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Fire recruits graduate from training program

By Staff | Dec 11, 2023

The 15 firefighter recruits graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 28-week Recruit Training Program on Friday. PHOTO BY MAUI FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WAILUKU — On Friday, Dec. 8, the Department of Fire & Public Safety and the State Department of Transportation celebrated the graduation of the 39th Firefighter Recruit Class.

The 15 firefighter recruits graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 28-week Recruit Training Program. The program is designed to educate, train and evaluate fire recruits on the many skills and disciplines necessary to serve the public as a firefighter.

The 38th Recruit Class was comprised of 15 firefighter trainees: Curtis Abafo- Briones, Kai Adachi, Jonovan-Taje Akaka, Dane Andersen, Christian Balthazar- Chang, Jameson Fafard-Keuma, Noah Galvin, Jacob Gifford, Kyle Hayashi, David Isenmann, Jason Mangonon, Blake Nunes, Ian Stevens and Chandler Wade.

Twelve newly sworn in firefighters will be joining the ranks with the Maui Fire Department and will be assigned to Maui County fire stations on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Three newly sworn in firefighters will be joining the ranks of the state’s Department of Transportation ARFF personnel and will be assigned to firefighting duties at airports throughout the state.

Recruits received their badges and took their oath in a long-awaited ceremony. Each recruit selected a special family member to carry out the traditional “Pinning of the Badge.” The ceremony was attended by Fire Chiefs from both Maui County and State Airports, as well as dignitaries representing Maui County and the State of Hawaii.

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

Academics Award – Kai Adachi

Presented to the recruit with the highest scholastic average on all written course examinations administered throughout the training program.

Functional Skills – Bryce Yoshida

Presented to the recruit who demonstrated the highest competency in functional skills assessments throughout the training program.

Firefighter Spirit, Ho’ulu Award – Dane Andersen

Named in honor of the late Fire Captain Charles Iwata, this award honors the true passion and firefighter spirit that Capt. 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 expresses respect and heart towards others, and to the firefighting profession.

Most Outstanding, Overall – Christian Balthazar-Chang

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

Outstanding Team – Jovan-Taje Akaka and Jacob Gifford

This award is presented to the two-person team who demonstrated the ability to work through hands-on drills expediently and efficiently.