LIHU‘E — The first rule of ocean safety is to learn to swim, said Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya. “This is not something new,” he said. “A lot of different agencies recommend the same thing.” We live on an
LIHU‘E — The first rule of ocean safety is to learn to swim, said Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya.
“This is not something new,” he said. “A lot of different agencies recommend the same thing.”
We live on an island surrounded by water, and everyone should know how to swim, he said.
Mokihana Aquatics is accepting reservations for its summer Learn to Swim program, which covers infants through adults.
The first session starts May 30, with classes scheduled through July 19.
Classes will be held at the Kaua‘i High School pool except for the ocean safety program, which will be held at the east end of Kalapaki Bay.
Pre-registration is required for any of the classes and can be done by calling 821-0587.
The infant and preschool aquatic program is for infants newborn to 35 months, while the Tiny Tots program covers keiki 3 and 4 years old.
This has proven to be one of the more popular classes with spots filling quickly.
The first class for this group is May 30 through June 11, and consists of eight 30-minute classes with time availability starting at 1 p.m., 1:35 p.m., or 2:10 p.m.
The Learn to Swim program covers keiki 5 years old and older and includes classes for beginners advanced beginners, intermediate swimmers, and advanced swimmers.
The program also includes 14 one-hour classes with the first class starting May 30.
Mokihana Aquatics started offering Learn to Swim classes as a way of giving back to the community, states its website.
The Learn to Swim program is led by Anaya who gets assistance from Mokihana junior leaders, swimmers from the Mokihana Aquatics program who have been certified into the program.
The junior leaders, range in age from 12 to 16 years old. Classes have a 6-1, or less, learner-to-instructor ratio.
Anaya said not only do students benefit from this more individualized ratio, but the junior leaders learn leadership skills. Because many of the qualified junior leaders are too young to seek employment, the program offers them the opportunity to do something constructive during the summer.
The Mokihana Learn to Swim program also offers ocean awareness and water safety as an integral part of the classes.
Anaya said as children advance in their swimming and get more comfortable in the water, they take more risks, increasing the potential for getting into trouble.
Anaya said he met with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation to get the nod to also offer a summer swimming league, which is the equivalent of the many community programs for youth being offered by the Deptartment of Parks and Recreation in other fields.
For more information, rate schedule, and full schedule of class offerings, visit www.mokihanaaquatics.com, or call 821-0587.
•Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
