LIHUE — David Duncan did not skip a beat in the Junior Lifeguard class Friday despite attending the Kauai Fire Department promotions and pinning ceremony at the Moikeha Building.
“We can’t keep the 110 young people waiting,” Duncan said. “Today is the Jet Ski rides before we have a potluck luncheon to wrap up the week at Kalapaki Beach. The young lifeguards will get their certificates and shirts.”
Duncan, a 26-year veteran with the County of Kauai, was promoted to ocean safety officer III, being joined by Kaleo-okalani Joseph Kinimaka Lopez, who was promoted to ocean safety officer IV.
Those promotions are in the Ocean Safety Bureau, which operates under KFD.
Kaimalino Woo Andrade, a fire fighter since July 1, 2006, received his promotional badge to fire fighter II rescue from his wife Cherith.
Andrade, who will move to the rescue unit based in Lihue under the command of Capt. Gordon Tamura, was one of five KFD personnel receiving promotions.
John Paul Cornell, an 11-year KFD veteran, will relocate to the hazmat (hazardous materials) unit based at the Kaiakea Fire Station as a fire fighter II hazmat. Cornell also assists the department as the Community Emergency Response Team coordinator as well as the secretary for the KFD Relief Fund.
Derek Tsunehiro will be assigned to the 3rd battalion at the Kaiakea Fire Station, relocating from his former 2nd battalion at the Kapaa Fire Station. Tsunehiro has been assigned as the KFD CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) Committee and is assisting with the county’s 50-year Building Plan Committee.
Kaimalino Woo Andrade, of the Waimea Fire Station, battalion 1, will move to the Lihue rescue unit as a fire fighter II rescue.
Roger Wayne Mills is a fire fighter II hazmat at Kaiakea, and will move to the Kalaheo Fire Station, 2nd battalion, as a fire fighter III. Mills assists as a trainer instructor for peer fitness, fire ground operations, driver training, tactical ventilation, and burn trailer for the department.
Shawn Thompson will become a captain at the Hanalei Fire Station, 3rd battalion, after serving as a fire fighter III at the Kalaheo station. Thompson, a 20-year KFD veteran, serves as the department’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team leader.
