In an analogy most suitable I am blowing my whistle. What does the whistle mean? Listen. Being involved in water safety and recreation my whole life gave me pause to use this most fitting analogy. Good lifeguards do not make rescues, they prevent accidents from happening. We blow the whistle when someone is running on the pool deck or attempts to dive into shallow water.
We blow the whistle when someone attempts to enter big surf without proper equipment. We blow our whistle to warn swimmers of rip currents, strong currents or walking on rocks where waves are breaking. Yes, the best lifeguards hardly get wet as their job is prevention. Prevention is what Mokihana Aquatics will be doing going into our 40th year of service to the Kaua‘i community at large.
Who is Mokihana Aquatics and what do we do? Well, my friends, if you do not know just ask your neighbors, friends or family.
We are not just a competitive swim team that has produced outstanding swimmers and outstanding members of our community, we offer many services for our community.
We have services for troubled teens dealing with suicide, drug prevention, services for our seniors through aquacise and water-walking, and adult Learn To Swim all the way to Masters training. We work with latchkey children offering after-school programs, and incorporate ocean safety into our legendary Learn To Swim program.
We provide Kaua‘i with economic opportunities and work with all ages and abilities for persons with special needs. Yes, we serve all Kaua‘i and all its needs. But, for now, we need to do some preventative lifeguarding.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak our Board of Directors, along with our staff and community group of advisors, will be suspending all activities of Mokihana Aquatics until it is deemed safe to be back in the water in a team setting and to resume our services to the Kaua‘i community. Meanwhile we will continue to be proactive in our community through public information and forums covering aquatic safety and recreation.
We make this decision on behalf of you, Kaua‘i—our community that we have proudly served and you have supported so generously throughout the years. We will be proactive in prevention for our Kaua‘i nei. We love you, Kaua‘i, and look forward to reopening as soon as possible with your continued support and aloha. The whistle is now blown. Be safe.
•••
Orlando S. Anaya aka Coach O is a resident of Kapa‘a and is also President/Head Coach of Mokihana Aquatics
The unemployment rate is highest in these 10 states, according to Department of Labor data released at the end of June:
Nevada: 25.3 percent
Hawaii: 22.6 percent
Michigan: 21.2 percent
Rhode Island: 16.3 percent
Massachusetts: 16.3 percent
California: 16.3 percent
Delaware: 15.8 percent
New Jersey: 15.2 percent
Illinois: 15.2 percent
Washington: 15.1 percent
If lifeguards Can figure this out why can’t the medical industry?
After the fact sickness and disease treatment with drugs is not prevention, while it is a $4Trillion dollar a year Industry.
Health is not an industry, it is about individual optimal life and longevity.
If you are already sick or diseased, you had no capable prevention. If you are taking medications you did not have adequate prevention.
Life Guards deserve our attention.