When Archie Kalepa from Ocean Safety and Rescue of Maui County invited me to come over and take their two-week PWC Risk Management and Ocean Rescue Course, I was not only very excited but also very honored to do so.The opportunity to train with some of the very best watermen including having Brian Keaulana assist with the classroom portion of the course with a focus on Risk Management and Risk Assessment, was an opportunity of a lifetime for me, as it would be for any other fortunate individual. 

Archie A. Kalepa and Brian, along with others have been making the waters of Hawaii a safer place for over a decade. They and a handful of others have developed a rescue technique incorporating jet skis equipped with rescue sleds. Archie became a local hero when he and his partner, Ken Delima, saved fifteen people and one dog during Hurricane Iniki. This helped to prove the effectiveness of the new rescue technique, and helped earn him the prestigious Eddie Aikau Waterman Award. They have gone on to create a certification program to train other lifeguards, and have shared their knowledge with the pioneers of tow surfing in turn developing a symbiotic relationship with the knowledge flowing both ways.

"It is all about risk assessment. Before you jump in, you better be sure there is an exit!!!"

Brian L. Keaulana has become one of the most qualified and respected teachers of ocean survival of all time. When Hollywood or other big name productions are in need of ocean safety/rescue expertise, they call upon Brian and his team to fill all rolls. It’s no wonder when one thinks of heavy ocean safety/rescue, they think of the Hawaiian blend and how Brian and his crew have become the elite and the most experienced watermen and PWC Operators in the world.

"Fear is from emotion; never let your emotion control your action. Never deny your fear. If you have someone who is out in the environment and is fearful, this person stands a good chance of serious injury or death."- Brian Keaulana

My thoughts of what I was going to physically and mentally endure within this two-week period were of uncertainty and the hopes of obtaining greater experience for ocean safety and PWC Risk Management and Assessment. As a surfer myself with 32 years ocean experience and one who is challenging himself to pursue larger waves, it has become my personal overall goal to surround myself and learn from the very best in today’s world of extreme surfing.

The two main reasons why I excepted the invitation from Archie to come and train with his ocean safety officers, was to better understand my personal limitations and surroundings while in a very static environment. Secondly, to share with you how powerful and instrumental the Maui Ocean Safety Officers are to all those that step foot in their waters.

What is a Risk Technician?

This two-week course was designed for individuals with the desire to learn. One who has a basic understanding for their physical range by knowing their abilities and their limitations, thus making prudent decisions using a risk management system, strategies, brainstorming and identifying resources for an Incident Command System by using either low or high tech resources.

After going through the physical training and understanding the risk management process, you learn basic and creative survival techniques. The major goal is to integrate your (K.A.T.) Knowledge, ability, and technology with your surrounding environment.

"Archie was the first guy who came over from Maui to find out about the skis and the training. He took what he learned from us back to Maui and has been doing an unreal job with ocean safety and risk management. I have full respect for what he is doing to teach others and he comes with a lot of very powerful experience." - Brian Keaulana

The intention is to create SAFETY IN A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT. When going into the ocean, most people feel safe around well-trained and experienced professionals. That same professional cannot help but to wonder whom would provide safety for him/her in these dynamic ocean environments. Archie and Brian have developed their own safety mechanism, as well as creating one for others, with the over all objective of teaching people how to survive and in turn teaching others to endure safety for us as well as those around us.

By using their knowledge, experience, resources, and technologies, risk factors can be minimized and prevented giving us quantity and quality of "LIFE". "A Risk Technician Trains for the Worst, Plans for the Best and Expects the Unexpected."

This course comes complete with highly qualified and trained watermen and one very tenacious and committed women named Kekai Williams who has become the first ever PWC Risk Technician and Certified women in the state of Hawaii. Also joining us were firemen, experienced PWC operators and rescuers. Our goal was to work together as a team with positive attitudes, desire and the willingness to succeed in what we had committed ourselves to during the two-week course.

