16 Graduate from Maui Fire Department’s 32nd Recruit Class

Back Row Left to Right : Chad Johnson, Eli Ferreira, Mark Walker Jr., Aaron Kahaloa, Chad Kaulukukui, Micah Chavez, Joshua Guth, Ryan Worcester.
Front Row Left to Right: Manaloa Aikala, Reyford Stone, Kelsey Manning, Kaimikila Moraes, Brent Barbero, Tyler Orikasa, Richard Sato, Joseph Landi. PC: Jill Peterson, Maui Fire Department

Sixteen firefighters graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 26-week recruit training program as part of the 32nd recruit class.

A luncheon ceremony was held on Friday, March 3, 2017 at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapū.

The program, which is run by the Maui Fire Department, also trains firefighter recruits for the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Transportation Airports Division, and is designed to train and elevate fire recruits on the many skills and disciplines necessary to serve the public as a firefighter.

Fourteen of the firefighters, which included one woman, joined the ranks of the Maui Fire Department, and were assigned to Maui County Fire Stations on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.  Graduates include: Brent Barbero, Micah Chavez, Eli Ferreira, Joshua Guth, Chad Johnson, Aaron Kahaloa, Chad Kaulukukui, Joseph Landi, Kelsey Manning, Tyler Orikasa, Richard Sato, Reyford Stone, Mark Walker, Jr. and Ryan Worcester.

Two firefighters went on to serve at State of Hawaiʻi, Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting stations at the Kahului and Hilo airports including: Manaloa Aikala and Kaimikila Moraes.

Graduating recruits were presented with the following awards, recognizing those who finished at the top of their class in the following categories:

Academics Award: Aaron Kahaloa:  Presented to the recruit with the highest scholastic average on all written course examinations administered throughout the training program.

Functional Skills Award: Eli Ferreira: Presented to the recruit who demonstrated the highest competency in functional skills assessments throughout the training program.

Team Award: Kelsey Manning and Aaron Kahaloa: Presented to the two-man team who demonstrated the ability to perform complex hands-on drills under high-pressure situations, with the highest degree of expedience and efficiency.

Firefighter Spirit, Hoʻūlu Award: Tyler Orikasa: Named in honor of the late Fire Captain, Charles Iwata, this award honors the true passion and firefighter spirit that Captain Iwata was so widely known for.  This award is presented to the recruit who displayed a high moral character and exceptional attitude, and whose conduct reflects respect and heart towards others, and to the firefighting profession.

Most Outstanding, Overall: Joseph Landi: Selected by recruit training officers, this award is presented to the recruit that excelled in every phase of recruit training, and demonstrated outstanding leadership ability, projected an exceptional attitude, and led their class in physical fitness performance.