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HCSA is the local governing body for Hawaiian Channel swim crossings. HCSA established in 1984 has an internationally acclaimed advisory board that focuses on rule interpretations and rule-making issues. The full board votes on observer data for select swims namely high profile swims, new courses, new course records, and especially Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel swims for the purpose of transparency. This strictly volunteer board is intentionally small in order to make timely decisions. Members have limited terms and new members will be added periodically.
HCSA is an informational and database service only. HCSA provides limited information for channel swims among the Hawaiian islands, certifies successful swimmers who complete these swims with adequate documentation, and records the certified swim on electronic media.
ALL SWIMMERS SWIM AT THEIR OWN RISK. HCSA recommends against any swimmer taking on any channel swim without the necessary training, preparation, research, and safety planning. It is absolutely the swimmer's responsibility to plan all aspects of their swim and to verify that they are in adequate health to take on any open water swim.
Swimming in open water is inherently a high risk activity especially in Hawaiʻi. Through years of experience members of HCSA have encountered many high risk situations including but not limited to harsh marine and coastal conditions and dangerous wildlife and human activity to name a few. For example, we have seen some swimmers, Olympians, and several Oceans 7 swimmers succumb to severe debilitating injuries, sea sickness, stings, and currents. These risks are in addition to the high physical demands marathon swimming already places on the swimmer.
The 2024-2026 advisory board is renowned for its Ocean 7 and Triple Crown experience and consists of the following members:
Dr. Steven Minaglia (USA), HCSA Recorder/Honorary Secretary and Hawaiʻi Swimming Hall of Fame Inductee, Channel Swimming (2025) has completed a record 44 Hawaiian channel crossings. He created the Maui Nui SwimTM in 2017 and has completed the event as a swimmer 9 times. In total he has completed 92 documented marathon swims locally, nationally and internationally including Kaiwi Channel, Kaulakahi, double ʻAuʻau Channel, double Pailolo Channel, Catalina Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, 28th Swimming Marathon of the Messinian Gulf, 20 Bridges, and the Triple Crown of Staged Swims (8 Bridges, SCAR, Maui Nui SwimTM). He was nominated for a 2022 Performance of the Year Award for his Oʻahu staged circumnavigation and placed 4th for a 2023 Product/Service of the Year Award for his research on cookiecutter sharks, moon phases and channel swimmers cowritten by Melodee Liegl. He is a Level 5 Open Water Swimming Certified Coach.
Dr. Steven Minaglia (USA), HCSA Recorder/Honorary Secretary and Hawaiʻi Swimming Hall of Fame Inductee, Channel Swimming (2025) has completed a record 44 Hawaiian channel crossings. He created the Maui Nui SwimTM in 2017 and has completed the event as a swimmer 9 times. In total he has completed 92 documented marathon swims locally, nationally and internationally including Kaiwi Channel, Kaulakahi, double ʻAuʻau Channel, double Pailolo Channel, Catalina Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, 28th Swimming Marathon of the Messinian Gulf, 20 Bridges, and the Triple Crown of Staged Swims (8 Bridges, SCAR, Maui Nui SwimTM). He was nominated for a 2022 Performance of the Year Award for his Oʻahu staged circumnavigation and placed 4th for a 2023 Product/Service of the Year Award for his research on cookiecutter sharks, moon phases and channel swimmers cowritten by Melodee Liegl. He is a Level 5 Open Water Swimming Certified Coach.
Attila Manyoki (HUN) is the former Kaiwi Channel record holder with a time of 12:02. He is an Honor Swimmer at IMSHOF. He set the record for the fastest overall time to complete the Oceans Seven that was recently bested in 2023. He brings over 30 years of active career experience in open water swimming and has completed over 200 marathon swims internationally .
Attila Manyoki (HUN) is the former Kaiwi Channel record holder with a time of 12:02. He is an Honor Swimmer at IMSHOF. He set the record for the fastest overall time to complete the Oceans Seven that was recently bested in 2023. He brings over 30 years of active career experience in open water swimming and has completed over 200 marathon swims internationally .
Alessandra Rossi Cima (BRA) has completed numerous marathon swims nationally and internationally including Kaiwi Channel, Maui-Molokini-Maui, 20 Bridges, Leme to Pontal, Bonifacio Strait, English Channel, North Channel, Cook Strait, Catalina Channel, and the Strait of Gibraltar.
Alessandra Rossi Cima (BRA) has completed numerous marathon swims nationally and internationally including Kaiwi Channel, Maui-Molokini-Maui, 20 Bridges, Leme to Pontal, Bonifacio Strait, English Channel, North Channel, Cook Strait, Catalina Channel, and the Strait of Gibraltar.
Aby Ortega (MEX) is an open water swimmer and a Triple Crowner. She has extensive national and international experience including the Triple Crown completed in 77 days, a woman's record for the 36 km Travessia do Leme ao Pontal, El Cruce (Cancún-Isla Mujeres), Por Ellas México, El Reto Acapulco, Oceanman (Cozumel, Sisal, Cancún, Dubai), Cruce Golfo Dulce, Los Cabos Open Water Challenge, Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoles, Maui Nui SwimTM and Around Coronado Swim.
Joe Zemaitis (USA) is one of the world's most prolific open water swimmers and enjoys swimming around the world with his brother John. He has swum over 110 documented marathon swims including 6 of the Oceans Seven Channels, Triple Crown, Triple Crown of Stage Swims (8 Bridges, SCAR, Maui Nui SwimTM), the Ultimate Swim A Thon that included a 10km in all 50 states, and 10km swims on 6 continents in under 5 days. He has been nominated for numerous awards.
Carl Kawauchi (USA) is a pioneer of Hawaiian channel swimming completing several Hawaiian channels and several firsts. He was inducted into the Hawaiʻi Swimming Hall of Fame, Channel Swimming category class of 2005. He served as HCSAʻs Recorder/Honorary Secretary from 1986-2023 and is now the ex officio, non-voting member.
The Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association (HCSA)
Established 1984 (Original Logo)
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