KAHULUI, Maui – Coast Guardsmen from Station Maui and Marine Safety Team Maui, along with Coast Guard Auxiiliary members, are scheduled to kick off National Safe Boating Week following a proclamation reading by Maui County Mayor Alan M. Arakawa at the Kahului small boat ramp, Saturday.

The Kahului boat ramp event is scheduled for 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Members of MST Maui will be offering free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon testing. Coast Guard Auxiliarists will be offering free vessel safety checks. Children will also get to meet Coastie the Safety Boat.

A second boating safety event is scheduled for May 26 at the Lahaina Cannery Mall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. MST Maui members will be offering free EPIRB testing and the Auxiliary will also offer free vessel safety checks. Coastie the Safety Boat will be at the second event as well.

National Safe Boating Week is an annual Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary supported initiative with the goal of encouraging safe boating practices by mariners throughout the country.

The week highlights the importance of safety equipment aboard vessels such as life jackets, proper communication equipment, and the benefits of owning an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. The hope is to encourage people to carry appropriate safety equipment which could save their life.

“In the last year we’ve had two boating related deaths in Maui County, both of them tragic accidents which could have been avoided,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “It is more important than ever to obey safe boating rules to keep our waters safe. I also encourage citizens to take advantage of the free boat inspections by the Coast Guard Auxiliary to help ensure they have the right safety equipment onboard at all times. Let’s all work together to help keep each other safe out there in the water.”

Boating safety public service announcements can be found at the following links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIfWfL6ywU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuVuhJjwA50

For more information contact the Station Maui public affairs officer at 808-870-3505.