European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 14, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes Friday March 14, 1986 Sydney Jamison teacher and group Leader in the sea Cadet program teaches class off the Island of Maui which is in the background. A hawaiian cadets High school students who go to sea by Stewart Taggart associated press High school student Valentine Pelio took his final exam in the Strong winds and rough seas of the Molokai Channel off Hawaii. It was hard to see said Pelio. At times the Waves were 10 feet. There was a swell. It was  but after a 13-hour crossing Between the islands of Maui and Oahu in a 54-foot Ketch Pelio and nine other students passed the Field test of the Hawaii sea Cadet program. The program was started in 1981 on the sea Cadet Luma Shaw takes control of  photo Island of Kauai to teach Ocean skills to High school students primarily failing or disruptive students to help them land maritime jobs. It has now spread to 10 Hawaii schools and 209 students have completed the program. In some schools All students now May enrol not just those with academic truancy or disciplinary problems. It gives them a Chance to see that there Are other things in life than graduating and going to work for a fast food restaurant or in the sugarcane Fields says Bart Andros one of the instructors. We re an Ocean state so it seemed like a Good thing says capt. Robert l. Alverson co founder of the sea Cadet program and director of the Pacific maritime Academy in Honolulu a vocational training institution. It s important to get them out of the classroom to meet the Marine interests and see what might await  the program is funded through contributions from maritime organizations and charitable foundations Alverson says. It has a budget of less than $14,000 a year. Pelio Hopes that after he graduates from High school next year he can get a Job on a sightseeing boat. Pelio s Friend Eric Nakamura took part in the near weekly scuba diving trips this year and has decided he wants to become a professional diver. Graduates of the program Are issued a coast guard a card a form of identification required for maritime employment. Students also build up sea time needed to get a coast guard operators License which requires 360 Days of four to six hours or More aboard vessels. Applicants also must be 18 or older and pass a coast guard examination. With the License an operator is entitled to carry passengers for hire. We Start off with the Basic nomenclature different terms seamanship stuff like that says sea Cadet program co founder James Kitamura on Kauai. Then we get to weather conditions and later we teach them about the business what kind of opportunities they May have on the  one Opportunity is with lady Ann cruises a sightseeing and whale watching tour boat business. Students ride aboard the 36-foot, 46-passenger, double Decker vessel helping the Crew for no pay. After they be Learned enough that they can be an asset to us then we Start paying them says Don Moses lady Ann s owner. Most kids from Hawaii Are excellent water people. It s a real natural thing for  one lady Ann worker was Asa Gasaway a failing Kapaa High school student who worked for the company for 2 /2 months after completing sea Cadet training. It was the first Job he Ever had. Gasaway is Back at Kapaa High school and expects to graduate in 1987. With the Money he made from lady Ann he was Able to buy a watch and some school clothes. I would love to get my Captain s License when i turn 18," he says. It s a real smart  at Konawa Ena High school on the Island of Hawaii the program has been broadened so that All High school students can apply. One was Eldora Nazarro a student in Good academic standing. Nazarro and others Learned charting and navigation and sailed on a 24-foot Sloop owned by a local sailing charter company. After graduating she got two jobs both involving sightseeing and snorkelling Tours along the Kona coast of the Island. Nazarro Hopes eventually to get her a card so she can work aboard either the is Independence or oceanic Constitution two Large cruise liners that Circle the islands. Capt. Lawrence Kelly who commands the Independence and has been going to sea for 40 years takes sea Cadet students on Tours of the ship. They Are very enthusiastic Kelly says. They have never been on anything like this  one of the first things students learn in the Maui program is scuba diving. The diving the physical activity doing something a Little scary and to accomplish it is very Good for them says Sydney Jamison a teacher assigned to the Maui program. It motivates them gives them a  one shop in Lahaina has offered scholarships to train scuba divers. John Palmer director of sales for capt. Nemos a scuba diving and water sports company based in Lahaina says students can Start with our company go through certification and so Forth and obtain their instructor s  Jamison and other teachers give the students High school credit for the work they do either As a science or As social studies. Students who have been turned off from the academic Type of schooling have found a new interest and Are motivated in terms of learning says Margaret Oda Hawaii Deputy superintendent of schools