They've got plans to cruise the mall, watch movies and — just for a change — learn to save lives.

These two soon-to-be eighth graders at the Education Laboratory are signed up for the Junior Lifeguard Program, which starts today statewide.

And though they have a lot in common, they have slightly different motives for enrolling in the one-week course.

Mann, 12, wants to learn how to rescue someone in distress in the ocean, maybe master CPR.

Franklin, 13, hopes there are cute guys in her class.

"That's definitely part of the reason," she said, laughing. "Yeah, seeing cute boys, I have no problem with that."

Over the past 14 summers, the Junior Lifeguard Program has taught thousands of Hawai'i teenagers about ocean safety and awareness, with emphasis on honing water skills.

More than 1,000 teens ages 13 to 17 have signed up so far for this summer's program.

"We live on an island, so learning these things only makes sense," said Matt Miller, program coordinator and training officer for the city's Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Division. "It's surprising how many people here don't know how to swim."

With the growing popularity of ocean sports in Hawai'i — in particular, surfing, kiteboarding and paddling — knowing how to be safe in the ocean is becoming hugely critical for the nearly 18 million people who hit the beach in Hawai'i every year.

According to the city, last year lifeguards performed 1,437 rescues and more than 80,000 cases of minor first aid. There were 539 surfing-related accidents — nearly half in Waikiki alone — and two drownings.

"The beach is part of everybody's lives here," said lifeguard Cody Hesser, 22, who works primarily in Waikiki and at Ala Moana Beach. "Knowing how to help someone instead of just standing there and watching them is important."

That's where the Junior Lifeguard Program comes in.

Throughout the week, teens learn everything from paddling rescue boards to performing CPR from veteran lifeguards. They also get important life lessons about exercise, skin cancer and ocean conservation.

Dozens of junior lifeguards have applied what they learned in the program to real-life situations, some actually saving someone's life.

"This program has something for anyone," Miller said. "From the person who knows how to swim but doesn't know much about the ocean to the opposite ... They will learn something."

There are about 20 city lifeguards — including Hesser — who were once junior lifeguards. In the most recent recruit class, four of nine have gone through the program.

"The beauty of this program is that it really helps kids learn about the ocean," Miller said.

It's almost like a scaled-down version of what prospective lifeguards would have to go through in the city's training program — only this one is more fun.

Franklin is looking forward to the class, which she'll be taking with two of her friends. They'll get to hang out on the beach all day, learn about water safety and maybe improve their surfing skills.

"I wanted to do it because it sounded like fun and I get to be with my friends," said Franklin, who's on the swim team at the Oahu Club. "It's just something different to do this summer."

And hopefully, Franklin said, she'll learn how to save lives. Just in case.

Mann doesn't remember nearly drowning in a pool — she was 3 — but she realizes the importance of knowing how to handle herself in the ocean.

She's taken swim lessons and now wants to be even stronger — and safer — in the ocean.

"As you get older, you become more independent and you might go to the beach by yourself or with your friends, and you should be able to swim and know how to protect yourself while you're in the water," Mann said. "It's good to know about lifeguarding in case something happens."