Team Oʻahu Wins 2026 Junior Lifeguard State Championships at Ala Moana Beach Park
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — Team Oʻahu captured the 2026 Junior Lifeguard State Championship on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Ala Moana Beach Park, finishing the statewide competition with 318 points.
Team Kauaʻi finished second with 172 points, followed by Hawaiʻi County in third place with 150 points and Team Maui in fourth with 142 points.
Hosted by the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department, the 2026 Junior Lifeguard State Championships brought together young ocean athletes from across Hawaiʻi for a full day of competition, highlighting athletic ability, ocean safety skills, teamwork and camaraderie.
Junior lifeguards representing programs connected to Honolulu Ocean Safety, Kauaʻi Ocean Safety, Hawaiʻi County Ocean Safety, and Maui County Ocean Safety competed throughout the day, demonstrating the skills and discipline developed through junior lifeguard programs across the state.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1st — Team Oʻahu: 318 points
2nd — Team Kauaʻi: 172 points
3rd — Hawaiʻi County: 150 points
4th — Team Maui: 142 points
Competitors were challenged in a series of demanding land and ocean events designed to test endurance, swimming and paddling abilities, teamwork, and beach awareness.
The competition included the 1,000-meter Run, 200-meter Swim, and Run/Swim/Run, followed by the Iron Guard, which combined a 500-meter run, 200-meter swim and 200-meter paddle.
Teamwork was on display during the Paddle Board Relay, featuring five competitors per team, before the championships concluded with the highly anticipated Beach Flags competition.
The championships featured girls and boys in the 12–14 and 15–17 age divisions, providing young athletes an opportunity to compete alongside their peers and represent their island and community on a statewide stage.
While Team Oʻahu took home the championship, the event celebrated the accomplishments of all of Hawaiʻi’s junior lifeguards. Every competitor demonstrated the dedication, sportsmanship, teamwork, and ocean knowledge that are at the heart of Hawaiʻi’s lifeguarding community.
The Junior Lifeguard State Championships are about more than points and podium finishes. Junior lifeguard programs help young people develop water competency, physical fitness, confidence, leadership, and respect for the ocean while introducing them to the skills and responsibilities of professional lifeguarding.
The Honolulu Ocean Safety Department congratulates Team Oʻahu on earning the 2026 State Championship and extends its congratulations to Team Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi County, Team Maui, and every junior lifeguard who competed.
The department also extends its sincere mahalo to the coaches, lifeguards, families, volunteers, and supporters whose time, dedication, and encouragement make junior lifeguard programs and events like the State Championships possible.
Special appreciation goes to event supporters Duke’s Waikiki, Kailua Harley-Davidson, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, and OluKai for their support of Hawaiʻi’s junior lifeguards and commitment to the ocean safety community.
Congratulations to all of the competitors, and mahalo to everyone who helped make the 2026 Junior Lifeguard State Championships a success.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
