Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel

The Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association (HCSA) is the local governing body of the Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel Swim for Hawaiʻi and the Oceans Seven.  

Effective April 1, 2025 HCSA's official position statement regarding the Molokaʻi (Kaiwi), ʻAlenuihāhā, Kaulakahi, and Kaʻieʻiewaho Channels:

In addition to considering sea and weather conditions and sun exposure duration, a strong recommendation supporting human safety can be made to structure channel swimming so that a swimmer transits through the zoogeographical habitat (the deepest portions of the channel) of Isistius spp. (cookiecutter sharks) during moonlit nights or daytime. 

To learn more check out the recent coverage on Hawaiʻi News Now here.

Click here for an urgent update and data analysis on the two recent cookie cutter shark attacks in the Molokaʻi Channel on British swimmer Paul Leonard and Australian swimmer Joanne Norman.  

"Dr. Steve's Picks" 2025 Season Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel Swim Windows

Hosted by Maui Nui Swim

Each summer Steven Minaglia creator of the Maui Nui Swim suggests optimal Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel swim windows based on experience and current science including an analysis of over 900 channel crosses in Hawaiʻi.  These windows are chosen with the swimmer and the swimmer's safety in mind.  For complete details click here.

Plan your Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel Swim

Swimmers attempting a Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel crossing do not need to obtain permission from HCSA or any other entity prior to their swim.  Swimmers who successfully complete a Molokaʻi Channel crossing do not need to pay any fees to HCSA for ratification of their swim once appropriate documentation is received and/or all guidelines and rules have been clearly followed.  Basically- a swimmer can hire their own crew and boat to conduct their swim.  This is intended to reduce entry barriers and costs and preserve a swimmer's ability to explore, enjoy, and tackle difficult swims in the beautiful waters of Hawaiʻi.  

There are two entities that actively organize channel swims in Hawaiʻi.  Maui Nui Swim organizes channel swims in the Molokaʻi Channel (or Kaiwi Channel), ʻAuʻau Channel, Kalohi Channel, Pailolo Channel, ʻAlenuihāhā Channel, and Kaulakahi Channel.  Local captains regularly organize channel swims and communicate their results with the HCSA.  Swimmers may find that hiring a local channel association such as Maui Nui Swim may be their best option if they are visiting from other regions and/or they do not have ties to local captains and crews.

Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel Crossing Records Recognized By HCSA:

History of Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel ratification

Prior to 1984, there were not many inter-island channel swims. These few swims were substantiated with local newspaper articles, conversations and recollections with other swimmers and escorts.  The HCSA was established in 1984 to recognize individuals who have successfully swum across the 9 major inter-island channels of the Hawaiʻian Islands, including the Kaiwi Channel.  

After Kaiwi Channel was added to Oceans Seven a few changes occurred.  Channel swimmer Linda Kaiser graciously began assisting Kaiwi Channel swimmers with boat captain and crew introductions back in 2011.  During this phase, swimmers continued to work directly with captains and crew who ratified swims by ensuring that HCSA rules were strictly followed and by transmitting certifications to HCSA.  A few local captains also began advertising their services directly to swimmers.  Ratifications were shared among captains and HCSA.

The Kaiwi Channel Association (KCA) was later formed in 2013.  This fee-for-service organization, originally run by Jeff Koslovich and Steve Haumschild, provided swimmers one-stop shopping for coordination of swim windows, logistics, crew, captain, and swim ratification for a fee independent of boat captain and crew costs.  KCA has collected fees and ratified a handful of swims to date and in January 2024 was acquired by the Kaiwi Crossings Association headed by Bill Goding.  Since 2013, successful swims were listed on HCSA and KCA websites regardless of sponsorship for the purpose of accuracy and completeness.  A clear majority of these swims occurred with swimmers contacting pilots directly, the pilots and crew observing the swims, and the data then shared with these associations for the purpose of recording.  

In 2020 Steven Minaglia, creator of the ʻAu I Nā Mokupuni ʻEkolu Maui Nui Swim organized and successfully completed a Molokaʻi Channel crossing that earned ratification from the HCSA.  In 2024 he finally announced that Maui Nui Swim has been selectively and officially organizing Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel crosses since 2018 after supporting the 2018 crossings of Joe and John Zemaitis and the 2024 crossings of Petar Stoychev (BUL) and Andreas Waschburger (GER). Through Maui Nui Swim he has personally organized 178 Hawaiian Channel swim crossings for 53 open water and channel swimmers.

In 2025, successful Molokaʻi Channel swim crossings may continue to be observed by pilots and crew and posted on the HCSA and KSA websites and this data can be shared with outside associations by request.  Swimmers have the option of reaching out directly to pilots and crews for conducting their swims or using local channel associations such as Maui Nui Swim.

Examples of how local organizers collaborate with each other and with the HCSA 

The Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association (HCSA)

Established 1984 (Original Logo)