The Honolulu Emergency Medical Services recognized paramedic Kazuo Yamauchi as the honoree of EMS Week at Honolulu Hale on Monday. EMS Chief Dean Nakano presented Yamauchi with the Lokahi (working together) Award, which embodies this year’s theme, “Stronger together.”

Yamauchi, 34, has been an EMS paramedic for seven years and works at one of the busiest EMS stations in Honolulu, Charlie 1, near Kuakini Medical Center.

“He is a really humble guy and doesn’t like to take credit for all he does, but he is finally being recognized by all of his peers and his chiefs,” said Nakano. “I recognize him as being a role model for our future paramedics.”

In his nomination, fellow paramedic Kevin Twomey wrote that he always looked forward to working with Yamauchi because of his humble attitude.

“I asked him if he was going to become a preceptor (a mentor), with the same sentiment, he answered, ‘I’m not sure if my experience is ready to offer everything an intern needs.’ In my eyes, at the time, he would have made a fantastic preceptor. … It was a testament to his humility,” wrote Twomey.

In addition to being a paramedic, Yamauchi is a member of the EMS bike team and actively volunteers for EMS public events. Embodying the humility he was recognized for, Yamauchi said, “I don’t do this alone. I’ve got a great team, and everybody from supplies all the way up to people I don’t know help make this possible. And I just honestly try to do my job every day.”

City Managing Director Roy Amemiya Jr. presented Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s proclamation recognizing May 20-26, 2018, as Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Week. This week also marks the 44th annual National EMS Week. The proclamation acknowledges the dedication required of EMS as the front line of medicine for both the public safety community and broader community.

In 2017 the 20 Honolulu EMS stations responded to approximately 86,000 emergency medical calls.