Queen of Hawaiian Channel Swimming

Judy Collins was the first documented woman to swim from one Hawaiian island to another and was also instrumental in introducing open water swimming to millions of people around the world through the sport of triathlon.

Linda Kaiser was the first person to swim all 9 Hawaiian Channels by completing 8 solo swims and a relay swim across the Kaieiewaho Channel between ʻOahu and Kauai.  Linda was an early pioneer of tandem solo swimming thus introducing more swimmers to the sport and she was instrumental to expanding access to Kaiwi Channel swimming to international athletes.

Tina Neill was the first woman to complete 2 crosses as of 1989 and regained the title in 2022 with her 9th Hawaiian Channel swim crossing.  While living on the mainland she made significant contributions to the Catalina Channel Federation and is one of few individuals to have completed the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel.