2011 Hawaii Junior Lifeguard State Championships

The Big Island of Hawaii hosted this year’s Hawaii Junior Lifeguard State Championships on July 29th at Hapuna Beach, HI. Approximately 200 teens ages 13 to 17, competed in rigorous athletic events designed to showcase the skills they learned from summer training. The competition included a 1,000 meter run, 200 meter swim, 100 meter run-swim-run, beach flags and six person paddleboard relay. The girls and boys competed in two age groups, 13-14 and 15-17. The Junior Lifeguard Program not only teaches teens water safety, first aid and surf rescue but also gives them lifelong skills in exercise, maintaining a healthy body and increases their self-confidence. The Kauai Junior Lifeguard team defended their state championship by earning their eighth straight title with 149 points, followed by the Big Island with 104 points, Maui with 75 points and Oahu with 48 points. Before the awards ceremony, youth from the Big Island performed hula and dance in the true spirit of Big Island Aloha. OluKai is the official footwear of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association. Each year OluKai outfits all 450 Hawaiian lifeguards in the Kia’i sandal and the Kia’i Trainer, specially designed to handle the guards’ rigorous all-island fitness training demands. Part of the proceeds from every Kia'i sandal and Kia’i Trainer goes directly to the Hawaiian Junior Lifeguard Program. This donation is part of OluKai’s ‘Ohana Giveback Program where the company contributes time, money and resources to support cultural and environmental preservation efforts in Hawaii and beyond. 2011 marks the third year that OluKai has supported the Hawaiian Junior Lifeguard Program. This past May 14th at the Third Annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a on Maui, OluKai presented the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association with a monitary donation of $16,000 to support Junior Lifeguard Programs on the island of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii. To learn about the Hawaii Junior Lifeguard Program please visit www.myjuniorguards.com