An all-female team of 10 emergency dispatchers took center stage on Friday, as Kaua’i officials marked National Telecommunications Week by recognizing the critical role the dispatchers play in coordinating police, fire and medical responses across the Garden Island.
Police Chief Rudy Tai said he was “proud to recognize the team.”
Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami issued the team a proclamation, with members of the Kauaʻi Police Department, the Kauaʻi Fire Department and the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency also in attendance to honor the dispatchers who answer 911 calls and direct life-saving assistance.
“They’re special people,” Tai said. “Not everyone can do this job, and we recognize them not only this week, but every day. They’re here 24 hours a day, answering 911 and emergency calls, and responding to inquiries from the public regularly, so we’re really happy to have them as part of our team of professional staff.”
In 2025, the Kauaʻi team answered approximately 60,000 calls for service.
Kawakami said the team, including the newest member currently in training, reflect strength, patience and compassion.
“I tell you, if anybody realizes the multitasking involved in being an emergency services telecommunicator, they would realize that a woman is the right person to be able to juggle and to have empathy, compassion, and patience for this job,” Kawakami said.
National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is observed annually from April 13 to 19. The department is actively seeking individuals with a heart for service to join the ‘ohana and help safeguard our community.
“We’ve got some dispatcher positions open, and we’re looking to hire qualified people who want to serve the community and want to really make a difference,” Tai said.
Dispatching requires strong multitasking abilities, but while the technical skills of the job can be taught, it is a genuine passion for helping others that turns this job into a rewarding career for some.
“Anyone who needs something that gives them a sense of purpose and if they are dedicated and committed to this community and if they have good communication, they’re the perfect candidates to become a dispatcher,” Kawakami said.
“It’s a rough job,” he added. “They work hard, but there’s something about that fulfillment that they get that they actually made a difference that I think renews their faith and their hope that they’re on the right track every single day.”
Emergency services dispatcher recruitment is ongoing and includes a generous benefits package. Community members interested in a new career path can click here to apply.
