KAPA‘A — Advanced swimmers in the county’s swimming program got a treat Friday, which was the final day of the program at the Kapa‘a Swimming Pool. “Coach Jeremy Haupt has them learning how to stand-up paddle,” said Graham Kovarik, water
KAPA‘A — Advanced swimmers in the county’s swimming program got a treat Friday, which was the final day of the program at the Kapa‘a Swimming Pool.
“Coach Jeremy Haupt has them learning how to stand-up paddle,” said Graham Kovarik, water safety officer at the pool.
“Today is the last day of class, and the 20 students in the advanced class have an opportunity to learn (stand-up paddleboard) from Jeremy.”
Kovarik said members of the advanced class have a lot of time already in the pool, so they are able to stay on deck and just keep an eye on the swimmers.
“The younger and beginning swimmers don’t have the experience, so when they’re in the pool, we all need to be in the water,” Kovarik said.
Aiding Haupt and Kovarik in the summer program were Alia Weiss and Makana Waiamau.
During the summer program, which started July 5, Kovarik said the students were exposed to a lot of things besides swimming.
“Jeremy taught them a different stroke each day, but we also took them to visit the Hawaiian Monk Seal, and Jeremy even taught them how to tell the gender of crabs,” Kovarik said. “It’s been a fun summer.”
Haupt said both the county’s program and the Mokihana Aquatics Learn to Swim classes had its graduation Saturday morning.
It was followed by the Mokihana Aquatics Splash Bash, or more affectionately, The Lollipop Meet, which brings all swimmers in Learn to Swim classes together for a fun meet with lollipops as prizes.
“A lot of our kids (were) there,” said Haupt, who also helps coach Kapa‘a High School swimmers.
