Honolulu Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Division

Good Samaritan rescue tubes at 20 East Honolulu locations! Huge Mahalo to the watermen and water women of the local chapters of the Lions Club and the Rotary Club. These tubes save lives, have been successfully used for years in our Neighbor Island counties, and are on the shoreline in East Honolulu now thanks to some amazing partnership between the clubs and the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation (with a small assist from Honolulu Ocean Safety) … thank you, partners. You just made things safer for all of us.

Check out a comprehensive Parks and Rec map (bit.ly/OahuBeachAccess) for locations of the tubes, and other helpful info on staying safe in the water.

Get more info

Tryouts this weekend! Honolulu Ocean Safety is looking for some great watermen and water women … get more info at the web link at the bottom of this flyer.

Congrats to Ocean Safety’s latest Recruit Class, which graduated today, and will be in the towers this weekend! Ocean Safety now has 292 of the very best watermen and water women on the planet to help keep our visitors and Kama`āina safe.

Honolulu Ocean Safety moved some pieces around this week to better address the April 2021 loss of a tower near the Aquarium in Waikīkī. Whether we like it not, sea level rise is happening, and it’s real.

The view from the tower at 8 a.m. today at Kaimana Beach.

If you are ever at Kaimana Beach, say hey to this guy. Norm Skorge radiates sunshine ☀️ and has an incredible story about survival. After competing as a college swimmer, he went on to join Ocean Safety. A few years ago he suffered a heart attack while exercising. Honolulu EMS responded and brought Skorge back! He is now back on our beaches keeping our residents and visitors safe! Stay safe out there ❤️💛

Honolulu Ocean Safety will join other county first responders and departments to proudly help kick off the city’s annual Honolulu City Lights event in a parade Saturday, Dec. 2.

This year’s official county tree ornaments — offered by the non-profit Friends of Honolulu City Lights — honor the county’s lifeguards. Go to friendsofhonolulucitylights.org to get yours!

Congrats to Ocean Safety’s newest Rescue Jet Ski Operators!

A heartfelt “well done” to Lifeguards Pono Ornellas, John Kahalewai, Luke Shepardson, and Paliku Victorino on this epic achievement. The four completed the Ocean Safety Division’s arduous 6-week rescue ski operator course, culminating in a day last Friday practicing patient pick ups in 20-25 foot surf off O`ahu’s North Shore.

You look good in red, gentlemen.

They posed for pix with their awesome instructors, and family members, at a short graduation ceremony, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

January 2024 tryouts! More information at Honolulu Ocean Safety’s website, link on the bottom of this flyer.

A huge Mahalo to for their gift of some ono pre-Thanksgiving meals today to all the first responders who keep the area safe.

Ocean Safety would like to thank Ron and the Kewalo crew for THEIR stewardship of the area.

Honolulu Ocean Safety Fall Junior Lifeguards, Oct.9-13, 1 day sessions, sign up now!

https://emergencyservices.honolulu.gov/ocean-safety-lifeguard-services/junior-lifeguards/

On behalf of all the keiki, Honolulu Ocean Safety sends a big Mahalo to all our partners helping with this historic event!

Parents, sign your keiki up for Ocean Safety’s Fall Junior Lifeguards Program!

Junior Guards. Oct. 9-13. Hawai`i Dept of Education fall break. One day sessions all around O`ahu. Lifesaving skills taught by some of the best beach lifeguards on the planet. Ages 11-13.

Parents, sign ‘em up at:
https://emergencyservices.honolulu.gov/ocean-safety-lifeguard-services/junior-lifeguards/

What are you waiting for, already?

Ocean Safety replaced a 1-person tower at Magic Island today with a 2-person tower that will help improve vigilance around the waters near the Ala Wai entrance channel (including the Ala Moana Bowls surf spot). Ocean Safety has now upgraded 10 of its 42 towers in the last three years as part of an island-wide tower replacement project — a huge Mahalo to Mayor Rick Blangiardi () and his administration for prioritizing this important improvement to the county’s lifeguard service!

Developers named the man-made peninsula “Magic Island” after it was completed in 1964 with coral, sand, and sediment fill from nearby dredging projects. Named ‘Āina Moana by the state in 1972, Magic Island is now part of the larger Ala Moana Beach Park under the City and County of Honolulu.

