Statewide discussions on aquatic safety education identified a clear and urgent need here in Hawaiʻi.
During community and Department of Health–led meetings, including the Keiki Water Safety Initiative, educators, aquatic professionals, and public health officials recognized that many students in Hawaiʻi did not have equitable access to essential water safety instruction. PAA was created as a direct response to those findings.
Palekana Aquatics Academy provides water safety and swim skill education to elementary school students during school hours, eliminating barriers related to cost, transportation, and access.
In 2024–2025, PAA provided programming to schools in the McKinley complex, including Kaʻiulani Elementary, Lanakila Elementary, and Likelike Elementary. In partnership with Palama Settlement, lessons were offered free of charge to students, with all costs — including instructors, equipment, teaching supplies, and extra swimwear when needed — covered through a contract with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education.
With additional support from a grant awarded by the CDC Foundation, PAA is expanding its program to schools in the Kaimukī complex and continuing to ensure that more students receive this vital safety education.
“Drowning is a leading cause of death for children in Hawaii, and per-capita resident drownings in Hawaii are second highest in the nation. During the 2024-2025 school year, PAA provided programming to schools in the McKinley complex.
We are excited to expand this opportunity to additional schools and provide more students with this vital safety education.”
- Dan Worden, Executive Director, Palekana Aquatics Academy
Our Mission
Palekana Aquatics Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization dedicated to reducing drownings and other aquatic injuries in Hawaiʻi.
We provide and support water safety education that elevates competence in aquatics and enables individuals of all ages to more safely interact with aquatic environments.
Our program combines classroom and in-pool instruction to give students the knowledge, skills, and experience to avoid and recover from hazardous aquatic situations. Lessons are designed to fit within the school day and align with state and national standards for physical education and health.
Our Vision
We envision a Hawaiʻi where every student has the opportunity to learn how to be safe in and around the water — regardless of background, ability, or access.
We aim to integrate aquatic safety education as a consistent part of the public school experience, starting at the elementary level, so that all keiki gain essential safety skills as part of their overall education.
By partnering with the Department of Education, community pools, and local organizations, we strive to reach more schools each year, supporting a statewide standard for aquatic safety that strengthens families, schools, and communities.
Our Values
We believe safety and learning go hand in hand — every lesson combines classroom and in-pool instruction that helps students recognize risks, make safe choices, and build confidence through real experience. curriculum aligns with State and National Health and Physical Education standards and fulfills the Hawaiʻi DOE Annual Ocean Safety Education Requirement for Elementary Schools
Collaboration is central to our partnerships with public schools and community organizations — including Palama Settlement and Kanewai Community Park Pool — to make aquatic safety education part of the school day.
We ensure that every hour in the pool and classroom supports both academic and lifelong safety goals for Hawaiʻi’s keiki.