As the primary responder to ocean emergencies islandwide up to one mile out to sea, Honolulu’s Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division maintains a year-round vigilance along nearly 200 miles of coastline.
In recent weeks, as warmer days and summer vacation breaks began attracting more people to Oahu’s near-shore waters, the division responded to several incidents of swimmers in trouble in areas gaining popularity for cliff jumping. In the aftermath of a fatality at Spitting Cave in Portlock, Ocean Safety officials urged the public to refrain from plunges at isolated spots.
At a June 5 news conference, Kevin Allen, the division’s operations chief, lamented, “It’s just tragic when something like this happens,” and pointed out that due in part to social media posts, some areas are attracting an increasing number of sightseers and swimmers who may be unaware of dangers.
Even in areas known for gentle waters, Allen advises: Know your limitations and treat all unfamiliar areas with caution. Before going to remote locations, do your homework and make sure you have a plan if something goes wrong. Also, always swim with a friend, and be ready for challenges that may occur.
The native of Southern California grew up near the ocean.
“I participated in a Junior Lifeguard Program and loved spending a lot of time at the beach,” Allen said. “I began surfing at a young age and still go out when I have the opportunity,” he said, noting that over the years he has competed in paddleboarding, swimming and outrigger canoeing events.
In the late 1980s, while a college student at Chaminade University, he took a part-time job with Honolulu’s Lifeguard Service, and has worked for the city ever since. Allen and his wife, Diana, have two children, Kaitlin and Robert.
For Allen, lifeguard work here means much more than employment. “You get the privilege to work and befriend some of the very best watermen and -women in the world. They become your family.” Moreover, he said, “So many people come to the ocean to be happy and enjoy everything it has to offer. Being there and making sure that people leave the beach safe and with a positive experience is truly rewarding.”
Question: Typically, what are Ocean Safety’s top challenges/concerns during summer months?
Answer: We see an increase in visitors and residents at all Oahu beaches. We have elevated surf coming into the South Shore, wrapping around to the east and western shores bringing advisory-size surf, which creates hazards for inexperienced swimmers and surfers. We often see the highest number of injuries in surf 3 feet and under because to the untrained eye it appears safe when it still proposes a safety risk.
Also, although we have snorkeling year-round, it is good to point out that this activity is the highest leading cause of drownings. In addition, we can also see an influx of jellyfish, which can pose a severe medical threat to those who are allergic.
Q: How about winter months?
A: The surf gets extremely big on the north and western shores bringing very dangerous conditions, and with the surf we have hundreds of thousands of spectators who line the beaches to watch the big waves. Many of these spectators bypass the caution tape put up by lifeguards at unguarded beaches without realizing the dangers they are putting themselves and their families in.
Q: Clearly, Spitting Cave is a dangerous area. What are the other top hot spots around Oahu?
A: There are many unguarded areas that can be calm and relatively safe, but depending on the time of the year, conditions turn very dangerous, very quickly. Lifeguards respond to the Mokulua Islands off of Lanikai Beach, Makapu‘u tide pools, Keawaula State Park, Sharks Cove, Electric Beach and Laie Point, to name a few. All of these locations are unguarded, require a mobile emergency response and are affected by wind, tides and surf. Any unguarded area is dangerous — how dangerous depends on the conditions and skill level of the swimmer.
Q:In recent years, Hawaii has seen record-breaking visitor arrival counts. How does Ocean Safety respond?
A: Every year we see increased activity on all sides of the island. Social media becomes a tour guide to unassuming visitors who are essentially lured into very dangerous situations. This is occurring islandwide, and when it happens at unguarded locations, the Ocean Safety communication center receives a 911 call and then dispatches mobile responders.
We are evaluating a pilot project we began earlier this year at Hanauma Bay in which we scheduled our employees on a four-day, 10-hour work shift. This allows us to keep people safe longer; if this project is a success, we will look into implementing the shift throughout our operations. … Currently, on days where we see high surf or high activity, if staffing permits, we will have our employees stay an extra hour or two to ensure the safety of the public.
Q: How does Ocean Safety communicate dangers?
A: Every day, 365 days a year, Ocean Safety lifeguards do what we refer to as preventative actions. In 2017, lifeguards made more than 1 million preventative actions. These actions include posting warning signs along the beach, talking with beachgoers about the conditions throughout the day and using the public announcement system to warn.
As a division, Ocean Safety pushes out safety messaging through a variety of sources. We have an Ocean Safety website, Hawaii Beach Safety (hioceansafety.com); Ocean Safety Facebook and Instagram; public service announcements with the local media; and public service announcements in the hotels.
In addition, lifeguards and staff go out into the community and give educational presentations at schools, to businesses and talk with our military service members. We also work closely with the state Department of Health and the Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention Advisory Committee.
Q: How do you recruit and retain lifeguards?
A: The division has 194 full-time employees and 50 part-time employees. We turn over approximately five to 15 employees per year. Having the responsibility of keeping the public safe is a difficult career to take on. … We are always looking for strong watermen and -women who want to have a career in keeping people safe in the ocean. Career water safety officers earn between $25 and $35 an hour.
Beach lifeguards must meet license requirements and pass a physical performance exam: 1,000-yard run and 1,000-yard swim under 25 minutes; 400-yard paddleboard under four minutes; and 100-yard run, 100-yard swim followed by another 100-yard run under three minutes.
During a four-week training class, candidates are pushed physically, mentally and emotionally and need to pass all aspects in order to become a qualified water safety officer.
Q: Nine years ago, Ocean Safety completed an eight-year effort to replace/install 40 towers. What’s the current status?
A: We completed the original tower replacement project in 2010, and began the new tower replacement program in 2017. We have just completed the installation of three towers, and another one is anticipated to be put into place by fall. We have plans to put towers on movable skids so we have the ability to move them when we need to. The goal is to establish a comprehensive tower replacement plan for all of our 42 towers.
Q: What other types of patrols are in place?
A: In addition to providing tower service at beach parks around the island, we provide 16 mobile response units (trucks, with a lieutenant responding to emergencies). Eight of those units are equipped with personal rescue craft. We are constantly evaluating the need and locations for additional resources. For example, we’re developing a rescue boat program and researching how drones could be incorporated into the lifesaving work.
Q: The city’s summer Junior Lifeguard Program is now underway. How’s that going?
A: The program teaches children, ages 12 to 18, ocean lifesaving skills; it’s an incredibly successful program that prepares participants not only to protect themselves in the ocean, but to maybe save a life of a person in distress. Also, it’s a terrific preparatory program for anyone who wants to become a lifeguard. We have many ex-Junior Lifeguard employees with us today. We are very lucky to have outside entities ensure the program’s success continues.
