Former Honolulu Ocean Safety chief John Titchen, who left city employment after a very public clash with Mayor Rick Blangiardi, is back in the spotlight as a finalist to lead the island’s newly independent Ocean Safety Department. His reappearance in the running has zeroed in attention on how the new department will be led, how closely it will cooperate with City Hall, and what that means for a state where drownings remain a major public safety problem.
Who The Finalists Are
Titchen is one of three finalists for the permanent chief’s job, alongside Acting Director Kurt Lager and retired lifeguard supervisor Ron Bregman, according to Civil Beat. The Ocean Safety Commission has set a public meeting for Dec. 4 to hear testimony on the finalists, the outlet reports. After that, the commission is expected to recommend a hire to lead lifeguard operations across Oʻahu’s beaches and coastline.
What Happened Before
Titchen’s bid for his old job comes in the shadow of a tense April 2024 City Hall meeting and the personnel fallout that followed. He was placed on administrative leave after that meeting and later left city service. The initial leave and related investigation were reported at the time by Hawaii News Now. Those events are still part of the official record the commission will have to weigh as it vets the applicants.
How The Department Was Created
The push to spin Ocean Safety out as its own department began in 2024, when the mayor signed a resolution to launch a standalone Ocean Safety Department and voters approved a charter amendment that created an oversight commission, as per the Office of the Mayor. Backers argued that a dedicated department, paired with a commission for accountability, would allow funding and policy to focus squarely on lifeguard services instead of competing with broader emergency functions.
Why The Choice Matters
Hawaiʻi continues to struggle with a serious drowning problem. The state has one of the country’s highest resident drowning rates, and drowning is the leading cause of death for children, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. Public health officials and advocates are pushing a 2025 water safety plan that emphasizes prevention, swim education, and stronger support for lifeguards. That backdrop turns the commission’s hiring decision into more than just a staffing move, tying it to a wider statewide safety strategy.
The Politics
Personal history and City Hall dynamics are front and center in the debate over who should get the job. An internal city investigator later found that Titchen had shown insubordination and violated the city’s respectful workplace policy, findings he disputes. Civil Beat reports those conclusions have continued to trail his public profile. Mayor Blangiardi has thrown his support behind Acting Director Lager, a preference that observers note could matter, since the commission’s budgets and working relationship with the administration will shape how the department actually operates.
What Comes Next
The Ocean Safety Commission plans to take public testimony at its Dec. 4 meeting, then keep reviewing the finalists before making a recommendation. Members of the public who want to follow the process or weigh in can track commission and department postings, along with application details, through the city and local outlets that have been covering the search, including Hawaii News Now. Commissioners have said they expect to name a permanent chief after further meetings and deliberations, and that whoever is chosen will take over an agency that has recently received capital investments and new lifeguard infrastructure reported in local coverage.
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