Twenty-seven recruits recently graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 22-week Recruit Training Program.

KAHULUI – At a luncheon ceremony on Friday, Dec. 27, the Department of Fire & Public Safety celebrated the graduation of its 35th Firefighter Recruit Class at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului.

The 27 firefighter recruits graduated from Maui Fire Department’s 22-week Recruit Training Program. The program is designed to train and evaluate fire recruits on the many skills and disciplines necessary to serve the public as a firefighter.

The 35th Recruit Class was comprised of 27 firefighter trainees. Seventeen 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. They are: Alakai Akana, Eleazer Bartolome, Tre Evans-Dumaran, Ethan Frederick, Kapena Kalehuawehe-Gomes, Marcus Kuhns, Dustin Lau, Tanner Mosher, Micah Notestone, Luke Padgett, Brian Pali, Jarrett Sakamoto, Avinash Singh, Chayce Tancayo, Chad Tokunaga, Kiel White and Kendall Willing.

Ten firefighters will go on to serve at state Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting stations in Kahului, Hilo, Kona and Lihue. They are: Briggs Agu, Charles Akao, Keoki Lovato, Justin Manglallan, Keoni Rosete, Kahone Speed, Travis Voeller, Dane Walin, Dennis Walsh and Shaun Walsh.

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.”

Maui Fire Chief David Thyne delivered the time honored Firefighter’s Oath of Office, making it official.

Graduating recruits were presented with the following awards, recognizing those who finished at the top of their class in the following categories: Academics Award Chad Tokunaga, Functional Skills Dane Walin, Team Ethan Frederick and Kendall Willing, Firefighter Spirit, Ho’ulu Award Avinash Singh, and Most Outstanding, Overall Brian Pali.