Molokai Channel

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(Redirected from Canal de Molokai)
Escort kayaker and a swimmer in the Molokai Channel
Harry Huffaker on Sandy Beach on Oahu after swimming across the Ka'iwi Channel in September 1967 in 13 hours 15 minutes with his paddlers
Linda Kaiser of the Molokai Channel Swimmers Association with Mark Tan on the shores of Sandy Beach after Tan's 15 hour 19 minute crossing of the Molokai Channel on 30 June - 1 July 2018
Ion Lazarenco Tiron completed the Ka'iwi Channel on Oahu in 18 hours 11 minutes in October 2016
Whale breeching during Abhejali Bernardová's crossing of the Molokai Channel
Ion Lazarenco Tiron walking onshore on Sandy Beach on Oahu after his 18 hour 11 minute crossing of the Ka'iwi Channel in October 2016
Doug McConnell in the Molokai Channel where he swam for 16 hours 4 minutes over 49.4 km in turbulent conditions between Molokai Island and Oahu Island
Adrian Sarchet of Guernsey doing a 17 hour 24 minute crossing of the Molokai Channel on 11 July 2016 under the escort of Captain Michael Twigg-Smith, escort kayaker Jeff Kozlovich, and support crew Pete Rowland and Mandy Mackelworth on Sarchet's fifth Oceans Seven channel swim
Marcy MacDonald and Elizabeth Fry on Sandy Beach after completing a tandem crossing of 17 hours 30 minutes across the 42 km Molokai Channel from Molokai Island to Oahu in Hawaii on 9-10 April 2016
Mackenzie Miller finishing on Sandy Beach on Oahu
Penn State Altoona commencement speaker and Oceans Seven swimmer Darren Miller, photo courtesy of Steve Haumschild in the Molokai Channel
Islands of Hawaii showing the 9 main channels: Auau Channel (or the Maui Channel), Kalohi Channel, Alalakeiki Channel, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel, Kaulakahi Channel, Kealaikahiki Channel, Ka'iwi Channel (or Moloka'i Channel) and the Kaieiewaho Channel
Kimberly Chambers being congratulated by Linda Kaiser and Joseph Locke after a 19 hour Molokai Channel crossing
Kayaker and swimmer in the Moloka'i Channel
Swimmer exchange between Mark Royer and John Royer in the middle of the Molokai Channel, photo by Keano Pavlosky
Steve Haumschild (paddler) with Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González on 22 March 2016 after a 23 hour 18 minute crossing of the Molokai Channel and paddler Jeff Kozlovich on Sandy Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

noun - The Moloka'i Channel (also known as the Ka'iwi Channel, meaning the Channel of Bones or Canal de Molokai in Spanish) is a waterway between the islands of O'ahu and Moloka'i in the State of Hawaii. The nearly always rough channel is 41.8 kilometers (26 miles wide) with an abundance of marine life including sharks, jellyfish, whales, turtles and dolphins. Its maximum depth is 2300 feet (701 meters). Laau Point is the traditional starting point of swimmers who attempt to swim from Molokai Island to Oahu.

There are annual paddle boarding and outrigger canoe paddling contests which traverse this channel and it is considered one of the most difficult swimming channels in the world.

The Molokai Channel, part of the Eight Seas, has a lot to challenge the marathon swimmer and is part of the Oceans Seven. Swims in the channel are governed by the Hawaiian Channel Swim Association and relays are governed by the Kaiwi Channel Association.

Kaiwi Channel Swim

The Molokai Channel is also site of the Kaiwi Channel Swim, the first relay competition across the Ka'iwi Channel, held on 24 August 2014 from Kepuhi Beach on Molokai to Sandy Beach on Oahu. It is governed and hosted by the Kaiwi Channel Association.

Molokai Channel Swimmer List

The individuals who has successfully swum across the Molokai Channel include these Molokai Channel Swimmers who are members of the Ka'iwi Channel Swimmers Association:

