Chris Chuck, Ryan Leong (MSF bio here), Rachel Randall, and Thomas Rathbun normally train in Waikiki, but recently went off to adventures in French Polynesia where they did a 21.9 km channel swim from Tahiti to Mo’orea and then they followed with a 24 km circumnavigation swim of Bora Bora. In 2025, they completed a 37 km Rarotonga kcircumnavigation tandem swim in the Cook Islands.
Back at home on Oahu, the group, together with Bill Goding (MSF bio here) and Stefan Reinke (MSF bio here) are next looking forward to the newly annual Summer Soltice Swim – and invites every other interested ocean swimmer to join them for all or part of the June 20th event.
Organized informally by the Ala Moana Beach Swim Club, the unofficial non-event is held in the Ala Moana Beach Park and has no entry fees, offers no event t-shirts or no race medals, and is conducted with any specific rules.
On June 20th, the Summer Soltice Swim starts at the Magic Island end of Ala Moana Beach, next to Waikiki at Lifeguard tower 1E. Swimmers can select swim distances of their own choosing, every hour on the hour, for 13 consecutive hours. The first swim begins promptly at 6 am and the last swim begins at 6 pm. Given that there are no rules, participants are feel free to swim, swim and run, paddle board, wear fins, wear hand paddles, wear fins and hand paddles, use a unicorn floaty, or just enjoy a beverage of their choosing and sit on the beach. Swimmers are free to come-and-go as they please between the 6 am start and the 7 pm finish.
Ala Moana Beach Swim Club has several requests, although there are no formal rules:
- Suffering is highly encouraged as is good-natured peer pressure. Please encourage at least one person to swim more than they want.
- Be respectful of other beach goers during the 13 hours.
- Practice safe sun. Wear sun protection.
- Be respectful of personal space. Bring your own sun shade, chair, food, drinks, etc.
- Always keep buoys on your right shoulder. It is your responsibility to sight and avoid collisions.
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