Before you run, you have to learn to walk. And before you walk, you have to crawl.

At the opening day of the American Red Cross' free keiki swim lessons at Ala Moana Beach yesterday, young swimmers also learned that before you can execute an effective forward crawl, you need to feel comfortable in the water.

About 180 kids, ages 3 to 14, participated in the free class, which focuses on helping beginning swimmers get used to being in open water and providing basic swimming skills to those already accustomed to the ocean.

An adult class meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the same location.

Mary Meinel, director of training and preparedness for the American Red Cross Hawai'i Chapter, said the lessons are a good springboard for learning to safely enjoy the water.

"Seventy-five percent of the population does not know how to swim to save their life," Meinel said. "They think they know how to swim, but if there was an emergency, like a strong current, they'd be in a bad situation."

Yesterday's students were separated into groups by ability. While more advanced kids practiced basic techniques, younger or less experienced kids spent the hour bouncing, dunking, floating and splashing — mostly splashing.

"Everybody splash!" exhorted volunteer swim instructor John Rhine. "Jump up and down and splash! Splash your mommy and daddy! Splash auntie and tutu!"

Christabel Iha, 36, of Pearl City, held her 9-month-old son Timothy on the beach as husband Paul helped their 3-year-old son Joshua with a crawling exercise.

"It's a great way to introduce him to the ocean," Iha said. "We were worried that he might not enjoy it, but he jumped right in."

Amy Robillard, 30, said she liked the program's emphasis on learning how to swim in the ocean. Her son, Makai, 5, had previously taken lessons in a pool.

"But when you're in a pool, you don't learn the ways of the ocean," she said.

For more information, visit www.hawaiiredcross.org or call 739-8131.