We began the course with Brian joining us for a class room session on Risk Management, Assessment and Incident Command System. What I quickly learned is how little I really new and how much I have taken for granted on depending on others or assuming that all will be fine during a serious situation. Brian shared many of his personal experiences in ocean safety and w ent on to educate us on many different levels of Incident Command Systems. Many systems exist throughout the nation for the command and control of resources at emergency incidents. The National Fire Academy has adopted the ICS as its base for teaching the concepts of incident command and for managing available resources during emergency operations.

"You are only as strong as your weakest link." With the recent implementation of the 911 service applied and hooked up to the Ocean Safety and Rescue of Maui County, this means that they are now a part of the ICS during the first call of an incident. The objective of this system is to maintain a credible emergency management, by integrating an effective action plan.

"I think things are going to start changing! We have recently finalized getting Ocean Safety hooked up with the 911 system, which will be the first ever for the state of Hawaii. Lifeguards in Hawaii are regarded as some of the most skilled watermen in the world and people in our own backyard are finally starting to realize how important our skills and techniques are." – Archie Kalepa

"Next time you have the chance, try pushing a 700 lb. Yamaha Waverunner on a dolly in soft sand for 170 feet in under 60 seconds." Archie went first and set the standard of strength at 47 seconds. When my time came I was thoroughly exhausted just watching every body strive for the under 60 second mark. For some it came very easy, for a few others it was very demanding but yet a true test of strength and endurance. When my time came, I gave it all that I had and past my first endurance test in 51 seconds. Needless to say that exercise alone took everything out of me and I was virtually worthless for the remaining drills. By the end of day one, all I could do is bend over and feel my stomach begin to turn inside out and my head spin round and round as sweat rolled off my body in the scorching sun. Feeling faint and dizzy, my body turned into a bag of chills and I knew I had pushed myself harder than I have in almost 15 years and I needed to lie down. For the rest of the very physically prepared and trained individuals, they not only past, but flew past the next remaining drills with the attitude of preparation and confidence.

"It has become very obvious to me that this course will become one of the most challenging and difficult physical commitments I have made in my 42 years of life."

I was quickly humbled by my lack of endurance for what followed in the days ahead. After extensive weight training, heavy sprints in the sand, punching bag training, 5-10 mile Indian runs, 2 mile Indian swims, 2 mile free swims, a 5 mile ocean ski swim, PWC training and rescue drills in the surf, Yoga, 200-400 pushups and sit ups every day and hours of class room trai ning in Risk Management, Logistics and Incident Command System, besides a bruised ego, a very soar body and a reality check on oneself, I survived the entire two weeks and received a blessing from all.

The entire time while I was in Maui we had no surf to really talk about. Although this was a major let down due to my expectations of towing some spots on smaller days, what I learned has made me more aware and much more prepared for the sessions that will come.

My experience will be one that I will always remember and can now share with others with the hopes of passing on knowledge of valuable life saving skills and advanced PWC Operation which were instilled in me during this amazing training program. For the record, Archie is a drill sergeant all the way. We were up every morning by 5:30 A.M. and by the end of each day I was so physically and mentally exhausted that all I cared to do was go to sleep at 7:00 P.M., unless of course Archie would manage to drag me to the gym that evening for one last workout at Maui Muscle.

My last day was spent walking down the bluffs at Pe’ahi and focusing on the intense presence of something very great and powerful around me. As I watched the crashing shore break, I was being told of stories when the surf and surge were so big and strong that skis have been lifted and thrown like twigs into the trees that lie deep in the creekbed. These are the truths and stories of a place called "JAWS" which have become second nature to many surfers like Laird, Kalama, D.D., Buzzy, Archie, Brian K., Pete C., Brett L., Rush R., Mike W. and a host of others. With the advent of the Jaws Tow-In World Cup being promoted by Rodney "Handsome Bugga" Kilborn we are now seeing the likes of Chuck P., Jeff C., "Skindog", Parsons, Gerr and a few others from California who have the desire and ability to challenge themselves in a new and unforgiving realm.

