Kaua‘i Fire Department recently hosted a special ceremony welcoming nine new firefighters and recognizing five Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau officers in the Līhu‘e Civic Center’s Mo‘ikeha Building rotunda.
Jason Kuwada, Eric Oroc, Kyle Oswalt, Makana Shamblin, Ikaika Vidinha, Kaiao Archer, Elliott Leon, Clifton Oliver and Canaan Washburn comprise Kaua‘i Fire Department’s 35th Recruit Class.
This year’s class included three recruits from Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, two from Pacific Missile Range Facility and four from Kaua‘i Fire Department.
Ocean Safety Bureau officers honored were Lauren Holliday, Trystan Nyberg, Osias Page, Aarya Tabalno, and Jae Wood.
“To our newest firefighters and ocean safety officers, congratulations and mahalo for answering the call to serve,” said Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami in a release following the ceremony. “I also want to recognize the families, friends and loved ones who carried the load at home so these graduates could get to this day. Because of your support, our island has more trained professionals ready to run toward danger and look after our community on land and in the water.”
Kaua‘i Fire Chief Michael Gibson also offered gratitude to the families and encouragement to the department’s newest members.
“The training does not end today. This is the foundation you will build on for the rest of your careers,” said Gibson in the release. “Respect those who came before you, stay open to their guidance and take care of one another. To the families, mahalo for your patience and support through these long months of training.”
Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting
Kuwada, a graduate of Kealakehe High School, is from Kailua-Kona on Hawai‘i Island.
He thanked his family and friends for supporting him throughout the academy, extending a special mahalo to Kaua‘i Fire Department Training Bureau and state Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting.
Pinning Kuwada was his father James Kuwada.
Oroc was born and raised on Kaua‘i’s westside. He is a graduate of Waimea High School.
He thanked the Lord Jesus Christ for guiding him and paving the way for his accomplishments, expressing deep gratitude to his wife, family and friends for their unwavering love and support, as well as to Kaua‘i Fire Department Training Bureau for setting the standard and inspiring the next generation of firefighters.
Pinning Oroc was his only brother Marc Oroc.
Oswalt, a graduate of Kaimukī High School, was born on the mainland and raised on O‘ahu.
He acknowledged his wife Ocean for her sacrifice, love and support during the recruit academy as well as his ‘ohana and friends for making it all possible. He extended a special mahalo to Kaua‘i Fire Department Training Bureau, the many Kaua‘i Fire Department cadre and entire Kaua‘i Fire Department itself for the skills, knowledge and guidance.
Pinning Oswalt was his mother Jerri Oswalt.
Pacific Missile Range Facility
Shamblin was born and raised on Kaua‘i’s westside and also is a graduate of Waimea High School.
He thanked his family and fiancée for their love and support throughout the academy, sending a special thank you to the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kaua‘i Fire Department and Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting trainers and personnel who shared their time and knowledge. He looks forward to building on those skills for the rest of his career.
Pinning Shamblin was his fiancée Julia Schilleci.
Vidinha was born and raised on Kaua‘i’s westside and is another graduate of Waimea High School.
He thanked his wife and family for their love and support throughout the academy, extending a special thank you to Pacific Missile Range Facility and its firefighters for the opportunity, as well as Kaua‘i Fire Department Training Bureau and personnel for the knowledge and skills to prepare him for his new career.
Pinning Vidinha was his wife Devon Vidinha.
Kaua‘i Fire Department
Archer was born in Kealakekua on Hawai‘i Island and is a graduate of Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy in Waimea on the Big Island.
He thanked his family, especially his wife Kellyn, for their support and understanding as he pursued firefighting throughout the years, extending a special thank you to Kaua‘i Fire Department and its training cadre for the opportunity to continue serving a community closer to home.
Pinning Archer was his wife.
Leon, a graduate of Kapa‘a High School, grew up on Kaua‘i’s eastside.
He thanked his family for their unwavering support throughout recruit class, as well as Kaua‘i Fire Department Training Bureau and the numerous cadre who dedicated their time to teaching the class.
Pinning Leon was his wife Victoria.
Oliver was born and raised in Kapahi and is a graduate of Kapa‘a High School.
He thanked his girlfriend, family and friends for their love and support throughout recruit class, sending a special thank you to his brothers of Recruit Class 35, Kaua‘i Fire Department Training Bureau, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, Pacific Missile Range Facility and the rest of Kaua‘i Fire Department for the knowledge and skills to build upon in his new career.
Pinning Oliver was his girlfriend Natalie.
Washburn, a graduate of Island School, was born in Honolulu and raised in Kapahi.
He thanked his family, especially his wife Kawena, for supporting him throughout the academy, giving a special thank you to Kaua‘i Fire Department Training Bureau and various cadre for sharing their knowledge and time.
Pinning Canaan was his wife.
Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau
Holliday, also known as “Lemon,” grew up in Georgia, where competitive swimming sparked a lifelong love of the water. After moving to Australia, she served as Oceania communications director for a disaster relief organization, supporting communities through natural disasters and humanitarian response.
Her commitment to service and connection with the ocean led her to Kaua‘i, where becoming an ocean safety officer felt like a natural next step. She is proud to serve on the North Shore and grateful for the opportunity to protect the community while inspiring the next generation of water women to find their own connection with the ocean.
She enjoys surfing, free diving, traveling and storytelling outside of work.
Nyberg was raised on Kaua‘i and from a young age has had a deep connection with the ocean. He joined the Ocean Safety Bureau to expand his knowledge about the ocean while using those skills to help keep residents and visitors safe.
He has had in the short time with the bureau the opportunity to serve others in ways he never imagined. He expressed gratitude for the career, the crew he works alongside and the lifeguards who came before him and passed down the knowledge and skills that help keep people safe in and out of the water.
Page, known to most as “” lives in Kekaha, where he spends much of his time working, fishing and surfing. He is a graduate of Kaua‘i High School and worked as an arborist before December 2925 when he became an ocean safety officer.
He said he was drawn to the work because he enjoys the ocean and helping and educating people about ocean safety.
Tabalno is from Kōloa and grew up in and around the ocean, spending much of her time surfing, paddling canoe and enjoying everything the water has to offer. Those experiences gave her a deep respect for the ocean and responsibility that comes with it.
Her father is a retired ocean safety officer. Watching his dedication to serving the community inspired her at a young age to follow in his footsteps. She looks forward to learning from the experienced lifeguards around her and doing her part to help keep Kaua‘i beaches safe for residents and visitors alike.
Wood was hired in November 2024 as a part-time lifeguard. He was promoted less than a year later to a full-time position on Kaua‘i’s North Shore.
He was an amateur competitive surfer before becoming a lifeguard, and the countless hours he spent in the water gave him a deep understanding of the ocean and comfort in all kinds of conditions. He always knew he wanted a career connected with the ocean, making the decision to become a lifeguard an easy one.
