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BERNARD P. CARVALHO, JR.
Mayor
GARY K. HEU
Managing Director
C O U N T Y O F K A U A „ I
News Release
For Immediate Release: October 31, 2011
K AU A‘ I F IRE DEPAR T M E N T
ROBERT WESTERMAN, CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-4980
Fax (808) 241-6508
23 rd Fire Recruit Graduation
LĪHU„E – Kauai Deputy Fire Chief John Blalock welcomed six new additions to the
family of Kaua'i firefighters on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Līhu'e Civic Center in the rotunda area of
the Moikeha Building.
The recruits: Jeremy Cole, Daryl Higashi, Ronald Hosaka, Joshua Peralta, Jason Poloa
and Jace Schaefer, Jr. were joined by their family and friends for the ceremonial pinning of
badges at the 23 rd fire recruit class graduation.
Attending the ceremonies were Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr., State Senator Ron
Kouchi and Councilmember Tim Bynum.
Mayor Carvalho reminded the audience of the enormous contributions our fire fighters
provide to our quality of life. “We don‟t take our fire fighters for granted because they provide
rescue and life-saving medical treatment to people suffering from severe injury or illness,” he
stated. “We all need to be reminded that our fire fighters risk their lives for us on a daily basis.”
“Each of the recruits demonstrated that they met or exceeded the very high standards of
the Kaua'i Fire Department,” stated Deputy Fire Chief Blalock. “Training Captain Tracy
Cummings and Firefighter III Kellen Ponce are responsible for providing the excellent training
and motivation for these recruits,” he added.

Here is a short background on each of the new recruits which was read at the
graduation.
Jeremy Cole was born and raised in southern Michigan and moved to O„ahu in 1988.
He attended high school at Mid Pacific Institute and began his fire fighting career with the
Honolulu Fire Department in 2003. He found his career to be a rewarding and meaningful one.
In October of 2005, Jeremy married his long time girlfriend Jodi. Jeremy decided to relocate and
transfer to the Kaua'i Fire Department so his toddler son Tyler could grow up on Kaua'i.
Daryl “DJ” Higashi was born and raised on Kaua'i and graduated in 2004 from Kaua'i
High School. He attended the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and graduated from Bethany
University in Scotts Valley, California. He is the son of Lance and Janice Higashi and is married
to Avian.
Ronald Hosaka, was named after his late grandfather who was with the Honolulu Fire
Department and is proud to become the third generation of fire fighters in his family. Ronald
graduated in 2004 from Kaua'i High School and earned his associates degree in Fire Science
from Honolulu Community College. While attending college, Ronald, worked as a lifeguard at
the Kāne'ohe Marine Corp Base. He is the son of Fire Captain Neal Hosaka and Tracy Hosaka,
and also thanked his brother Bryce and girlfriend Leslie for all of their support.
Joshua Peralta was born and raised on the west side of Kaua'I and resides in Kekaha.
He graduated in 1998 from Waimea High School and studied Fire Science at Honolulu
Community College. He was employed at the PMRF Barking Sands Fire Department for six
years, before joining the Kaua'i Fire Department. Josh‟s childhood dream was to become a fire
fighter so he could be of service to the community. He is the son of retired Fire Captain Henry
Peralta, Jr. and Debbi Marcell.
After graduating from high school in California, Jason Poloa joined the U.S. Marine
Corps. After completing his active duty, he moved to O„ahu where he met his wife Kandice.
They have moved to Kauai to raise their two year old son Isaiah. Jason was employed at the

PMRF Barking Sands Fire Department for two years, before joining the Kauai Fire Department.
He is the son of Bill and Kandi Poloa.
Jace Schaefer, Jr., was born and raised on Kaua'i and graduated in 2001 from Waimea
High School and is the son of Jace, Sr and Colene Schaefer. Prior to joining the Kaua'i Fire
Department, Jace was employed at both the State of Hawai'i Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting
Department and the PMRF Barking Sands Fire Department. He resides in Waimea and is
married to Tanet. They have two children: three-year-old Milana and one-year-old Nash.
The day ended with an exchange of lei and warm wishes for the six new fire fighters who
will be joining the Kauai Fire Department. “We are proud of all of them for their
accomplishments,” said Deputy Chief Blalock.
From left to right: Deputy Chief John Blalock, Training Captain Tracy Cummings, and new recruits Daryl
Higashi, Jason Poloa, Joshua Peralta, Ronald Hosaka, Jace Schaefer, Jr., Jeremy Cole and
Fire fighter III Kellen Ponce.
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