One of the most frustrating things in the entire open water swimming world is getting weathered out.
You train all year long – or many years – for your dream channel swim, get an ideal slot, contract with your escort pilot, pay for travel arrangements for yourself, your family, and your support team, travel to Dover (for the English Channel or Oahu for the Molokai Channel or Aomori for the Tsugaru Channel or Donaghadee for the North Channel or New Zealand for the Cook Strait), and then the weather and conditions are bad – and you never get an opportunity to swim.
It is so frustrating, so deflating. so disappointing.
But Dr. Steve Minaglia, who actively organizes channel crossings throughout the Hawaiian islands including across the Molokai Channel and the 3-day Maui Nui Swim between the islands of Maui, Moloka’i, and Lāna’i, has a new plan.
A good plan.
A plan that can, hopefully, eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) the possibility of getting weathered out.
Moloka’i Channel
Dr. Minaglia, the Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association Recorder and Honorary Secretary, explains, “Are you looking to drop in for your 45 km Ka’iwi Channel (Moloka’i Channel) crossing between O’ahu and Moloka’i under ideal conditions? Are you a typical Oceans Seven swimmer who is consistently trained and basically ready to swim on short notice? Slots set months in advance can really suffer from bad weather. We are offering a new and simple strategy: select a swim window and apply without paying a deposit fee – no money is required at this point. Three days before the start of the swim window, we determine if. the weather is optimal and we contact the swimmers who are available to [travel to Hawaii] and commit to a Molokai’s Channel crossing.
For more information and to apply, contact us through the websites: www.mauinuiswim.com and www.hawaiianchannelswim.org.“
2026 Windows
- August 19th – 22nd
- September 16th – 19th
- October 1st – 4th
- November 14th – 17th
Maui Nui Swim
The ʻAu I Nā Mokupuni ʻEkolu Maui Nui Swim is a 3-day event that typically starts on the island of Maui. The goal of the challenge is simple: swim across the 3 channels that separate the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai over a 3-day period. Preference is given to groups of 4 or more that apply with comparable swimming speed. If you are a solo swimmer, you will be contacted once a group of swimmers matched for your speed is assembled.”
Swimmers who have completed the challenge include
- Dr. Steve Minaglia (8 times)
- Joe Zemaitis (3 times)
- Devon Clifford (2 times)
- Stefan Reinke (2 times)
- Kirk McKinney
- Amy Gubser
- Abigail Fairman
- Sarah Roberts
- Tina Neill
- Emily Evans
- Deb Merwick
- Steve Gruenwald
- Natalia Chuich
- Nicole Forelli
- Michael Herrmann
- Edie Markovich (at the age of 16)
- Lauren Grous
- Jamie Tout (at the age of 68)
- Skylar Webb
- Alex Webb
- Ryan Leong
- John Zemaitis
- Van Cornwell
- Scott Schroeder
- Stephen Rouch
- Paul Towers
- John Humenik
- Colby Dimsdale
- Jess Hoag
- Matthew McGillicuddy
- Melodee Liegl
- Aby Ortega
- Niels Pantenburg
- Mark Spratt
- Kelly Quinn
- Bec Hamilton
- Norihito Yoshioka
- Dana Price
- Susie Paul
- Sydne Didier
- Heather Madsen
- Riley Hager
Photo above shows Jamie Tout, Mark Spratt, Edie Markovich, Lauren Grous, Dr. Steven Minaglia, and Dan Worden huddle before the 3-day, 3-stage swim ‘Au I Na Mokupuni Ekolu Endurance Challenge Invitational where they swam the 14.9-km Kalohi Channel between Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi on August 27th 2021, the 14.1 km Auau Channel between Maui and Lānaʻi on August 28th 2021, and the 13.5 km Pailolo Channel between Maui and Molokaʻi on August 29th 2021.
For more information, visit www.mauinuiswim.com.
© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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