Water.
Water.
Swimming in it is liberating, splashing in it is just plain fun and for special needs individuals, it’s all around therapeutic.
Just ask Daryl “Sammy” Sampaga, a 43-year-old Hilo resident born with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Similar to muscular dystrophy, the condition affects his leg muscles and makes it difficult to walk.
“Water is the best healing for any human being,” Sampaga said. “You work every muscle. There’s the smiles, the sun, the potluck (afterward) and running around on the beach. Nothing is better. Everybody wins.”
In 2014, Sampaga set a goal to help special needs children in the community — particularly those who otherwise might not get very many dips in the ocean — experience that aquatic healing. Sampaga completed a more than 200-mile journey around Hawaii Island in an effort to raise money for two Hawaiian canoes called “wa‘a,” which he planned to use to teach disabled keiki and adults how to paddle.
On Sunday, Sampaga’s dream came to fruition when he, along with members of his nonprofit Operation Sammy Muscular Dystrophy launched the two 44-foot, 500-pound canoes on the Hilo Bayfront. Sampaga was thrilled at the turnout — friends, family, Mayor Billy Kenoi and Hawaii Fire Department members came for the launching and blessing he said, and took part in a potluck immediately after.
Pro surfers Kainoa McGee and Kawika Watt, who are affiliated with the Adaptive Freedom Foundation, also attended to launch a wheelchair-friendly paddle board donated by the foundation. At least a dozen keiki took test rides in the canoes and on the paddle board.
“There are all these clubs out there and it’s all about winning,” Sampaga said. “But it’s not always about winning. We saw kids (Sunday) smiling and happy and they were winners already. So that was my goal, to start taking them on the water. I don’t want to compete, we just want to help the keiki in this community, on this island.”
Sampaga’s walk in 2014 raised about $15,000, he said, which was enough for one canoe. The nonprofit wrote a letter to Hawaii County requesting — and ultimately received — money for the remaining funds. The canoes took at least a year to build, Sampaga said. One was constructed on Oahu by canoe craftsman Sonny Bradley. The other was built at Kohala-based Tiger Canoe.
And Sampaga since has continued walking. To-date, he’s traversed Maui, Kauai, Lanai and is eyeing Molokai in November. His team also expanded — now, he travels around the state with Kyle “Quilly” Quilausing, a 41-year-old Hilo resident and ex-felon who leads an inspirational talk movement called “Stay Humble Pray.” Also on the team is 22-year-old Easten Tanimoto, a Hilo resident who once struggled with depression and nearly died in 2014 after an accident left him with a broken femur, burns over 60 percent of his body and punctured lungs.
Nonprofit secretary Bernie Hocson said the team has visited hundreds — if not thousands — of youth throughout the state. At each stop, speakers aim to raise awareness about various issues young people face including bullying, depression and suicide, staying out trouble and away from drugs and crime.
Sampaga plans to launch the wa‘a every other Sunday for any or all special needs children or adults wanting rides.
On Sunday, Jaydene Kaawaloa-Alidon who brought her 8-year-old son, Jeremy, for a ride. Jeremy suffers from a rare condition called Poland syndrome, she said. Canoing was a new and therapeutic experience for him.
Sampaga also is a friend of the family, she said.
“My son felt really blessed to be on it,” she said. “He’s never (ridden) on anything like that before. And it was real special his uncle Sammy made it. As he’s gotten older he’s gone through a lot of bullying. Without his uncle Sammy he wouldn’t be as strong as he is today, he is very confident and doesn’t fear anything anymore because he knows his uncle Sammy is behind him. He can’t wait to get back on the canoe — he wants to paddle. Whenever it’s an option for us, we will be there.”
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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For more information about canoe rides, call Daryl “Sammy” Sampaga at 987-8507 or follow him on Instagram (@smdhawaii) or on Facebook (tinyurl.com/OSMDHawaii).