LIHUE — Jim Jung of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and vice president of the Kauai Lifeguard Association described the youth as “force multipliers.” “They’re out there teaching people how to swim,” said Jung on Monday while watching the class
LIHUE — Jim Jung of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and vice president of the Kauai Lifeguard Association described the youth as “force multipliers.”
“They’re out there teaching people how to swim,” said Jung on Monday while watching the class at the Kauai High School pool. “An officer with the USCG Auxiliary made up the term ‘force multipliers,’ and that’s what these kids are. They know how to swim and they’re teaching others how to swim. They make a big difference.”
Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya said the Junior Leaders Development Program is the next best thing the swim club does next to competitive swimming.
“These kids learn real-life leadership skills,” Anaya said. “I challenge anyone, anywhere to show me a program as intensive, rewarding, and demanding, while being way too much fun.”
Anaya said the Mokihana Junior Leaders are swimmers with the Mokihana Aquatics program, and while many of them are too young to have summer jobs, they spend their summers in the water as lifeguards, instructors, and aides to the Learn to Swim program.
“The end result of all this is that a huge number of children learn to swim, and learn to be safe in, on, and around the water,” Anaya said.
Jung, who had two granddaughters in the Mokihana Aquatics Learn to Swim program, said he appreciates the fact young swimmers get a more personalized approach to learning their way around water.
Mokihana Aquatics has 11 Junior Leaders of varying ages, Anaya said.
“Some of them are new to the program this year while many are returnees from previous years,” he said. “They work hard, they have fun, and they come back.”
Among the ranks of the Junior Leaders, there is a head lifeguard who oversees the other leaders and a lifeguard stationed with a rescue tube on the pool deck.
There are also instructors, depending on age, taking charge of classes with Anaya’s close oversight. Finally, there are the aides who provide one-to-one relationship with students in the water.
Anaya, whose Mokihana Aquatics team came off a vigorous volunteer effort at the Taste of Hawaii Sunday, said on most days the Junior Leaders come in at least 30 minutes prior to the start of class to go over class assignments and lesson plans.
“Then, when classes start, they are busier than just about anyone,” Anaya said. “And, they have to do this in an extreme environment — hot sun in the early afternoon. Despite the adversity, they come back every year.”
Visit www.mokihanaaquatics.com or call 821-0587 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
