Among the recruits, Chase Rogers was honored with the Functional Skills Award for demonstrating the highest competency in the functional (physical) skills assessments.

LAHAINA — The Rogers family of Lahaina truly represents the altruistic, “give back” mentality that is the cohesive strength of the West Side.

Patriarch Jeff worked for the Lahainaluna High School Foundation, while matriarch Jan serves in the visitor industry in Kapalua. Both work for the local March of Dimes chapter.

Together, Jeff and Jan Rogers have raised three remarkable sons who have followed in their parents’ pathways to education and dedication to care for the future of the community.

Kea, Blaze and Chase Rogers all attended public schools in Lahaina, graduated from Lahainaluna High School and then went on to earn college degrees. Kea pursued his desire to serve his hometown, started his career with the Maui County Fire Department and is currently stationed at Napili, while Blaze is a school teacher in San Diego, California.

Chase Rogers has followed in his brothers’ pathways to college degrees and career choices in the public services arena. He graduated from Pacific University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and also competed on the football team for four years.

Upon returning to Maui, Chase first worked in the visitor industry and helped as a coach on the state championship Lahainaluna football teams.

Yearning for a career to serve his community, he decided to sign on as a recruit in the Maui Fire Department’s 37th recruit class.

After some seven months of grueling mental, physical and interview training and testing, Chase was one of 19 who graduated from the 37th Recruit Training Program.

Fifteen of the graduates will be assigned to Maui County fire stations on Maui, Molokai and Lanai; while four firefighters will serve at state Airport Rescue and Fire stations across the state.

The recruits received their badges and took their oaths in a ceremony last month, with each selecting a special family member to carry out the traditional “pinning of the badge” ceremony.

Chase was quick to credit older brother Kea for the inspiration to pursue the first responder career.

“Talking with Kea and hearing how great the job was, and my desire to help and give back to my community, and also the fire of 2018 during Hurricane Lane all inspired me to join the fire department,” he said.

“We graduated 19 people total… After graduation, we were stationed all over Maui County, including Molokai, Lanai, Hana and everywhere in between,” he continued.

“During the seven-month program, we covered everything from Emergency Medical Response, Wildland Fires, Auto Extrication, Hazmat, Structure Fires, Ocean Rescue and many more. We started our days with physical training, lifting weights, in the pool or other functional workouts,” concluded Rogers, who is currently assigned to Station 10 in Kahului.