Bring Aquatic Safety Education
to Your School

By partnering with Palekana Aquatics Academy (PAA), your school can integrate a standards-based aquatic safety curriculum directly into the school day—giving every student access to life-saving education without barriers of cost, transportation, or access.

Curriculum Designed for Schools

Palekana’s Elementary School Aquatic Safety Program aligns with Hawaiʻi DOE health and physical education standards and national benchmarks for water safety education.

  • 10-Lesson Structure

    Delivered over one quarter, with 30-minute lessons combining classroom and in-water learning.

  • Academic + Practical Balance

    Students study risk recognition, safe behaviors, and emergency response while practicing aquatic movement and survival skills.

  • Equitable Access

    No fees for schools or families. Lessons take place during the regular school day.

  • Comprehensive Objectives

    Builds knowledge, motor skills, confidence, and aquatic competence—critical components of lifelong safety.

Instructional Format:

Classroom Learning

(hazards, environment awareness, safe choices)

+

Pool Sessions

(floating, treading, safe entries and exits, self-rescue)

Why Partner With
Palekana Aquatics Academy?

Partnering with PAA provides more than a PE supplement.
It’s a pathway to community safety and student empowerment.

Educational Benefits

  • Meets DOE requirements for physical education and health standards.

  • Enriches academic instruction through experiential learning.

  • Supports student well-being and social-emotional development.

Community Benefits

  • Provides equitable access to safety education for all students.

  • Reduces risk of aquatic injuries and drownings across the state.

  • Strengthens school-community relationships through shared values of safety and aloha.

Our Instructors

All PAA instructors are certified professionals with extensive experience in aquatic safety, instruction, and child development.

Each instructor completes ongoing training in:

  • Water Safety Instruction and Lifeguard Certification

  • Child Behavioral Guidance and Classroom Management

  • Inclusive Teaching for Students with Disabilities

  • Emergency Response and First Aid

This ensures every keiki receives individualized, safe, and developmentally appropriate instruction.

Our School Partners

Join a growing network of schools realizing the power of collaboration between educators and community-based safety initiatives.

Participating Schools Include:

  • Kaʻiulani Elementary

  • Lanakila Elementary

  • Likelike Elementary

  • Hōkūlani Elementary

Let’s work together to end preventable drownings through education.

  • "The Aquatic Safety Program teaches essential survival skills, helps children become comfortable in the water, increases parent engagement, and promotes consistent, on-time attendance. I appreciate that pool sessions focus on how to be safe in and around water. We are so grateful to have this partnership with you.”

    2nd Grade Teacher, Lanakila Elementary School

  • “Mahalo nui loa for providing our 3rd and 4th graders at Princess Victoria Ka'iulani Elementary with such a valuable and engaging water safety program! It is wonderful to hear about the progress the students made, and we are appreciative of the time, care, and expertise that you and the Palekana Aquatics Academy team brought to this experience.”

    Bebi Z.K. Davis, Ed.D; Ph.D.
    Principal, Princess Victoria Kaiulani Elementary School

  • “I never realized how many students had never swam before. There were quite a few that didn't even have swim clothes.”

    Mr. Jason Pavia
    3rd Grade Teacher, Princess Victoria Ka'iulani Elementary School

How to Get Started

Step 1.

Complete the brief Partner Application Form.

Step 2.

A member of our team will contact you to discuss your school’s needs, pool access, and scheduling.

Step 3.

Once approved, we’ll provide all instructional materials, certified instructors, and program coordination.

Together, We Can Keep Hawaiʻi’s Keiki Water-Safe

Apply to Partner