Honoring Alex & Duke De Rego Through Water Safety, Education, and Community
Growing up in Waimea, the ocean was always a part of our lives. Some of my fondest memories are of paddling with Kawaihae Canoe Club, spending weekends along our coastline, and being surrounded by families who shared their knowledge of the ocean with the next generation.
We learned from our kūpuna, our coaches, our aunties and uncles, and one another. We learned to love the ocean, respect its power, and understand that no two coastlines, currents, or conditions are ever quite the same.
Those lessons stay with you.
Today, as a mother and grandmother, I think about how important it is that we continue passing this knowledge on to our keiki. Not just teaching them to swim, but helping them understand the ocean, recognize danger, make good decisions, and know what to do when someone needs help.
Because as much as we love the ocean, we cannot take our safety in it for granted.
The Reality of Drowning in Hawaiʻi
The statistics are difficult to read, especially when you consider the families and lives behind them.
According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, our state has the second-highest resident drowning rate in the nation. Drowning is also the leading cause of death among Hawaiʻi children ages 1 through 15.
Perhaps even more concerning, fewer than 2% of Hawaiʻi’s second graders have demonstrated the basic water safety skills necessary to avoid or recover from drowning.
And here on Hawaiʻi Island, the numbers hit especially close to home. State health data from 2013–2017 identified Hawaiʻi County as having the highest resident drowning mortality rate among the state’s four counties.
These aren’t simply statistics about visitors unfamiliar with our waters. They are about our own communities, our neighbors, our friends, and our families.
We live surrounded by water, yet far too many of our children lack access to the education and experience that could one day save their lives.
I believe we can change that.
Two Brothers, One Extraordinary Legacy
The Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation was born from a mother’s unimaginable loss and her determination to turn heartbreak into something meaningful for others.
In September 2005, Shirley De Rego lost her 12-year-old son, Alexander, during a family camping trip along the South Kona coastline.
Less than five years later, the family experienced another devastating loss when her 14-year-old son, Duke, passed away following a golf cart accident. Duke went on to save lives through organ donation.
Two beloved brothers, gone far too soon.
In 2011, Shirley established the Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation in their memory, guided by faith, love, and a desire to help prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.
What began as a way to honor her sons has grown into a meaningful commitment to the children and families of Hawaiʻi Island.
I have tremendous respect for Shirley and the work she and the foundation have carried forward. There is something incredibly powerful about choosing to respond to loss with love, service, and hope.
And that is exactly what this foundation represents.
Teaching Skills That Can Save Lives
The foundation’s work goes far beyond telling children to be careful around water.
Through its Water Safety & Ocean Awareness Education Program, Hawaiʻi Island middle school students participate in hands-on learning experiences led by trained water safety professionals and lifeguards.
Students learn about ocean currents, waves, changing conditions, swimming, rescue techniques, physical fitness, first aid, and CPR.
They learn how to recognize dangerous situations and how to respond safely.
Perhaps most importantly, they gain confidence and a greater understanding of their responsibility to themselves and others.
There is also a cultural component to water safety that I believe deserves more attention.
For generations, the people of Hawaiʻi have relied on an intimate understanding of the ocean. Fishing, diving, paddling, gathering, and navigating our coastlines all require knowledge that is developed through experience and passed down through families.
Our kūpuna understood that respecting the ocean meant understanding it.
Combining that knowledge with modern water safety education is an opportunity to strengthen both our children and our communities.
The foundation also carries a long-term vision of helping create a community swim center, expanding opportunities for families to learn essential swimming and water safety skills.
For an island surrounded by water, access to those skills should not be out of reach.
Coming Together for Something That Matters
On Saturday, November 7, 2026, the Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation will host its annual Fall Benefit at the Parker School SMART Center in Waimea.
It will be an evening of wonderful food, live music, community, and, most importantly, purpose.
Guests will enjoy culinary offerings from talented Hawaiʻi Island chefs and restaurants, a silent auction, and live entertainment from Pō & The 4 Fathers and Manaʻo Company.
This year’s program will also feature a special conversation, Weaving Culture & Water Safety Together, bringing together respected local watermen and community voices, including Justin Lee, Bruce Ayau, and the foundation’s Water Safety Program Director, Bullet Obra.
The discussion will explore the relationship between cultural knowledge, ocean awareness, and the responsibility we share in preparing future generations.
We’ll also recognize lifeguard and keiki heroes, honoring extraordinary acts of courage and reminding us how quickly an ordinary day can change.
These are stories worth hearing and people worth celebrating.
But beyond the music, the food, and the evening itself, this benefit is about continuing the work.
Every ticket purchased, every auction donation, every volunteer hour, and every contribution helps support the foundation’s mission of bringing lifesaving education to our island’s youth.
A Future Worth Working Toward
I often think about the kind of Hawaiʻi we want to leave for our children and grandchildren.
I want them to experience the same joy and connection to the ocean that so many of us grew up with. I want them to know our coastlines, appreciate our traditions, and feel a sense of belonging and responsibility to the places they call home.
And I want them to have the knowledge and skills to return home safely.
We cannot eliminate every danger, but we can do more to prepare our children. We can make education more accessible. We can share what we know. And we can come together to support organizations already doing this important work.
That is what community has always meant to me.
I hope you’ll join us on November 7, learn more about the Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation, and consider becoming part of this effort.
Because protecting our keiki and caring for one another is a responsibility we all share.
ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.
No task is too big when done together by all.
Join Us — Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation Fall Benefit
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Parker School SMART Center | Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island
Doors open at 5:30 PM | Event concludes at 10:00 PM
Purchase tickets or support the foundation:
https://alexanddukederegofoundation.ejoinme.org/fallbenefit
Watch the foundation’s story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIEbXwLbaTk
Learn more about the foundation:
https://www.alexanddukederegofoundation.com/
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