My last evening was spent at Mama’s Fish House with Archie, Buzzy and Rodney where we shared our thoughts and expressions on many different levels concerning the whole sport of tow-in surfing. As the conversation turned to the Jaws TIWC, I sat back and listened to the many thoughts and opinions on how the event can be improved for this year and its future. The rest of our conversation and comments that were shared and talked about have been left at the table along with a fat tip for the most amazing food and service I have experienced in a very long time.

My gratitude and thanks goes to Archie Kalepa, Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui and Brian Keaulana, Ocean Safety Officer/City and County of Honolulu for this awesome experience, and opportunity of a lifetime that will be remembered always. I also want to thank Archie for his hospitality and true Aloha spirit during my stay with him and his wife Alicia.

I would like to recognize and extend a special thanks to:

Marian Feenstra-Chief of Aquatics/County of Maui -For providing this opportunity and allowing me to experience it first hand.

Dannette Waltze of Bikram Yoga in Maui for the awesome Yoga sessions she facilitated our class with. Having never applied my personal training program with any Yoga in the past, I was very amazed by the endurance and strength required in just a one in a half-hour session, not to mention how much one can sweat during the class.

Also a special thanks to Dale over at Maui Muscle for the use of his facility during my stay. I have been to many gyms and this one is one of the best! And once again, I want to say thanks to all the staff at Mama’s Fish House for hosting one of the most incredible dining experiences in a very longtime.

I would like to recognize the following Maui Ocean Rescue Officers and others for their time, support and efforts in making this two-week training session a complete success, as well as a very awesome trip to Maui.

Kekai Williams -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui-The State of Hawaii - First certified women as a PWC Risk Management Operator "The PWC Class was very challenging and informative. It made me more confident in being a PWC Operator and Ocean Safety Officer."

Jeff Silva -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "This class helped me to know myself a lot better and push my limits over and beyond. It has helped to prepare me for this water."

Mark Pokini -Firefighter/County of Maui "This is the kind of training that needs to be maintained and updated on a regular basis for the benefit of those responsible for the safety of the community as well as the community in general."

Andy Miller -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "I would like to thank the friends in the Ocean Safety Department that put me where I’m at today."

Dounivan Polendey -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "I would just like to thank everyone that made this course possible. MAHALO!"

David Gallagher -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "Being positive thru the pain, pushing past my fears, physical conditioning pressures the years. This class is a life altering experience not only in my career as an Ocean Safety Officer, but as a man approaching 50 years of life."

Hau’oli Thielk -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "The class was challenging but fun at the same time. I am grateful to have participated in this class and to have this certification."

Duane Pagan -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "It’s all good!"

Alfredo Villas Boas -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "This class is definitely like a computer of information. I was like a sponge soaking up every bit. Knowledge is power!"

Brad Quinto -Ocean Safety Officer/County of Maui "Just Go!"

Rodney "Handsome Bugga" Kilborn -Jaws TIWC Promoter "You Handsome Bugga You!"

Buzzy Kerbox -eXtreme surfer, waterman and Jaws TIWC Contestant "The safety techniques during good rescues is everything, without a good rescue you are rolling the dice."

And once again a very special thanks to Archie and his wife Alicia!

When it comes to ocean sports and safety the world watches Hawaii, and when the worlds best are in the Islands they depend on trained and experienced watermen. Whether it’s a surfing contest at Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, Honolua Bay or a Sailboarding event at Hookipa Beach, the Maui Water Patrol is a highly visible show stopper and a very reliable source of water rescue support. It is for this reason that Rodney Kilborn has asked for their return and involvement in this years Jaws Tow-In World Cup Event. Dramatic rescues in extreme conditions have earned Archie Kalepa and Brian Keaulana along with their highly trained officers, respect from rookies and seasoned veterans alike. When the entertainment busines s needs the power and authenticity of the island waters they also call on the worlds best watermen, in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Mahalo to all!

You may contact:
Archie Kalepa at ArchieK@towsurfer.com
Brian Keaulana at BrianK@towsurfer.com
Or send your comments and questions to Training@towsurfer.com