By Staff Reports
(LĪHU’E) – The County of Kaua‘i, the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association, the Hawai‘i Lifeguard Association, and the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau are sponsoring this year’s annual Statewide Ocean Safety and Drowning Prevention Conference to be held on July 31 and August 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort at Kalapakī Beach.
‘The economic benefits of ocean safety’ is the theme of this year’s conference. Robert Burnside will be the keynote speaker. Burnside is retired chief of the L.A. county lifeguards, and one of the forefathers of modern lifeguarding. He is scheduled to speak on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Each lifeguarding agency from across the state will be giving island reports on ocean safety related issues and information. The conference will also feature speakers from the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association, the Kapa‘a Rotary Club, the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, the City and County of Honolulu, and more.
Attendees will be educated about the many ways they can assist in promoting ocean safety within their business.
All members of the public are welcome to attend, but those who work in the lifesaving or visitor industry – such as hotel, airlines, cruise ships, car or ocean equipment rentals – are encouraged to register.
Registration for the two-day conference is $150 and includes continental breakfast and lunch on both days. Registrants can choose to participate on one of the two days for $75. To register, call the Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-4984 or email oceansafety@kauai.gov.
The annual Statewide Ocean Safety and Drowning Prevention conference is held on Kaua‘i once every four years, as the conference location rotates between each county.
For more information, or to request special assistance or an auxiliary aid, please call the Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-4984 or 241-4168.
