’s many efforts to spread the need to be careful in the ocean have saved lives.
She wants to see efforts continue to raise awareness of ocean dangers, and believes the island needs to get back to teaching and learning swimming basics, too.
“I do believe we don’t put enough emphasis on the basics of swimming,” she said. “We need to spread education on so may levels.”
Pico said if people had more awareness of rip currents, rogue waves, conditions that can change without warning, that would definitely help lifeguards.
While rescues are demanding and can be scary, it’s the daily interaction with people that is also a big challenge for lifeguards. He said lifeguards don’t know what people’s swimming abilities are, how they can handle themselves, how ocean-smart they might be, so lifeguards must always be alert and ready to respond.
Melamed said what he loved about the sold-out 5th Wave was seeing people rally for a common cause. Whether it’s on land or in the ocean, united they are stronger — and safer.
“When we realize that, we can make this a better place to live,” he said.
Proceeds from the 5th Wave will go toward equipment to help lifeguards. That could be new trucks, Jet Skis, a South Shore storage facility or a public announcement system.
“There’s a lot of things the island needs,” Melamed said. “All of it is going to come together.”
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
