Making Christmas safe: ‘Somebody has to do it’

When Kauaians share a warm meal and holiday cheer with family members in brightly lit homes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, some of their neighbors won’t have it so good.

Law enforcement police officers, firefighters, radio dispatchers, emergency room nurses and doctors, and paramedics will be working both days and nights to make the island safe.

They will be poised to respond to any emergencies that arise. They would rather spend Christmas with their families, but they can’t because of the call of duty.

“I knew what I was getting into when I got into the department,” said acting Kaua’i Fire Department captain Gordon Tamura, a 12-year veteran who heads of one of three search and rescue teams with the department. “Somebody has to man the station.

There are times when you have to come in and be away from your family.” Tamura and others will hold small parties, share yuletide cheer and exchange gifts at their workplaces.

Kaua’i Police dispatcher Brigitte Rivera said she doesn’t mind working on Christmas Day because “it is my job.” Nevertheless, she said, the day will be special partly because she will have on hand a special cookie that is a part of her family’s tradition — German Lebkuchen.

“It is a special cookie that comes from Nuremberg, Germany that is eaten during Christmas time,” said Rivera, who is of German ancestry.

During a lull in her eight-hour work day in a windowless room at Lihu’e Civic Center, Rivera said she and two other staffers expect to exchange gifts.

“Just because we have to work on Christmas Day doesn’t mean there won’t be a celebration of the Christmas spirit,” Rivera said. “We aren’t going to let it be.” Neither will Tamura and the three search and rescue team members, all of whom will be working Christmas Eve but will have Christmas Day off.

For starters, Tamura and seven firefighters from the Lihu’e fire station will tour the luxury cruise ship ms Patriot at Nawiliwili Harbor.

The visit will allow the firefighters to familiarize themselves with the ship and use that knowledge to fight fires if any ever break out on the vessel while it’s docked here, Tamura said.

And while aboard the ship today, they are expected to be feted.

In the past, resorts and restaurants have taken lunch and dinner to fire stations in Lihu’e, Po’ipu, Hanapepe and Hanalei. The hotels, which are likely to a repeat performance this year, wanted to show their appreciation for the service firefighters have provided in those communities throughout the year, Tamura said.

To further celebrate the season, firefighters’ families have banded together to throw parties at fire stations, although the firefighters were always ready to respond to emergencies at any given moment, Tamura said.

Working either Christmas Day or Christmas Eve doesn’t bother Tamura as long as he can take off one of those days to be home when his two young children, 4 and 2 years old, open their gifts.

“Nothing beats seeing the children happy,” he said.

Search and rescue worker Alan Lizama said he also doesn’t mind working Christmas Eve as long as he has the following day off to spend with his 10-year-old daughter and the rest of his family.

“Our family would really prefer to have” Christmas Day, Lizama said.

Clyde Weddell, a co-worker with Lizama and Tamura, said working on Christmas Day is “like working any other day,” but is different in one aspect: “We have a secret Santa Claus. We are going to exchange gifts.” At least 27 firefighters will man seven fire stations throughout the island tonight.

Christmas Eve or Christmas Day workshifts are “not a problem” to American Medical Response paramedic Glenn Hamberg, who has worked in his profession for 25 years.

“Somebody has to do it,” he noted.

But if there is time, Hamberg said, he will share the Christmas spirit with co-workers, firefighters and police officers.

Rivera has worked on Christmas Eve for the past seven years and relishes off this year. She, her husband and son, who will be flying in from Honolulu, will have a festive holiday dinner.

“We are going to roast a turkey, invite some friends for dinner and wine and share presents,” she said.

Working on Christmas Eve in the past made her sad, she said, because “I couldn’t be home. We didn’t have a chance go to midnight Mass. I enjoy going to the services. So we are going this year.” Rivera said the work schedule is never set up so that any of the 16 dispatchers can get both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.

When she returns to work Christmas Day, the public’s interest and not the fun she had Christmas Eve will be foremost on her mind, Rivera said.

“My hope is that everybody stays safe, that nobody gets too rowdy or drunk, so that they, too, can enjoy the holidays,” she said.

Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net