HI-PAL thanks community for swimmingly successful inaugural Kawamoto Classic

Hawai‘i Island Police Activities League, also known as HI-PAL, found out that when it decides to dip its toe in the pool to test the waters of a new event, the temperature will likely be more than comfortable.

Organizers and Big Island police appreciate everyone who participated and volunteered to make the first Kawamoto Classic a swimming success.

More than 100 keiki up to age 17 years old spent the day Sept. 27 at Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto Swim Stadium in Hilo learning and participating in a variety of aquatic activities.

They rotated through swimming fundamentals, water polo and diving basics before wrapping up with a series of friendly races that brought out a competitive excitement and quick smiles across the faces of everyone involved.

“Living on an island, it’s amazing how many people don’t know how to swim,” said one parent attending the event in a release about its success. “This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce young children to the water.”

The Kawamoto Classic is designed to introduce keiki to aquatic sports and promote water safety. Activities were led by student volunteers, coaches and staff from Waiākea and Hilo schools.

Nonprofit Hawai‘i Aquatics Foundation, founded in 2017 in response to drowning being the leading cause of injury and death for Hawai’i children ages 1 to 14 years old, reports that Hawai’i also has the second highest drowning rate per capita for all ages in the nation.

The Hawai‘i Aquatics Academy 2018-19 School Year 2nd-Grade Student Assessment Report summed it up by showing that out of the 564 Kaua‘i, Maui and O‘ahu second-graders assessed that year, just 31% could swim 25 yards.

A total of 63% could not satisfactorily demonstrate any of the three skills they were asked to, which included swimming 25 yards, floating 30 seconds or treading water for 60 seconds.

HI-PAL hopes the Kawamoto Classic becomes an annual tradition for years to come following the overwhelming success of this year’s inaugural event.

Visit the Hawai‘i Police Department website for additional information about HI-PAL and its upcoming activities and other other announcements.