Makai Swim School

Makai Swim School offers one-on-one private swim lessons for any age and skill level, including adults and swimmers with an IEP. It also offers Waterbugs, Starfish, Turtles, Sharks, and Whales classes, along with Swim With Me parent-and-child lessons, Adaptive IEP Swim Lessons, and Summer Camp at Makai 2026.

Programs

• Private — any age, any level · One-on-one class for swimmers of any age and skill level, including adults. Also available for swimmers with an IEP.
• Waterbugs (Level 1) — 2.5-5yrs · Semi-private class for beginner littles.
• Starfish (Level 2) — 3-5yrs · Mini-group for advanced beginner swimmers transitioning to more independent swimming.
• Turtles (Level 3) — 4-6yrs · Group class for intermediate swimmers.
• Sharks (Level 4) — 5-10yrs · Group class for advanced swimmers.
• Whales (Level 5) — 7-10yrs · Group class for pre-competitive swimmers.
• Swim With Me — 5mo-1.5yrs & 1.5-3yrs · Group class for parents/guardians and their infant swimmers.
• Adaptive IEP Swim Lessons — any age, any level · Individualized one-on-one swim instruction for swimmers who benefit from additional support or accommodations.
• Summer Camp at Makai 2026 — 4-8yrs · Playful mix of swimming, creative crafts, games, and outdoor fun in a safe, supportive setting.

At a glance

• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Current session: 2027 Spring Session (Mar 1–May 22, 2027); 2027 Summer Session (May 31–Aug 7, 2027); 2027 Fall Session (Aug 16–Nov 6, 2027)
• General schedule: Swim lessons run in sessions only; no single or drop-in lessons. Classes meet weekly for 30 minutes.
• Facility hours: Mon-Thur: 4:00pm - 7:00pm; Mon, Weds, Fri & Sat: 10:00am-1:00pm

About the provider

Makai Swim School opened in 1989, and its About page says, “Teaching swimming since 1974!” Tami Nixon is the owner and operator. Ashley is Operations Manager, Kaya is Summer Camp Manager & Deck Supervisor, and Lindsey is Lead Instructor & Manager. The school says it serves over 2000 families a year.

• Swim Camp Kits — Themed swim camp kits for swim school owners.

Only in the Parent Baby lessons is a parent or caregiver required to be in the water. Parents and family members may watch but should not engage with the child during the lesson. If a child is in the wrong class, staff will do their best to find a better fit, subject to availability. Requests for specific instructors are not guaranteed. All children 3 and under are required to wear the Happy Swim Diaper with a disposable swimmer diaper or the New Happy Nappy DUO.

What families say

“I love that the Makai instructors teach the whole kid and move at their pace.” — Happy Parent

“This was my son's first swim school and we did the parent baby swim. We both enjoyed it and learned so much. The instructors were professional and friendly and greeted us by name every time. I highly recommend them!” — Farah B.

Last updated October 5, 2026.