Nā Kama Kai, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) and the Office of Hawaiian Education, is launching a pilot ocean education program for 4th-grade students on the West Side of Oʻahu. This initiative emphasizes Nā Kama Kai’s commitment to serving underserved keiki in the region, where public swimming pools are scarce and ocean safety is critical for children who want to learn to swim and play safely.
Building on Nā Kama Kai’s decades of experience providing culturally grounded ocean safety programs, the pilot reflects the organization’s dual expertise in both water safety and Hawaiian cultural education. Nā Kama Kai’s long-standing impact has been strengthened through its partnership with Leahi Swim School, founded by Lori Komer, and the support of Ben Komer, who brings his expertise and commitment to water safety to his role as a member of Nā Kama Kai’s board of directors. Through its regular programming, including free ocean clinics, community sails, and ocean safety workshops, Nā Kama Kai has long equipped students with practical swimming skills, ocean knowledge, and cultural grounding to ensure safe and respectful engagement with Hawaiʻi’s coastal environment.
Since 2023, Nā Kama Kai has also partnered with Leahi Swim School, Liliʻuokalani Trust, and the Nānākuli Kipuka to pilot ocean swim lessons for keiki during spring, summer, and fall breaks. These collaborative programs serve as a vital foundation for expanding culturally relevant and accessible water safety education in underserved communities, particularly on the Waiʻanae Coast. The Kawānanakoa Foundation gave a generous $50,000 grant last year that helped launch the swim lessons. Their support aligns perfectly with their mission to empower Native Hawaiian people—especially by investing in our keiki.
The program began on August 20, 2025, and will run weekdays through Thanksgiving weekend, with an initial cohort of 450 students. This immersive five-day program gives keiki hands-on experience in ocean safety, swim skills, and cultural ocean knowledge. Each classroom will participate for one hour per day, which includes 20 minutes of swim lessons with Leahi Swim School, 20 minutes at the ocean safety tent, and 20 minutes of additional ocean-focused activities at the hoʻokele (wayfinding) tent. Participating students will also complete pre- and post-assessments to measure growth, reflection, and understanding of ocean safety concepts.
“Access to water safety education has long been limited on Oʻahu’s West Side,” said Duane DeSoto, CEO and Founder of Nā Kama Kai. “This program fills a critical gap, teaching keiki not just how to swim, but how to respect and safely engage with the ocean.”
This marks the first HIDOE school swim program partnership since Ralph Goto ran a statewide environmental education and aquatics safety program reaching over 10,000 fourth-grade public school students from 1978 to 1980.
“The HIDOE is proud to support programs that blend safety, culture and experiential learning,” said Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “This partnership with Nā Kama Kai represents an important step forward in providing our students with meaningful, hands-on opportunities that connect them to Hawai‘i’s unique natural environment. Students will gain not only the skills and confidence they need to navigate Hawai‘i’s waters safely, but also a deeper appreciation for the traditions and values that have sustained our island communities for generations.”
The pilot program also aligns with larger statewide water safety efforts, including the newly released 2025 Hawai‘i Water Safety Plan, the first of its kind for Hawaiʻi. Developed with the Hawai‘i Water Safety Coalition based on input from families, community leaders, and safety experts, the plan outlines strategies for prevention, education, and community engagement. By contributing to this plan and implementing hands-on programs like the pilot, Nā Kama Kai is helping advance a collective vision for safer waters across Hawaiʻi.
