News and Updates

Keep up with the latest news from the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.

Press Releases

Click on a title to view each press release.

Honolulu Ocean Safety, the Honolulu Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a possible missing swimmer today off of Waikīkī. The swimmer, described as a 55-year old male, was last seen swimming around 4:30pm roughly 30 yards offshore the Duke Kahanamoku Beach Park. Lifeguards via jet ski conducted an extensive search on the […]
Honolulu Ocean Safety responded today with the Honolulu Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi’s Waterfront Operations for a missing diver. The 911 call came in at 10:55 a.m. The diver, described as a 77-year old local male, was last seen diving between Mokoli‘i and Kipapa Islands. Lifeguards made contact with the […]
Honolulu Ocean Safety, along with a private canoe club and private water safety company responded to a swimmer who suffered a cardiac arrest this morning while competing in an organized swim race. Just after 9:30am, lifeguards rescued the man from the waters off Waikīkī and started cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Onshore, lifeguards continued CPR until […]
The Honolulu Emergency Medical Services is looking to hire heroes to join its Academy 4 Recruit Class. The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Human Resources has posted an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) recruitment notice on its website. The application period opens Tuesday, September 6th at 12:00 a.m. and will close Tuesday, September 6th […]
Just after 8:00pm, Wednesday evening, a Honolulu Emergency Medical Services ambulance caught fire in the driveway of Adventist Health Castle formerly known as The Castle Medical Center. The Honolulu EMS crew was transporting a patient to the emergency room when the fire began. The 91- year old patient died at the scene. The Paramedic, who […]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Family posing with rescuers

Survivor Reunion Stories

Honolulu Emergency Medical Services and Honolulu Ocean Safety have played a vital role in countless survivor stories throughout their rich histories. Read some of the heartwarming survivor stories that have been documented over the years.
Read the Stories

Media Coverage

Read some of the latest news stories published by our media partners.

Honolulu Ocean Safety On Patrol During North Shore's Winter 2023

Hawaii News Now's Lynn Kawano and Photographer Peter Tang follow along with the lifeguards on the north shore. 
watch the HNN story

Honolulu Ocean Safety, Honolulu EMS Reunite With Surfer Who Nearly Drowned at Pipeline

Hawaii News Now was there when 25-year old Austin Gibbons and his mother thanked the heroes who helped to save his life.
watch the HNN story

National Telecommunications Week 2023: What to know before you need to call 911.

KHON interviews Ocean Safety dispatcher to learn how to be prepared when calling 911 for an ocean emergency.
Read the khon story

Iolani School Teacher Saves Life Of Elderly Choking Victim

Honolulu EMS talks to HNN about the importance of knowing life-saving measures and thanks the Good Samaritan for stepping in to help.
Read the hawaii news now story

Hawaii sees dramatic increase in fentanyl-related overdoses reported in September

The deadly drug fentanyl has surfaced in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now talks to EMS about what crews are seeing on the road.
Read the hawaii news now story

Preliminary Investigations Find Oxygen Connection Started Ambulance Fire 

Separate investigations conducted on the fire that erupted in an EMS ambulance in August 2022, found it sparked when the main oxygen link was connected to a portable oxygen tank. 
Read the Story on civil beat

HESD Director Gives Update On The EMS Ambulance Fire

Honolulu Emergency Services Department Director Jim Ireland gives an update on the tragic ambulance fire, that left a patient dead and an EMS paramedic critically injured. 
Read the update on the EMS ambulance fire

Scores of Ocean Rescues Made on Oʻahu’s South Shore During ‘Historic’ South Swell

Warnings about a “historic” south swell with waves approaching 20 feet and dangerous rip currents predictably did little to keep surfers out of the water Saturday, leaving Honolulu Ocean Safety personnel to handle the consequences.
Read About the historic swell

Ocean Safety Crews Report a Busy Day in Oʻahu’s Waters

Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards made a number of rescues today around Oʻahu of people in the ocean who found themselves in trouble.
Read about the rescues

At 10, He’s Credited With Saving His Mom’s Life. All in a Day’s Work for This ‘Junior Paramedic’

Cody Agnell helped save his mom's life with his quick thinking and call to 911.
Read Cody's story

Videos

Watch some of our featured videos.

KITV4 Rides With Honolulu EMS During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Highlighting Heroes

Honolulu Ocean Safety Keeping the South Shore Safe

Hawaiʻi News Now Follows EMS Through the Coronavirus Pandemic

Honolulu EMS: Coronavirus Crusade

chevron-down