Maui County’s Department of Fire & Public Safety and the state Department of Transportation on Friday celebrated the graduation of the 39th Firefighter Recruit Class, which contains 15 new firefighters. Maui Fire Department photo
Maui County’s Department of Fire & Public Safety and the state Department of Transportation on Friday celebrated the graduation of the 39th Firefighter Recruit Class.
There were 15 firefighter recruits that graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 28-week recruit training program, which is designed to educate, train and evaluate fire recruits on the skills and disciplines necessary to serve the public as a firefighter, a news release said.
The recent graduates are: 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, Chandler Wade and Bryce Yoshida.
Twelve newly sworn in firefighters will be joining the ranks with the Maui Fire Department and will be assigned to Maui County fire stations. Three sworn in firefighters will be joining the ranks of the state’s Department of Transportation Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting personnel.
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 Capt. Charles Iwata, this award honors the true passion and firefighter spirit that 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 toward others and to the firefighting profession.
• Most Outstanding, Overall — Christian Balthazar-Chang, selected by recruit training officers, the 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.
• Outstanding Team — Jonovan-Taje Akaka and Jacob Gifford. The award is presented to the two-person team who demonstrated the ability to work through hands-on drills expediently and efficiently.
The state Department of Public Safety graduated 21 new recruits on Friday on Oahu. Two of the new recruits will work at the Maui Community Correctional Center. Department of Public Safety photo 
Maui County’s Department of Fire & Public Safety and the state Department of Transportation on Friday celebrated the graduation of the 39th Firefighter Recruit Class, which contains 15 new firefighters. Maui Fire Department photoToday's breaking news and more in your inbox
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