Hawaii Proposes New Mandatory Water Safety Standards
The state education department seeks to add water safety lessons to physical education requirements for all grade levels.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Hawaii Department of Education has proposed new physical education standards that would mandate water safety instruction for students at every grade level. This initiative aims to address the state's high rate of drowning, which remains the leading cause of death for local children ages 1 to 15.
Why it matters
The proposal seeks to establish consistent drowning prevention knowledge across Hawaii, where only an estimated 50 percent of children are believed to know how to swim. By formalizing this requirement, the department hopes to improve fundamental safety skills among students throughout the state.
Only six schools in Hawaii currently have pools, with four located in Honolulu and none in Maui County. A 2019 assessment found that just 2% of second graders in Maui, Kauai, and Oahu could demonstrate fundamental swimming skills.
The players
Hawaii Department of Education
This state-level agency is responsible for the administration of public schools and the development of academic and physical education standards across Hawaii.
No More Under
This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to drowning prevention that provides swimming lessons and water safety resources to local students.
Palekana Aquatics Academy
This organization facilitates swimming instruction for students by coordinating transportation to available aquatic facilities.
The details
Schools lacking direct pool access will provide water safety curriculum through classroom-based instruction. Additionally, organizations like No More Under and Palekana Aquatics Academy continue to supplement these efforts by transporting students to community or university pools.
Timeline
A 2019 assessment and report measured student swimming skills and drowning rates.
The state legislature failed to pass a $1 million water instruction program in 2023.
Nonprofits are currently offering swimming classes to students as of fall 2026.
The state education board is set to vote on the proposed PE standards during the 2026-2027 school year.
Culture Shift
The proposed standards mark a regulatory effort to codify water safety education following the failure of the 2023 state legislative water instruction funding bill. This shift reflects a broader societal push to institutionalize drowning prevention as a required component of the modern curriculum.
Families across the state can expect new water safety modules to be integrated into their children's physical education classes if the board approves the proposal. For students at schools without pools, this may involve increased opportunities for off-campus lessons provided by community partners.
The takeaway
Universal water safety instruction aims to bridge the gap between low basic swimming proficiency and the high risks associated with island living. Parents and students should monitor the upcoming board vote to understand how these requirements will specifically shape local school schedules.
What happens next
The Hawaii state education board is scheduled to hold a formal vote on the proposed physical education standards during the 2026-2027 school year.
Further reading
For more information on curriculum updates, visit the Secondary Education resource page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Honolulu Civil Beat.
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Should local schools be required to provide in-water swimming lessons for all students?
