Background

The Eight Seas or Nā Kai ‘Ewalu are a poetic reference to the channels that link the major Hawaiian islands together.

The 9 channels include:

1. 41.8 km Ka’iwi Channel, meaning the Channel of Bones between Moloka’i and O’ahu
2. 14.16 km Au’au Channel, meaning “bathe”, between Maui and Lāna’i
3. 14.96 km Kalohi Channel, meaning “the slowness”, between Lāna’i and Moloka’i
4. 11.26 km Alalākeiki Channel, meaning “child’s wail” between Maui and Kaho’olawe
5. 13.67 km Pailolo Channel, meaning “pai (lift), oloolo (shifting), between Maui and Moloka’i
6. 27.35 km Kaulakahi Channel, meaning “the single flame” between Kaua’i and Ni’ihau
7. 27.3 km Kealaikahiki Channel, meaning “the way to foreign lands” between Kaho’olawe and Lāna’i
8. 48.2 km Alenuihāhā Channel, meaning “great billows smashing”, between Hawai’i and Maui
9. 115.8 km Ka’ie’iewaho Channel, meaning “outer ka’ie’ie” named after a vine between O’ahu and Kaua’i

Environmental Limitations

For many years now, swimming in both the Kealaikahiki Channel (crossed by Quinn Carver, Bill Goding, the late Linda Kaiser, Laurie Foster, and Mike Spalding) and in the Alalākeiki Channel (crossed by Carl Kawauchi and Alton Motobu) has been strictly prohibited. Restrictions not only prohibit boaters from getting close to the island, but also swimmers from touching land.

Davianna Pomaika’i McGregor, PhD, Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa explains, “Below are the purposes of the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve under state law. Fundraising is considered a commercial use. Also, in the past, requests to swim from Kahoʻolawe across the channel have been denied by the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission.

[§ 6K-3] Reservation of uses
The Kaho’olawe Island Reserve shall be used solely and exclusively for the following purposes:

• Preservation and practice of all rights customarily and traditionally exercised by native Hawaiians for cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes;
• Preservation and protection of its archaeological, historical, and environmental resources;
• Rehabilitation, revegetation, habitat restoration, and preservation; and
• Education.
• The island shall be reserved in perpetuity for the uses enumerated in subsection (a)
• Commercial uses shall be strictly prohibited. [L 1993, c 340, pt of §2]

Proposed New Channel Crossing

After extensive research, Dr. Steven Minaglia proposed the following for consideration:

• Swim 7 miles from Maui around Molokini and back to Maui, about the same distance as the Alalākeiki Channel
• Swim 24 miles from Molokini to Lāna’i

He explains further, “The Molokini Shoal [shown below] is a crescent shaped islet located in the Alalakeiki Channel about 3 miles off Maui’s southern coast. Swimming around Molokini does not appear problematic. Swimming from Molokini to Lanai is problematic in the sense that there are no sandy beaches on Molokini and entry onto the islet is prohibited. This being said, swimmers are capable of touching the island to start the swim and escort boats can accompany them in Subzone B. Anyone considering these swims should check with local authorities first. As of this writing, there are no local regulations in place to certify either of these swims…but the spirit of channel swimming continues.”

Pioneer Soloists: Terri Dietz and Jerelyn Watanabe

Terri Dietz and Jerelyn Watanabe became the first swimmers to complete a solo crossing of the 38.6 km Molokini Kealaikahiki Channel between the islands of Molokini and Lānaʻi on January 7th 2024.

The tandem departed at 3:08 am from Subzone B on Molokini [see below] and arrived one mile west of Club Lānaʻi on the island of Lānaʻi at 10:43 pm, a total swim time of 19 hours 35 minutes 50 seconds. 

Pioneer Relay Swimmers: David Bell and David Hsu

Long-time friends David Bell and David Hsu joined Dietz and Watanabe on their collective channel adventure. They completed the course as a relay duo at the same time, switching legs every two hours. 

Piloting by Mike Spalding

The quartet of Dietz, Watanabe, Bell, and Hsu swam alongside the Kioloa that was captained by legendary Hawaiʻian channel swimmer Mike Spalding. 

The weather consisted of light trade winds with an occasional 10-12 knots southerly breeze.  The winds were 3 knots at the finish.

Background

Dr. Minaglia received a request for Hawai’ian Channel Swim Association (HCSA) ratification from Dietz forwarded by Carl Kawauchi only 48 hours before the attempt. Unbeknown to the swimmers, the HCSA leadership had changed in December 2023. 

Taking this opportunity, Dr. Minaglia discussed the possibility of modifying the swim to launch from Subzone B in the water after touching Molokini and head towards Lāna’i. Due to local laws in effect, this type of start is a modification of the HCSA rules and only applies to this new 38.6 km Molokini Kealaikahiki Channel crossing.

He recalls, “Dietz and Spalding weighed in on the naming of this swim and it is now officially known as the Molokini Kealaikahiki Channel.  The Maui-Around Molokini-Maui swim will also be recognized.  The most up to date and complete reference pertaining to Hawaiʻian channel swims can be found on the HCSA website (see here).

For more information, visit www.hawaiianchannelswim.org.

Questions? Email hichannelswim@gmail.com.

© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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