Hawaiʻi County Parks and Recreation Seeks Summer Pool Lifeguard Applicants

The County of Hawai'i Department of Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for summer lifeguard positions at county pools." The department is recruiting temporary lifeguards to staff an expanded summer swim lesson program, with applicants required to commit to a May 21–Aug. 10 contract that includes evenings and weekends as needed.

Applicants must be 18 years old by the March 31 application deadline and hold current lifeguarding certification, and they must successfully complete a swimming and skills test. The county’s pool lifeguard classification (Pool Lifeguard - SR-13, job code 2024-00178) lists high school graduation and possession of an American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certificate among standard prerequisites, and notes that Shallow Water Lifeguarding and Aquatic Attraction Lifeguarding certifications do not qualify. The SR-13 posting also highlights the need for the ability to travel independently across the island and indicates both permanent and temporary positions may be filled under the classification.

Pay figures in public materials differ. A program announcement tied to the May 21–Aug. 10 summer contract states, "Pay for the temporary lifeguards, who are hired annually to support the expansion of swimming lesson programs during the summer, is $20 per hour." The County’s SR-13 job posting lists a $22.50 hourly rate, with monthly and annual equivalents of $3,900 and $46,800 respectively. Hawai‘i County’s summer announcement and the SR-13 classification overlap in many qualification details, but the materials do not explicitly resolve which rate applies to the summer-only hires. The county has been asked to confirm which rate applies to the advertised summer positions.

To apply, candidates must file applications online; the county’s job listing repeats the instruction, "APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE AT:" and provides an e-mail contact: jobs@hawaiicounty.gov. The summer pool lifeguard application and additional qualification details are available on the Hawai‘i County Parks and Rec Aquatics Section web page. The SR-13 posting includes metadata listing locations as island-wide and shows posting identifiers that may be useful for applicants tracking vacancies.

The recruitment impacts Big Island communities by bolstering lifeguard coverage and restoring capacity for learn-to-swim programming, a public-safety and youth-development priority for families and schools. Lifeguard staffing determines how many classes and what hours the county can offer, and uncertainty over pay and certification acceptance could affect the applicant pool at a time when seasonal hires are critical to program delivery.

What comes next for residents: eligible applicants should prepare documentation of high school graduation and current American Red Cross lifeguard certification, plan for the May 21–Aug. 10 commitment, and submit applications by March 31. Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation should clarify the hourly rate and the full list of acceptable certifications so candidates and program planners can finalize schedules and class offerings for the summer season.