RECOGNIZING OPEN WATER LIFEGUARDS AS FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

HCR46

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

46

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

recognizing open water lifeguard as first responders in
the state of hawaii
.

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards perform an essential public safety function by protecting
countless lives from death or serious injury among residents and visitors
throughout the State; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards are professionals designated as Ocean Safety Officers in the
counties of Kaua
ʻ
i
and Maui, and as Water Safety Officers in the
City and County of Honolulu and
Hawai
ʻ
i County,
reflecting their specialized training, responsibilities, and scope of duty
;
and

����
WHEREAS, in
the performance of their duties, open water lifeguards routinely place
themselves at significant risk to their own lives and physical safety in
dynamic and hazardous ocean and shoreline environments; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards are frequently among the first personnel to respond to
emergencies on the State's beaches or in state waters and operate alongside
police officers and firefighters to protect life, secure scenes, and preserve
public safety until additional responders arrive; and

����
WHEREAS, the
duties of open water lifeguards extend beyond ocean rescues and include
responding to emergencies such as cardiac arrests, traumatic injuries, and
motor vehicle collisions that occur on or near beaches, parks, and public
roadways; and

����
WHEREAS, many
open water lifeguards are cross-trained in emergency medical response, marine
fire safety, law enforcement support, and water rescue craft operations; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards undergo rigorous and continuous training, including
high-performance cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external
defibrillator use, advanced rescue techniques, and emergency scene management;
and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards respond to emergencies by attending to, treating, assisting,
and transporting victims, which collectively constitute the four defined duties
of an emergency response employee; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards not only protect human life but also safeguard property,
preserve evidence, and protect the environment, which together represent the
four core tenets commonly used to define a first responder; and

����
WHEREAS, the
term "first responder" is commonly defined as an individual
with specialized training who is among the first to arrive at and provide
assistance at the scene of an emergency; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards differ fundamentally from pool lifeguards due to the
unpredictable and hazardous environments in which they operate and the wide
range of emergency situations and locations to which they respond; and

����
WHEREAS, many
other countries formally recognize lifeguards as emergency responders and grant
them access to programs, protections, and resources afforded to first
responders; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that this body
recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders in the State of Hawaii;
and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that this body acknowledges the essential role open water lifeguards
play in emergency response, public safety, and community wellbeing throughout
the State of Hawaii; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that this body urges all relevant state and county agencies,
departments, and governing bodies to adopt this recognition and ensure that
open water lifeguards are afforded the rights, resources, training support, and
professional respect accorded to first responders; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that this body encourages continued collaboration among public safety
agencies to strengthen emergency response capabilities and enhance safety
across the State's ocean, shoreline, and public environments; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Mayors of the Counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii and the City and County of
Honolulu; Chief of the Ocean Safety Division of the Department of Fire and
Public Safety of the County of Maui; Chief of the Ocean Safety Bureau of the
Kauai Fire Department; Chief of the Ocean Safety Department of the
City and
County of Honolulu; Chief of the Ocean Safety Bureau of the Hawai
ʻ
i Fire
Department; Fire Chief of the Hawai
ʻ
i Fire Department; Fire Chief of the
Kauai Fire Department; Fire Chief of the Fire and Public Safety Department of
the County of Maui; and Fire Chief of the Honolulu Fire Department
.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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Open
Water Lifeguards; First Responders