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LIHU’E, Kauai – Coast Guardsmen from Station Kauai, along with members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, joined Bernard J. Carvalho, Jr., mayor of the County of Kauai, in signing a proclamation declaring May 19-25 National Safe Boating Week on Kauai, Tuesday.

National Safe Boating Week is an annual Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary supported initiative with the goal of encouraging safe boating practices by mariners throughout the country. The week highlights the importance of safety equipment aboard vessels such as life jackets, proper communication equipment, and the benefits of owning an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. The hope is to encourage people to carry appropriate safety equipment which could save their life.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Jim Jung.

 Editor's note: For a high resolution version, click the image above.

HONOLULU – Representatives from Honolulu City and County, the 14th Coast Guard District, Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Hawaii Sail and Power Squadron, and the Honolulu Sail and Power Squadron, hold a signed proclamation for National Safe Boating Week in Honolulu City Hall, Wednesday.

National Safe Boating Week is an annual initiative sponsored by the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. The purpose of it is to raise awareness of safe boating and ocean practices. Highlights also include the importance of life jackets; purchasing, maintaining and registering an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, carrying safety and communication equipment aboard a vessel and the use of float plans and Paddle Smart stickers. National Safe Boating Week runs from May 19-25.

For more information contact the 14th Coast Guard District public affairs office at 808-535-3230.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony L. Soto

Editors note: For a high-resolution photo click the image above. 

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Auxiliarist Joe Kiefer, 14th Coast Guard District staff officer for Auxiliary aviation, sits in his fixed wing Piper Sport aircraft at Honolulu International Airport T-hangers, March 29, 2012. 

Kiefer, a resident of Hawaii, is just one of many local volunteers who assist the Coast Guard with its many missions in the region. 

In Hawaii, Auxiliary aviators fly about 300 missions per year, totaling more than 700 flight hours. Due to the volunteer nature of the program, the Auxiliary aviators save the public more than $5 million. 

Auxiliary pilots assist with missions such as search and rescue, marine environmental protection and law enforcement.

The Auxiliary is a civilian, volunteer, uniformed branch of the Coast Guard formed by an act of Congress in 1939. Although their mission is primarily focused on recreational boating safety, they are an integral part of the Coast Guards mission, and as such they are the only volunteer force allowed to wear the uniform of a military service.

The overall mission of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is to contribute to the safety and security of our citizens, ports, and waterways. The Auxiliary balances missions of recreational boating safety and Coast Guard support with maritime homeland security and other challenges that emerged as a result of a post-9/11 era. 

The Auxiliary has units in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and Saipan. 

Media interested in learning about the many ways local Coast Guard Auxiliarists are helping to save taxpayers’ money, while protecting the local community and the maritime environment of Hawaii, may contact the 14th Coast Guard District public affairs office at 808-535-3230. 

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is always looking for new volunteers. For information on how to join visit http://join.cgaux.org/. 

For more information regarding this release contact the 14th Coast Guard District public affairs office at 808-535-3230.

Editor's note: click on image above for high resolution photos.

AGAT, Guam — Coast Guardsmen, in conjunction with Department of Defense and local emergency responders, participated in a mass casualty search and rescue exercise approximately three miles west of Agat Marina March 13, 2012. 

The presented scenario, in which 30 people entered the water after a simulated collision between a 125-foot fishing vessel and a recreational party barge, was largest exercise in Guam in more than four years. 

More than 50 personnel from Guam Fire, Police, Port Authority, Agriculture, National Guard, and Homeland Security responded by shore and sea to the full-scale exercise. 

The location of the collision was approximately three miles off the coast of Agat Marina. Old coveralls stuffed with coconuts were used to represent the 30 people that needed to be saved. 

Responders were called in from all over the island to assist. Role players radioed in a mayday to Coast Guardsman at Sector Guam’s joint rescue coordination center, while others called E-911 to test the island’s notification procedures. 

“Full-scale exercises like this are especially crucial in Guam where our search and rescue responses are augmented by other agencies,” said Lt. j.g. Richard Russell, assistant enforcement chief. “For helicopter support, we rely solely on the Navy and out on the water, Guam Fire Rescue teams are often the first on scene as they have rescue stations strategically located throughout the island.”

Editor's note: click on image above for high resolution photos.

