First dispatcher academy graduates among newest Emergency Medical Services recruits

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu’s Emergency Medical Services welcomed 25 additions to its division Friday.

A graduation ceremony at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse honored 20 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and five emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs).

The EMDs were the first graduating class of the city’s new EMS Dispatcher Academy, a training program that included EMT certification and advanced training in 911 call-taking and EMS resource dispatching.

“We needed to fill vacancies in our communications center, and these recruits have the courage and calm to answer the call,” said EMS assistant chief of communications Lorrin Okumura. “We consider our Honolulu EMS dispatchers as the first, first responders. These newly minted dispatchers will be the ones who answer your 911 call when you and your loved ones need help.”

The 20 EMT graduates completed a rigorous six-month program featuring extensive classroom instruction, hands-on medical training, hospital rotations, and emergency dispatch preparation.

Their training included cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), wound care, establishing intravenous (IV) lines, and emergency vehicle operations.

“I think it takes someone who is willing to put in the hard work obviously, but someone who is in the right place in their heart and their soul, so someone who wants to assist the community and be a positive face to EMS,” said EMT recruit Kainalu Nu‘uhiwa, who was recognized with the EMT Leadership Award. “It’s definitely long hours and a lot of hard work.”

Samantha Taylor earned the EMD Leadership Award for the inaugural dispatcher academy.

All 25 graduates passed the National Registry of EMTs exam and will begin serving the Honolulu community this month.

Individuals interested in applying for future EMT or EMD academies can visit the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Human Resources webpage to complete a job card.

Once accepted into an academy, recruits earn a starting salary of $5,106 per month. Applicants must be 18 years or older and possess a high school diploma and a valid driver’s license.

Learn more here.

EMD (Dispatch) Graduates: Brandon Addison, Tiana Gibson, Joseph Stremkowski, Rastacia Tanaka, Samantha Taylor

EMT Graduates: Christopher Bednar, Kaleb Bednar, Sean Blanco, Noah Book, Kinsey Clark, Francisco Clark, Kayleb Damaso, Roy Evans, Jasmine Fuaau, Chance Inoshita, Aria Jacobsen, Kevin Li, Logan Lyden, Stephen Marshall Jr., Reese Meneses, Gracie Miranda, Kainalu Nu‘uhiwa, Kahli Picton, Devin Smith, Nolan Yasuda