12-03-2025
Honolulu's new Ocean Safety Department plans to bring major upgrades to lifeguard services
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Big changes are coming to Oahu's beaches, which were unveiled at City Budget hearings on March 11. Honolulu's brand new Ocean Safety Department shared their plans for faster response times and better resources for lifeguards across the island.
For the first time, Honolulu's lifeguards will be operating under their own department, separate from Emergency Services.
Lifeguards train for evolving life-saving techniques
With 227 miles of coastline and thousands of rescues a year, department leadership says the funding is critical.
OSD presented a budget of $27.9 million dollars, much of it going towards personnel and equipment.
Among the biggest investments – two new lifeguard substations in Kailua and Waianae.
The Kailua facility is expected to be completed this summer. Kailua Neighborhood Board Chair, Bill Hicks, says the facility will make a difference.'We're pleased by the progress being made by this new department and and appreciate it because it is so critical to the safety and well being of Kailuans and visitors alike,' Hicks said.
A new million dollar Waianae facility is expected to be built behind the Waianae fire station.
'Due to restrictions for coastal erosion set back and flood zones, we're going to have to build on the same property, but it's going to have to move further inland so it will be a brand new property,' said Kurt Lager, Department of Ocean Safety acting director.
OSD also plans to purchase six new solar powered lifeguard towers, mostly to replace aging towers, but is also considering adding a tower on Oahu's North Shore.
And the department plans to spend more than $288,000 to upgrade a dozen jet skis.
'Part of our reorg is to have a rescue unit, and similar to how fire rescue works, I would like to have some rescue jet ski units that would service the hours outside of our normal operating hours, which is 8 in the morning to 6:30pm. So we can truly cover dawn to dusk,' Lager said. The city council has until June 15th to approve a new budget for the next fiscal year.
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