Crafting Lifeguards for Molokai’s Future

The Junior Lifeguard Program kids did a beach cleanup in Kaunakakai. Photo by Harold Teshima

By Léo Azambuja
A keiki water-safety program spanning more than a quarter century has inspired countless children to become lifeguards and firefighters throughout the state of Hawaii. About 30 Molokai children completed the annual week-long Junior Lifeguard program at different locations on the island last week.
“It’s the parents and the kids that make the program. That’s the main point and why we do this: to teach these kids how to keep their community safe,” said Harold Teshima, Maui County Ocean Safety administrative lieutenant.
Teshima, along with Maui County lifeguard Josh Edlao and Molokai Parks and Recreation lifeguards Kaleo Crivello and Kui Han, spent an entire week teaching the children ocean safety awareness and lifesaving skills, while preparing them for the Junior Lifeguard State Championships, which will be held at Ka‘anapali Beach on Maui Aug. 9.
“The Junior Lifeguard program is known as the most impactful youth program that we have in our state,” Teshima said, adding that in Maui County alone, the program services about 300 children every year.
The Molokai program was designed to accommodate up to 24 children from 8-to-17 years old. But the demand was higher, and the team got some extra volunteer help, so they took 30 children.
On Monday, the first day, the children started with an introduction to swimming, followed by pool games at Cooke Memorial Pool in Kaunakakai. Then they learned how to respond to drownings, to perform hands-only CPR, basic first-aid, and how to call for help.
“We went over bleeding control, how to stop bleeding; major bleeds and minor bleeds. We went over sling and swath for dislocated shoulders, and then all the steps that you would take if you were to encounter an emergency; from identifying the hazard, identifying the emergency and calling 911, making sure that the most important step is that they’re actually calling 911 early,” Teshima said.
On Tuesday, the second day, the kids learned rescue practices, including using a rescue paddleboard, at Kaunakakai Wharf. Teshima said one of the “regulars” at the wharf, “uncle” Sanoa, saw the kids practice rescues and donated $100 for the kids to have ice cream afterwards.
“Wednesday, we kick it up,” said Teshima, adding they took the kids to Papohaku Beach, an uncontrolled environment. “You’re dealing with wind, shore break, sand, open water, reef.”
There, the kids learned how to identify beach hazards, how to pick spots to enter and exit the water, to identify rip currents and marine life, and to use all their senses to recognize potential hazards. The kids also practiced running on the sand, swimming in the ocean, and played beach games in preparation for the upcoming Junior Lifeguard State Championships.
On Thursday, the kids returned to Papohaku Beach for more swimming and running, beach games, first-aid and rescue training. But they pushed a little harder than the previous day.
“We did an Iron Guard event. So, we did a 100-yard run into a 100-yard swim, and then directly into a 100-yard paddle, back-to-back,” Teshima said. “Each kid did the run, swim, paddle.”
On Friday, their final day, the kids met at the Canoe Shack in Kaunakakai and did a beach cleanup in the area. When they were done, they met with firefighters, police officers and paramedics. They got to see fire trucks, police cars and ambulance, and were taken on slow rides on rescue sled in the back of jet skis.
The program concluded with the kids doing a presentation for the first responders on what they learned the whole week.
Crivello, who grew up on Molokai, used to be a lifeguard for the City and County of Honolulu, and worked on Oahu’s North Shore, Westside, Eastside and South Shore. He said the program started on Oahu in 1999, and in only a couple years it expanded to include all islands. But the program’s beginnings can be traced back to the preventative drowning “Learn to Swim” program by the American Red Cross, Crivello said.
Each island’s program is ran by their local nonprofit lifeguard association. Crivello said he recently found out that even Tahiti has a junior lifeguard program now.
“Being that we’re surrounded by ocean, it is only appropriate to teach children to learn how to swim. And then it evolved to the Junior Lifeguard program,” Crivello said.
Teshima said besides teaching ocean safety, life-saving and emergency skills, the Junior Lifeguard program also gives kids an idea of what to do if they want to become a lifeguard, firefighter or police office.
In that sense, it’s also a career development program. Teshima said most Maui lifeguards and firefighters, and even some police officers and paramedics went through the Junior Lifeguard program.
“So it’s more than just a summer program. It really shapes a lot of kids’ futures and guides them in the direction of public service,” Teshima said.
There are many who made the program possible on Molokai. Teshima said Crivello is “the guy that pretty much makes it all happen,” by offering a lot of the logistical support. “Without Kaleo Crivello, this wouldn’t be possible,” he said.
But many others, Teshima said, are also essential, such as Mahie McPherson and Amy Maka‘iwi at Maui Economic Opportunity, AMR paramedics Noa Miyamo and Tabita Pupuhi, Maui Police and Fire departments, Maui Ocean Safety Bureau, Molokai Parks and Recreation, and parents and community members.