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.
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Orlando S. Anaya aka Coach O is a resident of Kapa‘a and is also President/Head Coach of Mokihana Aquatics
