Kara, Founder

Kara Gibler grew up on Oahu’s Windward side in Kailua, where water was a big part of her life from day one. With a background in Communication Sciences and Disorders, she’s spent years working with Hawaii’s keiki in behavioral sciences, mainly in school settings. When she discovered Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) lessons, it felt like everything clicked—it was the perfect blend of her love for water safety and her passion for helping kids grow and thrive. Like most kids raised in Hawaii, Kara was always in the water, paddling outrigger canoes from age 10 and even training as a junior lifeguard. She first came across ISR when she enrolled her own son and watched him learn skills that could save his life. Seeing him flip, float, and swim to safety at just 6 months old was eye-opening, and it sparked her dream of helping other keiki gain these essential skills. In 2022, Kara co-founded Moku Swim Academy, and she recently relaunched Ola Loa Swim Academy to bring quality swim lessons to even more families. She’s all about making water safety accessible to everyone and can’t wait to work with more ohana to help kids build confidence and safety in the water.

Morgan, Aquatic Director & Program Coordinator

Morgan oversees the day-to-day operations of our swim programs, including staff training, scheduling, curriculum coordination, and parent communication. With a strong background in coaching young children and safety, Morgan ensures every class runs smoothly and meets the highest standards of quality and care. Her leadership helps create a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for swimmers of all ages and abilities.

Alice, Community & Onboarding Support / Water Safety Instructor

Hi, I’m Alice! I’m from a small town in Utah and have always loved working with kids. I grew up babysitting and swimming competitively, which naturally led me to teaching swim lessons. Over the past year and a half, I’ve worked both at a school and as a swim instructor, gaining hands-on experience supporting children’s growth and confidence. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Child Development and am passionate about helping kids learn, thrive, and have fun along the way!

Alecia, Operations & Team Support / Water Safety Instructor

Alecia was born and raised in Northern California, where a lifelong connection to the water began. Starting competitive swimming at the age of ten, she went on to become a decorated swimmer, competing from age 10 to 22. As a high school athlete, Alecia was a four-year varsity swimmer at Bishop Quinn High School, where she achieved multiple California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships (2001, 2002, 2003). Continuing her passion in college, Alecia swam competitively at Washington and Jefferson College and played water polo for the University of Hawaii. She has remained active in the sport as a Masters swimmer from age 22 to the present.

In 2002, Alecia co-founded the Stingrays Swim Team at the Shasta County YMCA, marking the beginning of a lifelong career in aquatic education and safety. With over 25 years of experience as a swim instructor, Alecia has taught individuals of all ages and abilities—from infants to adults and beginners to competitive swimmers. Her expertise extends to open water swimming instruction (22+ years), snorkeling tours, and special needs swim education (8+ years). Alecia also holds a PADI certification and spent five years working as a snorkeling guide, deckhand, and boating safety expert.

As a community enrichment program assistant at the Waikiki Aquarium (2004–2006), Alecia furthered her commitment to marine ecology, which aligns with her academic background—a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, specializing in Marine Ecology.

Alecia has worked across the U.S., teaching and coaching in states like California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes individualized instruction, whether preparing students for Junior Lifeguards, refining stroke mechanics for triathletes, or coaching open water swimmers. With a passion for making swimming accessible to all, Alecia has played a vital role in promoting water safety and the sport of swimming alongside her sister, international ultra-marathon open water swimmer Lexie Kelly.

For Alecia, swimming is more than a sport—it’s a way of life. She believes that everyone can learn to swim and is dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments for swimmers of all levels and abilities to thrive.

Megan, Operations Manager

Hi, I'm Megan, a Kailua mom whose son is a member of the Ola Loa Swim Academy. As a mom, I know firsthand how important it is for our keiki to feel safe and confident in the water. Living in Hawaii, the ocean is part of our everyday life, and water safety is something I am very passionate about.

My career has been centered around supporting mom-owned businesses, helping the women behind them grow and thrive in what they've built. With a background in operations, I bring behind-the-scenes support and organization to the owner's vision. Ola Loa Swim Academy is a beautiful example of what's possible when a mom's vision meets real community need. It's a place where families can trust that their little ones are in caring, capable hands, and I'm grateful to be part of this ohana.