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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR112917KFDholdsspecialceremonyBERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.WALLACE G. REZENTES JR. Mayor Managing Director COUNTY OF KAUA'I KAUA`I FIRE DEPARTMENT News Release For Immediate Release: November 29, 2017 ROBERT WESTERMAN, CHIEF Tel (808) 241-4980 Fax (808) 241-6508 Kauai Fire Department holds special ceremony LIHU'E — The Kauai Fire Department held a special ceremony Tuesday to promote six firefighters and welcome five new firefighters at the LThu`e Civic Center's Mo`ikeha courtyard. "This is an end of an era for the Kauai Fire Department, as by the end of the year the department will lose many of its senior personnel," said Deputy Fire Chief Kilipaki Vaughan at Tuesday's ceremony. Included in the department's list of retirees are Battalion Chiefs Albert Kaui and Shawn Hosaka, both of whom will retire on Nov. 30 after over 30 years of service. "Of course with endings come new beginnings," said Vaughan. "And we acknowledge many new beginnings today," said Fire Chief Robert Westerman. "We honor and celebrate these 11 individuals for their hard work, dedication, and perseverance through the many challenges they faced to get here." "Today is extra special because we get to witness a succession take place," said Managing Director Wallace Rezentes Jr., who represented Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. at the ceremony. "We celebrate both our experienced and new firefighters take a step forward at difference points in their careers, and we thank them and their families for their incredible sacrifice, courage and commitment to be a first responder." The following individuals received promotional pins at Tuesday's ceremony: Dean Lake, Timothy Stokesbary, Ehren Edwards, Justin Kinoshita, Kaleo Saiki and Elijah Frank. Dean Lake was promoted to Assistant Chief of Fire Operations. Lake has served in KFD for 22 years and prior to his promotion he worked as Fire Captain at the Kapa'a fire station. He has been involved with KFD's grant program and has helped the department acquire equipment and training. He thanks his 'ohana including his wife Peggy, daughter Megan, and parents Mickey and Bonnie Lake. Timothy Stokesbary was promoted to Fire Captain. Stokesbary has served in KFD for 22 years, with his latest assignment as Firefighter III at the Koloa fire station. He has served as a United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) Instructor and a Helicopter Egress Instructor. He thanks his wife Phoebe, `ohana and friends for their support. Stokesbary is now assigned to the Hanapepe fire station. Ehren Edwards was promoted to Fire Captain. Edwards has served in KFD for 18 years and previously served as Firefighter III at the LThu`e fire station. He has served as an instructor for trainings on Initial Fire Attack, Burn Trailer, Vehicle Extrication, and Swift Water Rescue. He thanks his children Waileia, Nahe, Liko, and Kala, his parents, and his wife Leah. Edwards is now assigned to the Hanapepe fire station. Justin Kinoshita was promoted to Firefighter III, Fire Service Trainer. Kinoshita has served in KFD for 11 years, with his previous assignment as Firefighter II, Rescue Specialist. His contributions to KFD include working on the procurement of Firefighter Turnout Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as well as serving in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program. He thanks his girlfriend Ki`inani and children Kaiea and Madison. Kinoshita is now assigned to the KFD Training Bureau. Kaleo Saiki was promoted to Firefighter III, Fire Inspector. Saiki has served in KFD for 10 years, with his previous assignment at the LThu`e fire station. He has served as Driver Trainer, Peer Fitness Instructor, Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Technician, Fire Ground Survival Instructor, Fall Prevention Inspector, and Prevention Fire Safety Trailer Instructor. He thanks his `ohana, girlfriend Lianne Manuel, sons Keahi and Ka`olu, and daughter Kanoe. Saiki is now assigned to the KFD Prevention Bureau. Elijah Frank was promoted to Firefighter 11, Rescue Specialist. Frank has served in KFD for 8 years, with his most recent assignment as Firefighter I at the Hanalei fire station. He has also assisted in the CERT Program as an instructor for the past three years. Frank thanks his wife Kaleolani, children Keale, Po`iwena and Ha`ehunalu, and his parents Debbie Lynn and Bernard Frank. He is now assigned to Rescue at the Lihu`e fire station. Tyler Costa, Chandler Forrest, Justin Kanoho, Johnathan Martin, and Avelino Ruvalcaba comprise the 27' Recruit Class for the Kauai Fire Department. Tyler Costa was born in Lihu`e and currently lives in Kapa`a. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus, and earned an Associate Degree in Fire and Environment Emergency Response. He thanks his parents Ian and Wanda Costa, his family and friends for their support. Costa will be assigned to the Waimea fire station. Chandler "Atta" Forrest was born and raised on Kauai. He is a graduate of Kapa`a High School and currently resides in Kilauea. He thanks his wife LaRisa, daughter Kiyomi, family and friends for supporting him in pursuing his dream to serve the Kauai community. He will be assigned to the Kalaheo fire station. Justin Kanoho was born in Lihu`e and currently lives in Kapa`a. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus and received a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice from Southern Oregon University. He thanks his family, friends and especially his parents Susan and Solomon, and grandparents Ezra and Pauline, for their continued love, support and guidance. Kanoho will be assigned to the Waimea fire station. Johnathan Martin was born on Kauai and currently lives in Kilauea. He is a graduate of Kapa`a High School and thanks his family and friends for their love and support during the recruit training. Martin will be assigned to the Kalaheo fire station. Avelino Ruvalcaba was born in northern California and now resides in Kapa`a. He graduated from Galt High School, and served five years in the U.S. Army with one 13-month tour of duty in Iraq. He thanks his wife Brooke, son Donovan and daughters Addison and Aveilana for their sacrifice and support. Ruvalcaba will be assigned to the Kalaheo fire station. All honorees were joined by their family and friends for the ceremonial pinning of badges. From left to right: Fire Chief Robert Westerman, Assistant Chief Dean Lake, Firefighter II Elijah Frank, Firefighter Johnathan Martin, Firefighter Justin Kanoho, Firefighter Chandler Forrest, Firefighter III Justin Kinoshita, Firefighter Tyler Costa, Firefighter Avelino Ruvalcaba, Fire Captain Timothy Stokesbary, Fire Captain Ehren Edwards, Firefighter III Kaleo Saiki, and Deputy Fire Chief Kilipaki Vaughan. KFD held a special pinning -on ceremony on Tuesday to promote six firefighters at the Lihu`e Civic Center's Mo`ikeha courtyard. KFD's 27th recruit class was honored on Tuesday at a graduation ceremony held at the L-1iu`e Civic Center's Mo`ikeha courtyard. After over 30 years of service, Battalion Chiefs Albert Kaui and Shawn Hosaka will retire on Nov. 30.