King of Hawaiian Channel Swimming

Keo Nakama was a former Olympian who completed the first documented swim crossing of a Hawaiian Channel by swimming from Molokaʻi to ʻOahu on September 29, 1961.

Dr. Harry Huffaker is known to many as the Godfather of Hawaiian Channel Swimming.  He was the second person to swim from Molokaʻi to Oʻahu and the first person to swim Oʻahu to Molokaʻi and the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel.  His attempt at the Triple Maui Nui Swim inspired others to follow.

Carl Kawauchi was the first person to complete 9 swim crossings of Hawaiian Channels and was instrumental in the development of HCSA rules, policies, and procedures that have shaped Hawaiian Channel swimming for over 40 years.

Legendary swimmer Bill Goding has done the most to popularize Hawaiian Channel swimming by essentially making it a routine activity and drawing more and more swimmers to the sport.  He completed a record 31 crossings in Hawaiian waters and has brought countless swimmers along for tandem solos.

Dr. Steven Minaglia built upon the accomplishments of other Queens and Kings of Hawaiian Channel swimming by completing 48 crossings.  Through this experience and science he developed best practices for crossing numerous Hawaiian Channels including Kaiwi and developed the modern safety standard to reduce cookiecutter shark attacks on deep water channel swimmers.