Lifeguards from around the state staged a Junior Lifeguard Leadership Challenge in Waikiki today. Keiki from Kaua`i, Hawai`i Island, and O`ahu came together to learn from some of the best watermen and water women around. Maui’s team was unable to make it, but all of the Junior Guards joined a paddle out in honor of the victims of Lahaina.

Shoutout and a Big Mahalo to Kaua’i Ocean Safety and Chief Kalani Vierra, Hawai`i County Ocean Safety, the North Shore Lifeguard Association, our own C&C Guards, Olukai, Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, Hele Fitness, and Duke’s for an awesome event. The kids learned a lot, and were able to pause for a moment to remember those on Maui who are experiencing such tremendous loss.

Aug. 13-19 is Beach Safety Week in the state, and features a state-wide Aquatic Safety Conference Thursday, and a Junior Lifeguards Leadership Challenge in Waikiki this Saturday. Mayor Blangiardi signed this proclamation for O`ahu.

“Tower 40, 10-8 in service.”
Honolulu Ocean Safety is on duty at Kahe Point Beach Park with its first new tower installation in more than a decade.

This picture is pure happiness and such a special moment in time. The LEGEND and Mayor of Makaha Buffalo Keaulana and the Queen of Makaha’s daughter Jan Sunn. Please DM if you know who took this photo.

Ocean Safety is proud and privileged to support a historic event happening this Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Ka Makana Ali`i Center in West O`ahu!

From the Honolulu Police Department: “HPD is excited to be hosting its inaugural First Responder Community and Career Fair. Hear firsthand from police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and lifeguards. We’ve got lots of information to share, and emergency vehicles will be on display. We hope to see you there!”

Honolulu Ocean Safety is at the mid-point of the 2023 Junior Guards Program — huge Mahalo to Duke’s Waikiki for their incredible support. And, of course, the hard work by our amazing city lifeguards. Stand by for info on our island championship scheduled for July 29 at Makaha, and our state championship in Waikiki on Aug. 19!

Ocean Safety is excited to start our 2023 Junior Lifeguard Program next week. First stop Makaha, then Nanakuli, Ehukai, Kailua, Ala Moana and wrapping up in Waimanalo. Huge Mahalo to John John Florence and his Florence Marine X apparel company for their support with jerseys for our registered Junior Guards. They will get one of these sick shirts!

Back to School! Joey and Luke went to Waialua High today to talk Ocean Safety with the students there! We hope to see some of them in yellow and red soon! 🌊

Mahalo to Russell Subiono at Hawaii Public Radio for an awesome profile of Water Safety Officer Luke Shepardson and the current state of Honolulu Ocean Safety.

Check it out here at https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2023-03-02/north-shore-lifeguard-luke-shepardson-ocean-safety-honolulu

And, be sure to tune in next Monday at honolulucitycouncil.org for a televised hearing on Ocean Safety’s budget for next year.

Monday means Back to SCHOOL! Mahalo Ewa Makai Middle School in Ewa Beach for having Ocean Safety at your career day! Hope to see some of your students join our team🌊🌊

Good luck to all competing tomorrow. We are excited but want EVERYONE to go home safely. And a special huge hug and go get um to our Ocean Safety lifeguards who we could also see competing tomorrow — Dave, Joey and Luke! And to our brother from HFD, Taio!

Honolulu Ocean Safety is looking for the next crew of Guards! Tryouts are coming up at the end of the month for positions that start at $23.17/hr … do you have what it takes?

https://emergencyservices.honolulu.gov/ocean-safety-lifeguard-services/join-the-ocean-safety-team/

Wishing you all a SAFE and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from your lifeguards! We will be here in 2023 to protect our beaches. 🎄 🎅 🤶

Ocean Safety welcomed seven new Rescue Jet Ski Operators to its ranks today. Congratulations, gentlemen, on this outstanding accomplishment!

It’s looking like a fun winter but please be safe. Stay informed. And it is best to stay away from the shoreline during high surf. 📸:

Last night, Ocean Safety rescued a father and son from just outside Kahana Bay after their 10-foot boat lost power. The crews made it from Ehukai Beach Park to Kahana Bay and located the duo within one hour of the 911 call. Lifeguards brought them to shore without injuries. The two were wearing life jackets.