LIHUE — The Kauai Lifeguard Association received help in launching its 5th Wave Celebration when Shannon Maxwell, the Enterprise Kauai district manager, and account executive Samira Siale dropped off a check for $2,500 Friday at the offices of the Kauai Fire Department.
“This is something Enterprise Rent-A-Car has been doing for several years,” Maxwell said. “The tradition started with a manager prior to myself. I think it is a worthwhile effort because we have associates whose family and friends have encountered situations where the lifeguards and the KLA have been instrumental in resolving the issues successfully.”
Funds will be earmarked for the KLA’s 5th Wave Celebration which takes place July 27 at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club when doors open from 5 p.m. The event will feature a buffet dinner, concert, a salute to Kauai’s lifeguards, and more. Proceeds from the event go towards supporting lifesaving programs in efforts to prevent drownings and protect Kauai’s lifeguards with appropriate equipment.
The celebration is part of a weekend of activities along Kalapaki Beach July 26-28 that includes the annual Statewide Ocean Safety and Drowning Prevention Conference, the Statewide Junior Lifeguard State Championships, and the 5th Wave Celebration.
Samira said the Enterprise Rent-A-Car represents one of the sponsorship packages available for the 5th Wave that include the sponsorship of a lifeguard tower — the tower located at MacArthur Park in Kekaha.
“The Kauai Lifeguard Association is truly appreciative of the support demonstrated by Enterprise Rent-A-Car for the programs supporting our life guards,” said Dr. Monty Downs, the KLA president.
During the 10 months of 2017, Kauai’s water safety officers have been involved in 248 life-saving rescues, 123,260 preventative actions, more than 5,600 first-aid activities, and 186,000 contacts at the 10 lifeguard towers spread along Kauai’s shorelines, according to the KLA website.
Additionally, the success of the Roving Patrol units account for 44 additional rescues, more than 12,000 preventative actions and 23,000 public contacts.
During that 10-month period in 2017, Kauai suffered seven drownings in 2017.
KLA estimates nearly 2,300,000 people visited Kauai’s beaches in 2017.
