Kauai County opens registration May 20 for free summer swim lessons

At 8 a.m. on May 20, parents will have to move fast if they want one of Kaua‘i County’s free summer swim spots. The lessons are first-come, first-served, capped at 20 students per class, and the county says families should create a profile before enrollment so they are ready when the window opens.

The Department of Parks and Recreation’s 2026 program is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and runs in two sessions. Session 1 goes from June 2 to June 26, and Session 2 runs from June 30 to July 24. Classes are scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, giving families a structured summer schedule instead of an ad hoc open swim arrangement.

That structure matters on an island where swim instruction is more than a seasonal extra. For many Kaua‘i households, it is part childcare planning, part water-safety planning, especially as beaches, pools and waterways draw keiki all summer long. With only 20 seats per class, families that wait for the last minute are the most likely to miss out.

Each session ends with a graduation celebration, underscoring that the lessons are built as a progression, not a drop-in recreation program. Session 1 graduation is set for Saturday, June 27, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Session 2 graduation will be Saturday, July 25, also from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The county has used the same small-class model before, with a 2025 swim-lessons release also capping enrollment at 20 students per class for children ages 5 to 11.

Families needing disability-related accommodations are being told to contact Waimea Pool as soon as possible at 808-338-1271 or mwaiamau@kauai.gov. The county’s parks programs page also points families to the online profile step before enrollment, a small but important reminder for anyone trying to secure a place in a program that can fill quickly.