Kaua'i lifeguard spat heats up
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i Fire Department, which took over the county lifeguard program 18 months ago, has placed both its senior supervisory lifeguards on leave.
Jan TenBruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser
Fire Chief David Sproat said the suspensions were made so the department could conduct an internal investigation of the lifeguard program.
Kaleo Hookano is a supervisor placed on forced leave.
Lifeguard supervisors Kaleo Hookano and Myles Emura argue it is a power grab to gain total control of the water-safety office.
"There's nothing wrong that we've done," Hookano said.
Honolulu ocean safety administrator Ralph Goto, who is the Pacific Island Region certification officer for the U.S. Lifesaving Association, said he believes that the lifeguards and firefighters are struggling with the change in management of the lifeguard program.
He does not believe beachgoers' safety has been compromised.
"All those guys are really good if you look at it from the standpoint of what they can do in the water. It's an issue of change of command," he said.
The county water-safety program was transferred in 2000 from the county Division of Parks and Recreation to the Fire Department. As water-safety responsibilities expanded from county swimming pools to public beach parks and lifeguards assumed more of a public-safety function, county officials decided the Fire Department was a better match.
Jan TenBruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser
As an indication of how the lifeguards are chafing under their new leadership, 17 of 20 county lifeguards signed petitions late last year to Sproat and Battalion Chief Bob Kaden, who has been overseeing the lifeguard program.
Myles Emura is on paid leave while the petition is being investigated.
The two petitions, dated Dec. 28, said the 17 did not want Kaden involved in overseeing water safety and did not want firefighters training lifeguards. Kaden, one of the department's most senior officials and also a member of the Kaua'i Planning Commission, lacked the time to properly oversee the water safety program, Hookano said.
Sproat responded to the petitions by placing Hookano and Emura on 30 days leave Jan. 2. Both were informed by letter that "the department will conduct an investigation looking into the facts surrounding the circulation of two petitions ... " Hookano's letter said his investigation would also include "issues involving insubordination."
Emura is on paid leave; Hookano unpaid.
"The chief told me he was bringing in a new team. He said it was just not working out," Hookano said.
Emura said the Fire Department is a good home for lifeguards, but that the functions of lifeguards and firefighters are different. He and Hookano both said they believe professional lifeguards and not firefighters should manage the water-safety program.
The men said the Fire Department has not kept lifeguard certifications up to date. Sproat said his information is that most certifications are valid, and that any lapses were the responsibility of the lifeguard supervisors.
