Oleksii Savenko is the original founder of Swim Lessons Hawaii, a former elite swimmer hailing from Ukraine, brings over two decades of coaching and teaching expertise to the pool. Having honed his skills under world-class coaching with the Olympic development team, he channels his passion for swimming into his work. As the architect of the Total Life Swimming methodology and the visionary behind Swim Lessons Hawaii, he is committed to revolutionizing the way swimming is taught and approached.
Drawing from his rich competitive swimming background, Oleksii has cultivated a coaching philosophy rooted in his own journey. He seamlessly integrates a deep comprehension of physical movement, brain-based teaching techniques, and mindfulness practices to craft a cutting-edge coaching paradigm. Through his coaching, he seamlessly combines the physical, mental, and instructional aspects, offering a holistic approach to swimming that transcends conventional methodologies.

Hello, I'm Xiao. My journey with aquatic adventures began at the age of 6 when I first learned to swim. From swimming to surfing, diving to sailing, I've immersed myself in every opportunity the water has to offer. For me, the water isn't just a place to play; she is my confidant, my family, and my biggest supporter. The waves and currents have become my closest companions in life's journey. They witnessed my growth, shared in my triumphs, and provided solace during challenging times.
With a background in finance and business operations, I found a way to merge my professional skills with my passion for the water. This fusion gave rise to Swim Lessons Hawaii, a platform through which I can share the immense joy and fulfillment I've found in aquatic pursuits.
Sharing the wonders of the water with others it’s a passion that brings me fulfillment beyond measure.

Caroline is an enthusiastic coach who has been swimming since the age of 6. She has swam on club teams, and varsity for 4 years in high school and 2 years in college. Her main events were 400 IM, 200 IM, and breaststroke. She has been teaching swim lessons throughout the years at summer camp, during high school and periodically throughout college and beyond. With an education degree background, she has a great ability to teach in a variety of ways and with many different groups. She is passionate about teaching water safety, proper swim technique, and making swimming fun both in pools and open water.

Leah Carrington is a third-degree Taekwondo black belt and highly respected swim coach and martial arts instructor. Across both sports she fosters a positive learning environment of collaboration and respect amongst students, peers, and instructors. She has worked with students of all ages and ability levels and consistently delivers engaging and fulfilling training sessions to her students.
Leah is an excellent communicator, able to patiently provide direction and connect with her students. She specializes in introducing new swimmers to the water and providing a safe and comfortable environment for learning.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Leah was a competitive swim team member specializing in butterfly and backstroke. She won numerous local and state races and was a three-time division finalist over the course of her 11-year career.
Leah has developed training plans for all levels of swimmers ages 4-15 and has coached for Swim Lessons Hawaii since the beginning of 2023. She excels in both private lessons and small group sessions.

Hi there, I’m Jenner! I have been swimming competitively since the age of 7 years old and I have an extreme love and appreciation for the water and ocean. I pursued my childhood dream of swimming in college in which I swam for American River College and San Jose State University. As a professional “underdog”, I earned myself a spot as a scholar shipped athlete at SJSU and team captain my senior year. My best events were the 100 and 200 Breast as well as 50 free and 200 IM. I started lifeguarding and teaching lessons to children when I was 16 years old and realized my love for sharing water safety and skills with others. I have taught all ages ranging from 18 months to adults in their 70’s and each person is so uniquely different. I have coached ages 6-18 on swim team and have developed my skill in watching and refining stroke technique. The most exciting part about teaching and coaching for me is seeing skills “click” for the children and adults I get to work with. I love to work with children the most, as I believe they are truly our best teachers and bring an excitement and joy into learning. I believe that learning to swim is not only essential, but can also be done in a fun and engaging way!

Hi! My name is Liliya and I am so excited to help you and your family improve your water skills! I have been swimming since I was 4 years old and on a year-round club swim team since 10 years old. I swam competitively for 8 years and began my coaching journey in the last two years of that by helping out with the youngest swim group on my club team in New York. Since finishing my own competitive swim journey I have found immense joy in helping others enjoy the water just as much as I do! I work with people of all ages and abilities ranging from children just learning the basics to people learning butterfly and advanced stroke techniques for competition swimming. I also enjoy working with adults to overcome a fear of water; it's never too late to learn a new skill! I believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the water and it's my goal to make that possible for you and your family!

Growing up on Oahu was a great place to learn how the ocean works and what swimming skills worked best in a variety of calm or rough conditions. Today he spends his days lifeguarding on the beaches and enjoying the waves by surfing whenever possible.

Brett decided to start playing water polo in middle school and also played four seasons on his college team. He earned awards by being named to the All-WWPA team his sophomore year, the SCIAC All-Conference team for three years in a row (sophomore to senior), and was an All-American selection for those same three years as well.

He has worked with swim schools on Oahu and in New York and now enjoys working with Swim Lessons Hawaii to continue to spread his knowledge to anyone who wishes to learn and improve their swimming abilities.

Murti is a master yoga teacher, well known and respected on Oahu, and has been practicing Hatha Yoga since 1982 and teaching for 40 years. Many yoga Teachers on Oahu have been certified by Murti through Yoga Alliance Murti is one of the most experienced on the island teacher training on Ohau. Murti training is from the lineage of Himalayan yogi's style of healing alignment, balance, and body intelligence. In 2005 he trained with BKS Iyengar in Esta Park, Colorado. The guidance from BKS Iyengar brought awareness of the power of Alinement to Shumna (energy of spine) to work with ease and empowerment of unity of breath, body, and mind.

My name is Ruthie, and the ocean has been a central part of my life since I was young,

shaping me into a skilled swimmer and passionate advocate for water safety. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have the ocean as my playground. Most of my free time was spent participating in water sports like surfing, bodysurfing, and freediving. These activities instilled in me a profound love and respect for the water. At the age of ten, I began my journey in competitive swimming.

Throughout all four years of high school, I swam competitively as a varsity athlete, specializing in events such as the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650-yard freestyle. After high school, I felt compelled to give back to the ocean that brought me so much joy and I decided to become an ocean lifeguard. I discovered I had a deep-seated passion for educating others about ocean safety.

I have been a swim instructor for seven years, teaching individuals of all ages—from infants to seniors. Additionally, I have been teaching junior lifeguards for the past 4 years, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and proficiency in lifesaving techniques.

For me, the greatest joy comes from seeing my students gain confidence in themselves and develop a newfound respect for the water. My journey from competitive swimmer to lifeguard and instructor reflects not only my deep passion for water but also my commitment to ensuring that others can safely enjoy its wonders.