KAILUA-KONA — For years, the cautioning voices of water safety officers in the lifeguard tower at Laaloa Beach Park were drowned out by ocean, beachgoers and traffic on Alii Drive.
“Ninety percent of the people in the water couldn’t hear our announcement,” said Hawaii Fire Department’s Ocean Safety Division Capt. Chris Stelfox while standing on the beach, also known as Magic Sands, on Monday.
That changed about eight months ago when the Ocean Safety Division was able to install a public address (PA) system thanks to a donation from the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka through the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation. On Monday, members of the club, foundation and fire department gathered at the popular Kailua-Kona beach park to celebrate the installation.
The system carried a price tag of $6,000-$7,000.
“It’s a little pricey, but you can’t put a price on people’s lives,” said Battalion Chief Gerald Kosaki.
Fire Chief Darren Rosario said the PA system keeps beachgoers informed as water safety officers announce surf changes, dangerous surf breaks and just generally keeping them informed.
“It’s been needed for many years,” Rosario said. “Anytime you can project your message out clearly is a good thing.”
Water Safety Officer Ricky Alvarez said water safety officers would have to talk over more than just the beachgoers. They were also competing with wind, waves and traffic on Alii Drive.
Not anymore.
“The sound is so crisp, so clear that it cuts right through everyone’s conversations,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said there have been less rescues since the installation of the PA system. He added it allows officers to take preventative measures.
“We’re more tactful about situations,” he said.
Alvarez said they even use the system to communicate with nearby boaters, warning them of swimmers.
Three years ago, the Rotary Club decided to set aside $20,000 for a community project they would make for their 50th anniversary.
The three years past and the club decided to spend some of that money on a PA system for Magic Sands.
Don Taylor, president of the club’s nonprofit foundation, said they looked at a lot of things they could put their money toward. When the idea of funding a PA system for the Magic Sands lifeguard tower was pitched, he knew it would be a worthwhile donation.
“I knew from being here every week the sound was so bad,” Taylor said.
Laura Mallery-Sayre, co-founder of the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, said her organization made a presentation to the Rotary Club about the needs of the fire department.
“It’s a joy,” Mallery-Sayre said. “Our goal is to help save lies. We’re going to work hand-in-hand with the community.”
This is the third beach park with lifeguards to be outfitted with a PA system in West Hawaii. North and south towers at Kahaluu Beach Park have a system in place. Hapuna Beach Park has a long-range acoustic portable device.
Rosario’s hope is to have every lifeguard tower outfitted with a PA system.
The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation has been raising money to provide equipment for the fire department for the past couple of decades.
The foundation was created by Mallery-Sayre and her husband, Frank Sayre, after the death of their son, Danny, in 1997.
The 25-year-old died during a hiking trip to the back of Pololu Valley near Kapaloa Falls. Fire crews spent close to 10 hours trying recover Danny, who fell 500 feet to the valley floor.
The foundation’s 20th annual awards dinner and fundraiser will take place Sept. 2. The event honors emergency responders and raises money for the fire department.
For more information on the dinner, visit www.danielsayrefoundation.org.
