The Alaka'ina Foundation is supporting The O'ahu Fire Academy.

The Alaka'ina Foundation is pleased to announce that for the third year in a row we are supporting the O'ahu Fire Academy of Papakolea Hawaiian Homes Land.

This program includes study sessions to help with passing the written test. They also train the group on every step of the hiring process.

“We help with the agility and the swim tests and when they pass that then we train them on the interview process.”

Ka'anoi Po'ouahi went through the academy in 2018, and he said it helped him pursue a career as a federal firefighter.

“I’ve been trying to get into the fire department since I got out of high school,” said Poouahi. “And they really helped me out with test strategies and just fueling that fire under me to become a firefighter.

In the 2024 Class of HFD Firefighters of graduates many had been prepared by the O'ahu Fire Academy.

Founded on December 27, 1850, in the Kingdom of Hawai'i by King Kamehameha III and Alexander Cartwright, the Honolulu Fire Department serves and protects the entire island of O'ahu, covering over 600 square miles of territory, more than 1 million residents and over 4 million annual visitors.

The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) is believed to be the only fire department in the world that has had kings serve as active members with King Kamehameha III, who reigned during the 1850s and King David Kalakaua, during the 1880s working alongside volunteers.

King Kalākaua was a member of Engine Company No. 4, which was originally an all-Hawaiian Company established in 1861.  When King Kalākaua died in 1891, firefighters draped black fabric on their stations to show their respect for the King.

To continue these traditions the O'ahu Fire Academy was formed by volunteer retired HFD Fire Fighters and Captains.  In the past 18 years over 1,000 students have graduated, most of them finding jobs with the Honolulu Fire Department, State of Hawaii Airport Crash Rescue and the Federal Fire Departments.  The academy is free to all students.