The EPIC SWIM Maui was the first attempt at a 226 km expeditionary swim (22-day circumnavigation stage swim) around the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii between July 7th and 28th 2024.

Among the swimmers, Ryan Leong (57, USA, MSF bio here, @salty_ry), John Kalemakali’i Clark (USA, @ka.lei.makalii), Andy Donaldson (33, Scotland, MSF bio here, @andy.swimming), and Stefan Reinke (66, USA, MSF bio here, @smreinke01) were the four swimmers who swam the entire circumnavigation course that took them a cumulative time of 73 hours 54 minutes.

Their schedule was as follows:

• Day 1 on July 7th, they swam 25.5 km from Hana to Ke’anea in 9 hours 56 minutes
• Day 2 on July 8th, they swam 24.2 km from Ke’anea to Maliko in 7 hours 51 minutes
• Day 3 on July 9th was a rest day
• Day 4 on July 10th, they swam 21.2 km from Maliko to Kahakuloa in 6 hours 3 minutes
• Day 5 on July 11th, they swam 15.2 km from Kahakuloa to Honolua in 4 hours 53 minutes
• Day 6 on July 12th, they swam 14.3 km from Honolua to Ka’anapali in 5 hours 9 minutes
• Day 7 on July 13th was a rest day
• Day 8 on July 14th was a rest day
• Day 9 on July 15th, they swam 17.2 km from Ka’anapali to Olowalu in 6 hours 7 minutes
• Day 10 on July 16th, they swam 12.3 km from Olowalu to McGregor in 3 hours 42 minutes
• Day 11 on July 17th was a rest day
• Day 12 on July 18th, they swam 12.0 km from McGregor to Keawakapu in 3 hours 36 minutes
• Day 13 on July 19th, they swam 15.1 km from Keawakapu to La Perouse in 5 hours 15 minutes
• Day 14 on July 20th, they swam 26.6 km from Nu’u to La Perouse in 6 hours 46 minutes
• Day 15 on July 21st was a rest day
• Day 16 on July 22nd was a travel day
• Day 17 on July 23rd, they swam 9.1 km from Hana Bay to Pu’uki’i in 4 hours 6 minutes
• Day 18 on July 24th, they swam 17.8 km from Pu’uki’i to Kaupo in 5 hours 43 minutes
• Day 19 on July 25th was a travel day
• Day 20 on July 26th, they swam 6.10 km from Kaupo to Nu’u in 1 hour 41 minutes
• Day 21 on July 27th was a rest day
• Day 22 on July 28th, they swam 9.4 km on a Molokini swim of 3 hours 4 minutes

Funded by Kristin Lindblad and Sven Lindblad, other swimmers who took part included Bárbara Hernández (Chile, @barbarehlla_h), Prabhat Koli (India, @koliboyprabhat), Jonathan Ridler (New Zealand, @jonoridler), Yvette Dickson Tetteh (Ghana, @yvette_tetteh), Sarah Thomas (USA, @sarahswims04), Dr. Mostafa Zaki (Egypt, @mostafaszaki), Dina Levačić (Croatia, @dinalevacic_swim), Paul Blackbeard (South Africa, @paulblackbeard), Marion Joffle  (France, @marion_jf), Amber Keegan (Great Britain, @amber.keegan), and Sarah Ferguson (South Africa, @breatheocean1) participated in parts of the 226 km event.

Watch some impressive ocean swimming here.

The team of swimmers were escorted by Archie Kalepa, Mark Pokini, and Kurtis Chong Kee. Participating scientists and researchers included Dr. Andrea Kealoha (@uhm_oceanography), Dr. Thorsten Fischer, Dr. Marcus Lange, Dr. Hanna Joerss of Germany (@hereon_helmholtz), Heinz Schelwat of Germany, Dr. Dimitri Deheyn (@scripps_ocean), John Starmer, Dr. Mark Deakos (@hamerinhawaii), Ed Lyman, and Dr. Fabrica of France.

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