To the Rescue…

By Rex Dubiel Shanahan

I have been rescued twice by North Shore lifeguards since my arrival at Sunset Beach in the summer of 1974. The first one was at a neighborhood
bodysurfing contest at Pipeline (before the big contests) when I got caught inside the breaking waves. I had watched the surf breaking for about half an hour and felt safe enough to paddle out. Then a huge set rolled in and I was caught inside. I went under once, came up, and duck dove the second wave seriously thinking this might be the end of my life. When I came up for air, North Shore lifeguard, Ted Lowdermilk, was “casually” paddling by and asked me if I wanted a ride. I scrambled onto his board and rode it all the way to shore. Close call. The second incident was at Kammieland. I was swimming in front of my house and got caught in the rip on a big day and was being carried out to sea. A patrol boat was in the area because of a sanctioned contest at Sunset and I was hauled into the boat and ferried to shore. Rescued again!

North Shore lifeguards provide an invaluable service to residents of our community and the millions of tourists who arrive on our shores unaware
of Mother Nature’s dangers. We need these public servants to keep us safe and alive!
Last summer lifeguards based at the District 3 substation, Rock Piles, near the skate park, took it upon themselves to paint their office home. Fred
Booth was the champion of this project and enlisted his fellow guards to join him. The North Shore Lifeguard Association donated the paint.
I was impressed by the office’s makeover and stopped in to compliment the lifeguards on their work. As I entered the yard, I noticed the tiled large
landing step on the front porch. It was an awful sky blue color, cracked and missing pieces. Really ugly!
So, because I love the lifeguards and appreciate the services they provide (they are our neighborhood’s first responders, too,) and because community service and showing gratitude are very important to me, I took it upon myself to contribute to the beautification of the entryway to the substation. I had picked up some tiles at a construction yard sale in Pupukea and donated them to the effort.
A local tile setter, Wesley Liquorish of Liquorish Stone and Tile, volunteered to lay the tile. I coordinated with Captain Vitor Marcal and the beautification project was on its way!
Because of work schedules and family commitments, it took a few months for the three of us to coordinate the project. When Wesley looked at the
job for the first time, Captain Marcal mentioned tiles also needed to be replaced in the foyer, so that was added onto the job. Wesley went above and beyond. He got 150 square feet of slate print porcelain stone tile and thinset donated from Daltile in Honolulu. He supplied all the other materials. He also hired his crew to assist. I was really impressed with his willingness to contribute his own materials, time, and salaries for his employees.
The District 3 Substation front porch landing and foyer are beautiful! Stop by and take a look sometime, and thank the North Shore lifeguards for
their service. They are our protectors! They are our lifesavers!