Island Voices
Lifeguard heroes should be better paid

By Glenn Wachtel
O'ahu resident

Hawai‘i’s beautiful beaches have as many unassuming dangers as they do charms.

Aside from lava rock and tropical reef, powerful currents, undertows, changing wind and tide patterns and other unpredictable conditions, the fact that more than half of those who dive into O‘ahu’s waters aren’t good swimmers or can barely swim makes the job of our lifeguards nothing short of heroic.

Here in our tourist state, our lifeguards are our "ambassadors of aloha." They are approached and asked a myriad of questions, and their knowledge of our city’s geography, history and hospitality often leave indelible impressions on the tourists.

Over the years, I have observed many of Honolulu’s lifeguards in different situations: looking out for people, preventing accidents and disasters, saving lives, and also spreading aloha. The vast majority are outstanding lifeguards and role models, and I think that goes hand in hand with the type of person who is willing and able to do this job. Ask anyone who has traveled to beaches anywhere else in the world — our lifeguards are the best.

Unfortunately, they are not valued for being the best.

"Baywatch Hawai‘i" may glamorize the profession; however, most of Hawai‘i’s lifeguards work hard and are just getting by. Hawai‘i’s lifeguards are paid less than half of what lifeguards in California make. And Hawai‘i is not seasonal.

Moreover, I don’t imagine there are many lifeguards in the United States or in the world who are qualified to handle the 20-foot surf and extreme ocean conditions like our North Shore lifeguards. However, they are not paid any extra.

Even if the cost of living here did not exceed the national average, lifeguards are still paid at the bottom.æStatistics show inflation has risen less than 3 percent annually, and though other states like California, New Jersey and Florida have all kept up, Hawai‘i’s lifeguards have not. It is embarrassing that our lifeguards are not leading the nation in income considering what they accomplish for the state.

I wonder why we don’t even sponsor our lifeguards when they compete in national lifeguard competitions, races or triathlons — though our men and women always place in the top 10 and make us proud.

It’s time for our heroes in Hawai‘i to be recognized and compensated for what they do for the state.

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