HANALEI — At 60 registered youth, the Hanalei Junior Lifeguard program was the biggest yet, said Bruce Stine, one of the program’s instructors, Monday. Adding to the large group, 17 Junior Lifeguards from Australia and six of its program leaders
HANALEI — At 60 registered youth, the Hanalei Junior Lifeguard program was the biggest yet, said Bruce Stine, one of the program’s instructors, Monday.
Adding to the large group, 17 Junior Lifeguards from Australia and six of its program leaders brought the number to about 80 people working through the various skills at the Hanalei Pavilion.
“This is really good,” said Barbara Smith of Namolokama Canoe Club, who was recruiting people for the July 28 Open Water Swim. “We need to have more people learn to swim and be aware of water safety.”
Melissa Millsteed, one of the Australian leaders, said she told Randy Ortiz, one of the Kaua‘i instructors, she was returning with the Aussies after her son was invited to participate in the program.
“The biggest difference between your program and ours is yours runs just a week while ours is an entire season from October through April,” Millsteed said. “During that time we have four carnivals, state titles and the national competition, which is one of the biggest sports events around with about 10,000 competitors.”
Millsteed, who has been involved in the Australian program since she was a competitor at age 13, said this year, Rescue 2012 is in her hometown of Adelaide, South Australia.
The Australians experienced their first competitive encounter with the Kaua‘i youth Monday, the start of the week-long Hanalei session.
“We got here on July Fourth and were able to experience the fireworks before getting to Camp Nau‘e where we’re staying,” Millsteed said. “What a wonderful welcome.”
Billed as the Hawai‘i Youth Development Tour, the Australians are scheduled to work with the Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguards today before leaving for O‘ahu.
There is just one more site remaining on the 2012 Junior Lifeguard calendar, the Kalapaki Beach program, which runs from July 16 through 20 and will coincide with the county’s inaugural Keiki Junior Lifeguard Program, which is sold out.
The island competition is scheduled for July 21 at Kalapaki Beach.
The Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguard Program is free and open to young people ages 13 through 17. Working from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a week, the program engages youth in ocean safety and lifesaving skills, touching on drug awareness, physical conditioning and competition skills.
The instructors include Ortiz, Ka‘imi Kaneholani, Eugene Ancheta, Kainoa Lum, Stine and Chatson Barrett.
Program sponsors include the County of Kaua‘i, Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association and numerous community businesses and individuals.
Call the Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-4984, or 2412-4168 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
