Three Hawaiʻi ocean safety chiefs represented Hawaiʻi in an international initiative that aims to advance drowning prevention, lifesaving education, professional training, and cultural exchange.
The Hawaiian Lifeguard Association has taken a significant step toward enhancing ocean safety and drowning prevention through a historic three-way agreement with the Okinawa Lifesaving Association and the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. The agreement represents a shared commitment to better protect residents and visitors in island communities.
Kalani Vierra, Kauaʻi County Ocean Safety Bureau Chief and President of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, Kurt Lager, City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety Department Chief, and Zach Edlao, Maui County Ocean Safety Bureau Chief, participated in the international visit and signing ceremony. The Hawaiʻi County Ocean Safety Chief was unable to attend the ceremony.
The ocean safety leaders shared knowledge, strengthened relationships, and explored opportunities that can benefit lifeguard services across the Hawaiian Islands.
“This partnership is more than just signing an agreement. It represents a shared commitment to saving lives, building relationships, and creating opportunities for future generations,” Vierra said. “Hawaiʻi and Okinawa are island communities that share a deep respect for the ocean, and together we can learn from one another to make our communities safer.”
Hawaiʻi and Okinawa share many similarities, including their island cultures, deep connections to the ocean, thriving tourism industries, and the challenges of protecting people from dangerous ocean conditions.
The partnership will focus on several important areas:
- Drowning Prevention: Sharing public education strategies, prevention programs, and lifesaving practices.
- Professional Lifeguard Development: Exchanging rescue techniques, training methods, and operational knowledge.
- Youth and Junior Lifeguard Programs: Creating educational and cultural exchange opportunities for future lifesaving professionals.
- University Internships and Education: Exploring student internships, academic partnerships, research, and hands-on training opportunities.
- International Collaboration: Strengthening professional and cultural relationships between Hawaiʻi and Okinawa.
One of the most promising aspects of the partnership is the opportunity to connect university students, junior lifeguards, and future lifesaving professionals through educational exchanges and internship programs.
“Education is the foundation of drowning prevention,” Vierra added. “Through this partnership with the University of the Ryukyus and the Okinawa Lifesaving Association, we hope to create pathways for young people to gain valuable knowledge, experience different cultures, and develop into future leaders in ocean safety.”
The partnership represents an important opportunity for the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association to expand its international relationships while continuing its mission of protecting lives through education, prevention, and professional lifesaving.
“The ocean does not recognize borders, and neither should our commitment to saving lives,” Vierra said. “Through cooperation, education, and mutual respect, we can build a lasting legacy that benefits our communities for generations to come.”
