NAWILIWILI — Registration for the Kauai Junior Lifeguard Island finals start at 8 a.m. and the first events get underway starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Hanalei Pier. The Kauai Junior Lifeguard island finals mark the end of the
NAWILIWILI — Registration for the Kauai Junior Lifeguard Island finals start at 8 a.m. and the first events get underway starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Hanalei Pier.
The Kauai Junior Lifeguard island finals mark the end of the program for 2014 which started June 9 for youngsters between the ages of 13 and 17.
“We also have 50 of the keiki division at Kalapaki Beach,” said Kaimi Kaneholani, a Junior Lifeguard instructor. “Overall, the Keiki division was sold out before the program started, and about 200 youth under 13 years old were instructed this summer.”
Kaneholani said in addition to the keiki, there are 40 of the Junior Lifeguards working through the final week of the program at Kalapaki. Totally, he estimated between 150 to 175 youth between 13 and 17 benefiting from the 2014 program at four different sites, including Salt Pond, Poipu, Hanalei and Kalapaki.
The keiki division wraps up the program Friday with a potluck for the participants while the Junior Lifeguards head to the island finals Saturday.
During the weeklong course, Junior Lifeguards worked in areas of drug awareness, rescue skills, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, teamwork, problem solving, beach hazards, and beach and ocean awareness.
“Following the island finals where the Junior Lifeguards will compete in six events, including the 1,000 meter run, beach flags, a paddle board relay, a 250 meter swim, and a 100 meter run, wwim, run, we will select an all-Kauai team for the state finals,” Kaneholani said. “The state competition will be held on Aug. 2 at Kalapaki Beach, and on Aug. 3, the Kauai Junior Lifeguards will head to the national competition.”
Kauai is the current 10-time Junior Lifeguard defending state champions.
The Junior Lifeguard and the Keiki Junior Lifeguard programs are sponsored in part by the County of Kauai, the Kauai Lifeguard Association, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, and numerous generous community sponsors who care about Kauai’s youth.
