Ocean Safety experts, first responders, medical and healthcare professionals, public health practitioners, visitor industry officials and interested parties will gather in Honolulu during Hawaii Beach Safety Week, July 21-27, 2019.

 July 19, 2019 Gov. David Ige proclaims Hawai‘i Beach Safety Week

Each county’s Ocean Safety Division will highlight areas of concern during the week. Media outlets will be provided with imagery including photos and video along with a release on each of the following days:

Monday, July 22, Kauai: Unguarded Areas

Tuesday, July 23, Maui: Spinal Cord Injuries and Prevention Strategies

Wednesday, July 24, Hawaii Island: Guarded Beaches

Thursday, July 25, Oahu: Effects of Social Media on Ocean Safety

On Friday, July 26, 2019, “IMUA: MOVING FORWARD”, the State of Hawai‘i Ocean Safety and Drowning Prevention Conference will be held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, Room 325, from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm.  Sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu, the State Department of Health, and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, conference speakers will include climate change and meteorological experts from the University of Hawaii, (Dr. Chip Fletcher, Dr. Makena Coffman, and Dr. Alison Nugent), ocean safety expert Brian Keaulana and Keith Regan, Chief Administrative Officer with the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Retired City and County Ocean Safety Administrator Ralph Goto will give an update on the Snorkel Safety Study at 1:00 pm.

The annual conference is open to all interested parties.  Registration fee for the one-day conference is $50.00 More details and registration information are available at:

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On Saturday, July 27, 2019, the State Junior Lifeguard Championships will be held at Makaha Surfing Beach, hosted by the City and County of Honolulu and the North Shore Lifeguard Association.  Junior lifeguard participants from all islands will meet and compete in paddling, swimming, and running events to showcase skills learned and reinforced during the summer Junior Lifeguard programs conducted statewide.  2019 is the first year the championships will be conducted at Makaha Beach.  “We are all looking forward to competing at Makaha Beach because of its rich history in surfing and lifeguarding,” said Junior Lifeguard coordinator and North Shore lifeguard Bryan Phillips. Legendary lifeguard and surfing pioneer Buffalo Keaulana will serve as the Grand Marshall for the event.

For Details/Information:

Hawaii Beach Safety Week:   Shayne Enright   [email protected]                 (808) 741-4797
Ocean Safety Conference:      Ralph Goto.        [email protected]                 (808) 479-1610
Junior Lifeguards:                   Bryan Phillips    [email protected]       (808) 375-7501