LIHU‘E — Members of the Kaua‘i Fire Department, the Ocean Safety Bureau, the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association, and numerous community lifeguard-supporting groups, including the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau were on hand Wednesday, when Kaua‘i Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami announced Hawai‘i Lifeguard Appreciation Week at the Mo‘ikeha Building.
Hawai‘i Lifeguard Appreciation Week will be observed starting on Aug. 21, and continues until Aug. 27.
It’s an opportunity for the county and the community to recognize the work lifeguards perform throughout the state. These tasks take place daily, and places the safety of water safety officers on the line to ensure the safety and protection of people.
“Our lifeguards are responsible for protecting the lives of more than a million Hawai‘i residents, and millions of visitors who visit and vacation in the Aloha State, annually. On behalf of the Office of the Mayor, we cannot begin to express how much we appreciate the work of all lifeguards and Ocean Safety Bureau personnel,” Kawakami said. “Their service is vital to our residents and visitors on Kaua‘i, and the state of Hawai‘i.”
To officially, commemorate the lifeguard appreciation week, Kawakami unveiled a proclamation celebrating the people’s appreciation for the work that lifeguards, the primary responders for ocean emergencies in waters within one mile of the shoreline throughout the state perform.
“Hawai‘i Lifeguard Appreciation Week is a week to show appreciation to all our lifeguards at the pool and ocean,” said Chantal Zarbaugh, representing the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association. “Representatives from the Ocean Safety Bureau will be traveling to Honolulu on Aug. 22 for the Duke’s Ocean Fest, and alongside the Hawai‘i Lifeguard Association, acknowledge lifeguards throughout the state.”
Hawai‘i’s lifeguards are trained to provide first aid, assess and navigate hazardous ocean conditions, communicate with beach goers, and become calm and assertive leaders during emergency situations. These skills are transferred to candidates of the Junior and Keiki Lifeguard program that only recently completed another sold-out program at various beach sites around Kaua‘i.
“During the past month, KLA has been putting together a video series of different lifeguards to highlight what lifeguarding means to them,” Zarbaugh said “The videos are being made by Lohgan Hannah, a 14-year-old student from Kaua‘i High School who Ocean Safety Bureau has been blessed to work with to create the videos while helping her grow in her videographer skills.”
This success rate only adds to the fact local keiki can look to lifeguards in their communities who teach respect for the ocean, and model a deep knowledge about and appreciation for local beaches.
Starting from when the first hotels were built on the shores of Waikiki Beach, lifeguards and experienced water-persons have kept beach-going tourists safe while shaving with them an appreciation for ocean activities. This work has a direct impact on the tourism industry, the local economy, and the overall well-being of Hawai‘i.
Lifeguards at county and community swimming pools, hotels and resorts, fitness centers, and water parks across the state watch over and protect the public 365 days a year, providing safety skills and swimming lessons to help keiki and adults thrive in the water.
