Maui kicks off Safe Boating Week with Kihei demonstration

The County of Maui kicks off safe boating week this Sunday, May 23, 2010.  As part of the week’s activities, the Coast Guard, and members of the Maui Fire Department, as well as ocean rescue personnel, and members of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources will host a safe boating fair this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kihei Boat Ramp.  The event will feature a helicopter search and rescue demonstration provided by Air Station Barbers Point, free courtesy vessel exams by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, as well as boating safety information booths.

Similar campaigns across the nation are aimed at highlighting the importance of safe boating. Photo courtesy SafeBoatingCampaign.com.

National Safe Boating week runs from May 22-28, 2010.  “The Coast Guard’s unending commitment to educate the public is commendable,” said Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares. “Our community’s lifestyle is geared towards ocean use and ocean-related recreational activities, and we depend on the Coast Guard to help save the lives of our residents and visitors,” she said.

“Coast Guard Station Maui is excited to work with the mayor and our partner agencies in educating the public concerning boating safety; prevention is the key to saving lives on the water,” said Chief Petty Officer Jay Rudometkin, the officer-in-charge of Coast Guard Station Maui.

The ultimate goal of Safe Boating Week is to ensure that mariners have the knowledge and skills to safely enjoy America’s waterways.

In efforts to assist with search and rescue, the Coast Guard is launching Operation Paddle Smart. This campaign, aimed at reaching small craft owners, revolves around a simple, free reflective sticker; the sticker is self-applied to the small craft, is intended to return property, reduce the number of Coast Guard resources spent on unnecessary search and rescue cases, and foster voluntary small craft owner assistance.