The Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association (HCSA) is the official 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 interview with Steven Minaglia on Hawaiʻi News Now.  Read the 2024 publicly available research about shark attacks in Hawaiian waters made possible by data collected by HCSA and analyzed by Maui Nui Swim here.  Listen to the March 2024 interview on Hawaiʻi Public Radio here.  

Effective May 18, 2025 HCSA recognizes the best practices developed by Steven Minaglia of Maui Nui Swim for crossing the Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel.

Check out his early 2024 strategy to reduce cookiecutter shark bites, the video posted on instagram, and the new video below by Animalogic.

1 Check out the December 2025 paper by University of Hawaiʻi researchers Suca, et al. that further establishes the connection between moonless nights and cookiecutter shark attacks on channel swimmers.

"Muku ka malama, nanahu ka nahunaiki o ka pō.  When the new moon arises, the cookiecutter shark bites."

2025 HCSA Issues a New Cap to Recognize Oʻahu to Molokaʻi Swims

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.  There is no "official sanctioning" body for swimming this channel.  Swimmers who successfully complete a Molokaʻi Channel crossing may submit their observer form and applicable 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 three entities that assist with Molokaʻi Channel swims.  Maui Nui Swim assists swims in the Molokaʻi Channel, the Maui Nui Swim, the Triple Maui Nui Swim, ʻAuʻau Channel, Kalohi Channel, Pailolo Channel, ʻAlenuihāhā Channel and other select channels.  Local captains regularly assist Molokaʻi Channel swims and communicate their results with the HCSA and Kaiwi Channel Association (KCA).  The KCA introduces swimmers to captains and in some cases handles logistics.  Swimmers may find that consulting with a local channel association 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 Hawaiian Islands.

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 and originally run by Jeff Koslovich and Steve Haumschild.  In January 2024 the KCA was acquired by the Kaiwi Crossings Association headed by Bill Goding.  The KCA has collected fees and ratified some successful Molokaʻi Channel swims to date.  According to its website, the KCA, "has guided swimmers through every step of the journey, from initial planning to the final crossing. We provide comprehensive support, answering questions about accommodations, packing essentials, weather, boat captain introductions and logistics such as flights and shuttles."  Since 2024 in many instances swimmers go directly to local captains and KCA handles the certification.  Captain Mike Twigg-Smith, for example, offers his own certificate of completion which has been recognized by both HCSA and KCA.

Since 2014 Steven Minaglia, founder of the ʻAu I Nā Mokupuni ʻEkolu Maui Nui Swim has been assisting Molokaʻi (Kaiwi) Channel crosses notably after supporting his own attempt in 2014, the 2018 crossings of Joe and John Zemaitis, and the 2024 crossings of Petar Stoychev (BUL) and Andreas Waschburger (GER).  In 2020 he organized and successfully completed his own Molokaʻi Channel crossing along with KCA member Deb Merwick that earned ratification from the HCSA and acknowledged by the KCA.  Through his association, Maui Nui Swim he has personally assisted 192 Hawaiian Channel swim crossings for 56 unique open water and channel swimmers.  Importantly, Maui Nui Swim set the modern standard early 2024 by providing optimal start times to avoid cookiecutter shark attacks in the deep channels of Hawaiʻi.  

While the Maui Nui Swim and Triple Maui Nui Swim are Steven Minaglia's main focus he further explains why Maui Nui Swim increased its involvement assisting Molokaʻi Channel and other Hawaiian channel swim crossings, "We were seeing the same courses, same starting points, same starting times, and same direction over and over again.  It seemed these choices were based primarily on crew considerations and less on swimmer ability and marine habitat data.  Furthermore, early 2025 swims were still being conducted in a way that increased the likelihood of cookiecutter shark encounters despite available research published late 2023.  Maui Nui Swim got more involved to enhance swimmer safety, encourage novel course design, spark friendly competition among consulting associations, and increase input from swimmers."

In 2026, successful Molokaʻi Channel swim crossings may continue to be observed by pilots and crew and posted on the HCSA and KCA websites and this data can be shared with outside associations by request.  Swimmers have the option of reaching out directly to local captains or associations such as Maui Nui Swim or KCA for conducting their swims.

Example of how a local organizer collaborates with the HCSA 

The Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association (HCSA)

Established 1984 (Original Logo)