PACIFIC OCEAN – The U. S. Coast Guard is supporting New Zealand’s humanitarian relief efforts to assist the residents of the island nation of Tokelau. Approximately 1,500 residents of three islands are receiving approximately 36,000 gallons of drinking water from the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Walnut. 

Currently the residents of Tokelau have approximately seven days of fresh drinking water.

Walnut made a 358-mile transit from American Samoa to Tokelau. This transit took approximately 30 hours.

“The Coast Guard routinely supports the Pacific island countries in this region during search and rescue cases and fisheries patrols,” said Rear Adm. Charles W. Ray, Commander Fourteenth Coast Guard District. “Our existing relationships between Pacific island countries are essential to facilitate rapid response during times of need.”  

For more information contact the Fourteenth Coast Guard District public affairs office, at 808-535-3230.  

HONOLULU –Petty Officer 1st Class Todd Lenet, left, Command Master Chief Michael Ferreira, Rear Adm. Charles Ray, Evelyn Aczon Hao, Petty Officer 2nd Class Abby Marsden and Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Araki stand in front of school supplies donated from members of the Coast Guard in the Hawaiian Islands at Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary School, August 3, 2011.

Members of Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu (91107), Air Station Barber’s Point and Coast Guard District Fourteen partnered with Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary staff members to assist in collecting supplies essential to a successful start to the school year.

“The Coast Guard helps us in many ways throughout the year and at the beginning of school, school supplies are a high priority need,” said Hao, Principal of Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary School. “Our children and teachers are so grateful!” 

The Coast Guard was able to donate more than $500 of supplies which included pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, and notebooks along with other learning tools. 

“In the past, Coast Guard personnel have also participated in science fairs, wellness fairs, along with donating gifts and food during the holiday season,” said Lenet, the Fourteenth Coast Guard District's Partnership in Education program team leader. “Schools and teachers do so much for our children and we just hope that we can offer a support network they can rely on.” 

“District Fourteen's partnership with Kuhio Elementary benefits the school, the community and our units that participate,” said Ray, Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District. “Contributing to the education of future generations is a worthwhile investment of our time and we look forward to the continued support of the Hawaii education system.”

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Angela Henderson.

For a hi-resolution photo click the picture above.

HONOLULU – Coast Guard law enforcement officers are enforcing a temporary safety zone in the waters of Kaneohe Bay starting Monday, to ensure the public’s safety during extraction of a downed Marine Corps CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter from the Sand Bar.

The temporary 2,250-yard by 3,250-yard safety zone is in the shape of a rectangle extending  west from Pyramid Rock to Kapapa Island, then south to the Marker southwest of Ahu’olaka Island, then east to end at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Long Pier, then north along the coastline back to Pyramid Rock.  This safety zone extends from the surface of the water to the ocean floor. This temporary 2,250-yard by 3,250-yard safety zone is anticipated to be enforced for two to six-hour periods during actual airlift operations.  The public will be authorized to transit the area when airlift operations are not occurring. 

A smaller section, 500-yard by 450-yard area around the downed aircraft at position 21 ^o 27.78’N, 157 ^o 48.28’W, of this temporary safety zone will be enforced 24-hours a day until further notice. This smaller enforcement area will be marked with six red cylinder buoys and red/orange flagging when being enforced and broadcast notice to mariners will be provided.

The temporary safety zone will be in effect from 8:01 a.m. on Monday through 8:00 a.m. April 11, 2011, unless canceled earlier by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Honolulu, Captain Joanna M. Nunan.    

The zone will be announced over marine band VHF Channel 16 (156.800) and verbally by on scene U.S. Coast Guard personnel and COTP authorized representatives prior to and during the enforcement of the safety zone to ensure ample public notification.

Under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (33 CFR 165.33), the temporary law prohibits any unauthorized person or vessel from entering or remaining in this safety zone.  Any person entering the zone without the permission of the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port is subject to a penalty of not more than $40, 000 for each violation or a criminal penalty resulting in imprisonment of not more than 25 years, and a fine of not more than $250,000. Offending vessels may also be seized and held liable for any monetary assessments.

“Again, we would like to extend our appreciation for the public’s patience, support, and understanding during this incident,” said Lt. Cmdr. Marcella Granquist.    

For more information about this news release contact Lt. Cmdr. Marcella Granquist at 808-522-8264 x352 or Marcella.A.Granquist@uscg.mil.