HONOLULU (KHON2) — When it comes to protecting beachgoers, Hawaii’s lifeguards are some of the best of the best, but rescue missions are never the same. Lifeguards from around the world were here on the islands to practice new life-saving techniques.
Rescue watercrafts are like a firefighter’s fire engine for lifeguards, according to Kalani Vierra, Hawaii Fire Department & Ocean Safety Bureau Operations Chief.
“Probably the most versatile tool in our operation. We can go into beach surf, we can go over shallow water, we can stay close to shore,” Vierra said.
The Hawai’i Lifeguard Association hosted its second annual Rescue Watercraft Training on the morning of Feb. 26. Ocean Safety lifeguards from across the state were invited to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Oahu to learn new techniques when operating rescue watercrafts.
“The types of rescues that we do, and especially the water sports that come about nowadays have changed a lot,” said Zach Edlao, Maui County Ocean Safety Bureau Chief. “There’s different types of grabs that they seem to have perfected over the years and change that works better now compared to what was taught about before.”
There are about 3,000 to 4,000 rescues throughout the state annually– half all being done with rescue watercrafts, per Vierra. With evolving technology and versatile rescue missions, officials said it’s important for lifeguards to adapt as well.
“In the earlier days, we did a lot of the rescues only on the left side of the rescue watercraft. With the changing of equipment that we have now, we’re doing rescues on the right hand side. So, they have different options to their rescue operations,” Vierra said.
Lifeguards from neighbor islands and other countries also trained to take back what they learned.
“Learn from the best,” said Taishin Otono, Japan Water Patrol & Okinawa Life Saving Association president. “To learn the best technique of the world and then I want to spread the techniques to Japan.”