LIHU‘E — Sea Scout Commodore Larry Richardson said he knows a sure-fire way to ensure the USS Decisive, the Sea Scouts of Kaua‘i vessel, leaves early on Friday. “We need to depart early before the surf rises,” Richardson said. “And
LIHU‘E — Sea Scout Commodore Larry Richardson said he knows a sure-fire way to ensure the USS Decisive, the Sea Scouts of Kaua‘i vessel, leaves early on Friday.
“We need to depart early before the surf rises,” Richardson said. “And the way to make sure the Sea Scouts are on board is to have a sleep-over Thursday night.”
The Friday trip is the annual summer cruise for the Kaua‘i Sea Scouts, during which they spend a week aboard the Decisive, cruising around Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
“We have 10 bunks on board and the kids will be living on board,” Richardson said. “It’s the ultimate adventure.”
This year, the week-long voyage got help from Sears at the Kukui Grove Center when David Hosking, the Sears appliance manager, coordinated a contribution from Jason Ehrenberg, the Sears store manager, and the store for more than $1,400 in equipment and supplies needed by the Sea Scouts for its Kaua‘i program.
“They needed some help,” Hosking said. “The most expensive part of the trip is the fuel costs, but outside of that, they could use some help with equipment and other materials which Sears was happy to help with.”
Ehrenberg, who grew up in boxing and wrestling circles, was thrilled to make the acquaintance of Kaua‘i Police Department Officer Mark Ozaki of the Kaua‘i Police Activities League, sponsor of not only the Sea Scouts, but of various community wrestling and boxing activities as well.
“Chris Alcos, one of our K-PAL boxers, is on the Mainland right now,” Ozaki said.
“He is fighting a match there, and after this match, has another one two weeks from now. Recently, he was named No. 9 in the nation for his division.”
The character development of youth involved in the K-PAL and Sea Scouting programs impressed the Sears leadership.
Rhys Heeley-Ray and Chase Benjamin have been on the Sea Scouting roster for just six months and are looking forward to the week at sea.
Taryn Mann, a senior at Kapa‘a High School, on the other hand, has been a Sea Scout for three years.
“The most exciting part of Sea Scouting is learning about leadership and all the new things about boats and engines,” Mann said. “I met this girls in cross country who was a Sea Scout and when I found out they work closely with the United States Coast Guard, I got excited.”
Mann, who has aspirations of a career with the USCG, said when she attended the first few meetings and found out how closely the Sea Scouts work with the Coast Guard, she was hooked.
During the presentation, Eve Heeley-Ray, just 12, was with her older brother, noting she was going to become a Sea Scout when she makes 13. “She’s already done a lot of work for the Sea Scouts,” Richardson said. “She’s wired up the fan and the engines at the Decisive.”
Elijah Martiney, whose older brother Tanner, a Boy Scout Eagle Scout and alumnus of Kaua‘i High School where he played on the Red Raider team, has dual hats — one as a Sea Scout and the other as a Venture Scout.
“He went with us when we participated in the California event aboard an aircraft carrier,” Richardson said.
Leading to the presentation, the Sea Scouts were invited by Sears to set up its Sea Fox boat and help distribute fliers about the Sears’ Family and Friends sales promotion as well as answer questions from shoppers about the Sea Scouting program.
Ginny Agena, the winner of the 40-inch HDTV giveaway from the Sunday event, was greeted enthusiastically by the Sea Scouts who helped her carry the prize to her car, wrapping up a weekend where the Sea Scouts learned the value of community support.
Richardson said the Sea Scouting program started in June 2009 with the acquisition of the Decisive and the program has come a long way in its three years.
