Okinawan Lifeguards Complete Kaua‘i Exchange, Receive Certificates at Moʻikeha Rotunda

Nine lifeguards from Okinawa, Japan were presented certificates at a Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau ceremony at the Moʻikeha Rotunda in Līhu‘e on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, marking the conclusion of a weeklong Lifeguard Exchange Program that included a 1,000‑meter run and swim drill at Kalapaki Beach. The Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau hosted the certificate presentation in partnership with the Okinawan Lifesaving Association, and Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami attended to congratulate the visiting team.

Mayor Kawakami addressed the crowd with remarks emphasizing mutual benefit and community ties, saying, “The exchange of lifesaving knowledge and culture strengthens our ability to protect everyone enjoying Kauaʻi’s waters.” He added, “Programs like this build international friendships and make our ocean safety efforts even more effective.” Representative Director Taishi Otono assisted with translation while the mayor spoke.

Training during the exchange exposed participants to Kaua‘i’s range of marine hazards and access challenges. Exercises included simulated hazardous-water rescues at Kipu Kai Cave and Port Allen Harbor, coastal patrol and south-shore rescues from Poʻipū and Nukumoi Towers, rip current rescue technique practice at Kealia, Lydgate and Anahola with ATV operations for access, and cave and watercraft rescue drills along the Nā Pali coast. The week culminated with a combined calm-and-dangerous-water drill and a 1,000‑meter run/swim at Kalapaki Beach.

Local agencies joined Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau personnel in training and ceremony activities. Kaua‘i Fire Department crews and State of Hawai‘i Airport Rescue Fire Fighters appeared in the group photo at Moʻikeha, and Kaua‘i Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson framed the exchange as a public-safety collaboration: “This program highlights the importance of collaboration between departments and international partners,” and “Every life we save benefits from these shared skills and experiences.” OSB Chief Kalani Vierra described the practical value of the visit, saying, “Hosting these lifeguards allows our staff to learn new techniques while sharing Kauai’s unique ocean conditions and culture.”

Bruce “Hoppo” Hopkins led a rip-current demonstration clinic during the week; Hopkins is identified by event organizers as a widely regarded water-safety authority from Australia. The training’s mix of hazardous surf, remote-site scenarios and ATV-supported responses aimed to expand capacity for rescues across varied shorelines from the populated south shore to remote east- and north-coast sites.

Accounts of the exact training window vary across reports, with some descriptions placing on-water sessions between Feb. 16–20 and others listing Feb. 17–21; the certificate ceremony, however, was held Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Organizers and participating chiefs framed the exchange as an opportunity to strengthen on-the-ground skills and international ties that directly affect community safety, especially in remote areas where ATV access and cave or watercraft rescues can be life-saving.

Kaua‘i officials said the hands-on techniques practiced during this exchange will inform future patrols and joint drills, reinforcing operational readiness for hazardous surf conditions at Kipu Kai Cave, Port Allen Harbor, Poʻipū and other shorelines where residents and visitors alike depend on timely lifesaving response.