Sala is one of a dozen students in Palama Settlement's one-of-a-kind program that aims to expose at-risk youth in Kalihi to scuba diving.

"I learned an appreciation for underwater," said Sala, 17, who became a certified diver upon completion of the program. "It's a totally different world under water."

Larry Sweets, director of the Pakolea Academic Sports Program at Palama Settlement, helped coordinate the low-cost program that has certified nearly 20 kids since 1998 with diving instructor and Kalani High School teacher Bryan Silver, who donates his time and equipment.

Ground-breaking program

"It is the first program of its kind in Hawai'i for kids from low-income housing or in a low-income area," Sweets said. "It is a sport that kids are not ever going to be exposed to because of the expense of it. Very few people who work in low-income areas dive."

A majority of the youth in the program are from public housing such as Kuhio Park Terrace, Kaahumanu Homes and Mayor Wright Homes, Sweets said. The academic sports program, which oversees the scuba program, has 143 active students, Sweets said.

"They say that for other scuba diving lessons it can cost over $300," said Branden Agbunag, a Farrington High School junior. "But this is very cheap because you only have to pay $60 and they provide all the (equipment) for us."

Other activities

The scuba program is the latest in a series of creative activities hatched by Sweets with the help of friends. Others included a program with the Koko Crater Equestrian Center, where youth learned horseback riding under the direction of Dr. Emogene Yoshimura.

"In lieu of paying for lessons, they would clean stables and groom the horses, and instructors would teach them how to ride and teach them how to groom the horses," Sweets said.

Other programs included hikes, surfing, body boarding and throw-net fishing with Brother Noland, who teaches 'ukulele and slack-key guitar at Palama Settlement, Sweets said.

Sweets said he's trying to start a "deep sea fishing" program with assistance from the Hawai'i Yacht Club. The program would teach older teenagers how to troll for big fish such as mahi and ono.

"It's very expensive to go deep sea fishing, but if the kids can get out there and learn to do it, they can go out and crew on different people's boats, maybe even take tourists out," Sweets said. "It's also a way for them to be self-sufficient to catch fish for their family if they ever needed to."

Donations welcome

Palama Settlement is funded through Aloha United Way and other agencies that donate money, Sweets said.

"The programs on the side, like the scuba, equestrian, fishing, all of that, is anyone who we can beg, borrow or steal money from, literally," Sweets said. "We go out and just ask people. I just call in contacts is basically how I do it. I call people and say, 'Hey, can you donate money?' "

Sweets said he's lucky to be blessed with people who have "very good incomes and very good jobs," who are always willing to sponsor kids. There are also different companies that he will correspond with for money or equipment donations. Sweets said he tells prospective donors about the programs and provides them with background of the kids.

"It's an uphill battle all the way," Sweets said. "The payoff is when we see the kids excelling in sports or whatever they get involved in."

During his 10 years at Palama Settlement, Sweets said nearly three dozen of his kids have gone to college in Hawai'i or on the Mainland.

"This year, there were about 28 to 30 kids who graduated high school and are going to college," Sweets said.

Sweets said the academics it takes to dive are basically college-level courses. He said once youth learn how to use the equipment, which is very technical, and become certified divers, their self-confidence and self-esteem increases.

Helping for the future

"They can also take this further and get jobs in the diving industry as instructors or working in a dive shop, helping maintain equipment or lead dive tours," Sweets said. "This kind of opens up a lot of avenues for the kids. It is challenging. Once they get through the academics of it and the fear of diving then they realize they can do anything."

Sala and other diving students said the academic sports program at Palama Settlement taught them the importance of school work, teamwork and the environment.

"It helped me push through school," said Joe Groaning, a McKinley High School sophomore. "It made struggling through school easier. We have study halls and tutors come in from other schools to help with our homework (at Palama Settlement)."

Brian Baniaga, a Farrington High School junior, said he would recommend the diving class to peers. He said without the structure of the Palama Settlement program, he would probably get into mischief.

"I would probably be on the street or something, a bad boy," Baniaga said. "When you're at Palama, it gives you something to do after school so you stay off the streets."