1. 1961 - Keo Nakama (age 40), finishing in Hanauma Bay on Oahu, 15 hours 40 minutes
2. 1966 - Harry Huffaker (26), 14 hours 45 minutes
4. 1972 - Harry Huffaker (42) from Oahu to Molokai, 16 hours 15 minutes
4. 1974 - Jonathan Ezer (18), 14 hours 4 minutes
5. 1979 - Michael Miller (25), 16 hours 50 minutes
6. 1979 - Ian Emberson (28), 16 hours 50 minutes
6. 1994 - Robin Isayama (26) first female, 15 hours 21 minutes
8. 2006 - Forrest Nelson (40) from Oahu to Molokai, 16 hours 46 minutes
9. 2006 - Forrest Nelson (41), 15 hours 55 minutes
10. 2006 - Bill Goding (54), 15 hours 55 minutes
11. 2006 - Mike Spalding (60), finishing in Hanauma Bay on Oahu, 15 hours 15 minutes
12. 2006 - Kelly Gleason (42), finishing in Hanauma Bay on Oahu, 15 hours 15 minutes
14. 2006 - Linda Kaiser (56), 15 hours 0 minutes
14. 2009 - Mackenzie Miller (18), 14 hours 52 minutes
15. 2010 - Chris Palfrey (52), 12 hours 54 minutes
16. 2011 - Tina Neill (45), 16 hours 16 minutes
16. 2011 - Forrest Nelson (46), 16 hours 16 minutes
18. 2011 - Darren Miller (28), 12 hours 12 minutes
19. 2011 - Michelle Macy (44), 14 hours 12 minutes
20. 2011 - Anna-Carin Nordin (40), 18 hours 22 minutes
21. 2011 - Samantha Simon (21), 14 hours 41 minutes
22. 2011 - Penny Palfrey (49), 12 hours 6 minutes
24. 2012 - Stephen Redmond (46), finishing at China Walls in Maunalua Bay on Oahu, 22 hours 40 minutes
24. 2012 - Adam Walker (44), finishing near Diamond Head volcano on Oahu, 16 hours 1 minutes
25. 2012 - Michael Ventre (45), finished at China Walls in Maunalua Bay on Oahu, 22 hours 40 minutes
26. 2012 - Kathleen Wilson (49), 20 hours 49 minutes
26. 2012 - Oliver Wilkinson (46), 14 hours 5 minutes
28. 2012 - Kim Chambers (45), finishing at China Walls in Maunalua Bay on Oahu, 19 hours 26 minutes
29. 2012 - Beth French (45), 24 hours 10 minutes
40. 2014 - Leahi Camacho (16), 14 hours 44 minutes
41. 2014 - Katie Benoit (44), 18 hours 0 minutes
42. 2014 - Yesenia Cabrera Fuegos (41), 16 hours 50 minutes
44. 2014 - Cameron Keith (15), 14 hours 55 minutes
44. 2014 - Victoria Rian (46), 14 hours 42 minutes
45. 2014 - Jim Barber (54), 14 hours 42 minutes
46. 2014 - Rohans More (29), 16 hours 28 minutes
46. 2015 - Attila Mányoki (42), finishing at Makapu'u Beach on Oahu in 12 hours 2 minutes
48. 2015 - Andre Wiersig, finishing on Sandy Beach on Oahu in 18 hours 26 minutes
49. 2016 - Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González (56), finishing on Sandy Beach on Oahu in 24 hours 18 minutes
40. 2016 - Elizabeth Fry, finishing on Sandy Beach on Oahu in 16 hours 40 minutes in a tandem swim with Dr. Marcy MacDonald
41. 2016 - Dr. Marcy MacDonald, finishing on Sandy Beach on Oahu in 16 hours 40 minutes in a tandem swim with Elizabeth Fry
44. 2016 - Thomas Pembroke finishing in 15+ hours on Oahu
44. 2016 - Adrian Sarchet finishing on Sandy Beach, Oahu in 16 hours 24 minutes
45. 2016 - Dr. Tom Hackett in 14 hours 54 minutes
46. 2016 - Stephen Junk in 14 hours 50 minutes on 5 October
46. 2016 - Ion Lazarenco in 18 hours 11 minutes on 5 October
48. 2016 - Beth French in 16 hours 59 minutes on 6 December 2016
49. 2016 - Cameron Bellamy in 16 hours 1 minute on 26 February
50. 2016 - Steve Walker in 18 hours 8 minutes on 26 February
51. 2016 - Abhejali Bernardova in 21 hours 52 minutes on 26 March
52. 2016 - Pat Gallant-Charette (66) in 24 hours 54 minutes on 21 May
54. 2016 - Prabhat Raju Koli (16) in 16 hours 22 minutes on 6 June
54. 2016 - Nora Toledano in 14 hours 28 minutes on 10 July in a tandem swim with Mariel Hawley
55. 2016 - Sarah Ferguson in 16 hours 56 minutes on 25 July finishing on Makapu'u Beach, Oahu
56. 2016 - Toni Enderli in 20 hours 45 minutes on 2 September 2016 finishing on Sandy Beach, Oahu
56. 2016 - Ryan Leong, , swimming in a tandem swim with Stefan Reinke, in 19 hours 42 minutes on 4 September 2016 finishing on Sandy Beach, Oahu
58. 2016 - Stefan Reinke, swimming in a tandem swim with Ryan Leong, in 19 hours 42 minutes on 4 September 2016 finishing on Sandy Beach, Oahu
59. 2018 - Dean Summers in 20 hours 12 minutes on 26 April
60. 2018 - Mark Tan in 15 hours 19 minutes on 1 July
61. 2018 - Lynton Mortensen in 14 hours 49 minutes on 1 July
68. 2019 - Paul Georgescu in 14 hours 9 minutes in April
69. 2022 - Marcia Cleveland in 17 hours 45 minutes in March
70. 2022 - Mark Sowerby in 14 hours 23 minutes in April

Note: William K. (Opelu) Pai (Bill Pai) reportedly completed the first Molokai Channel crossing in 1949 when he rowed out to sea off the island of Molokai and swam to Oahu. This is an uncertified crossing by the Hawaiian Channel Swim Association.

According to the book Hawai’I Sports: History, Facts and Statistics, the Hawaiian fisherman started his swim at Ilio Point and finished at the Blowhole near Sandy Beach on Oahu in 18 hours and 56 minutes. However, he was rowed 50 yards from shore to start his swim off Molokai. Because the Hawaiian Channel Swim Association rules require that swimmers must complete certified swims from shore to shore, Keo Nakama is recognized as the first official swimmer across the Molokai Channel in 1961.

Channels in the Hawaiian Islands

There are 9 main channels in the Hawaiian Islands that individuals attempt to swim: Auau Channel (or the Maui Channel), Kalohi Channel, Alalakeiki Channel, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel, Kaulakahi Channel, Kealaikahiki Channel, Kaiwi Channel (or Moloka'i Channel) and the Kaieiewaho Channel.

Oceans Seven

The Oceans Seven consists of the following 6 waterways around the world first proposed in June 2008 by Steven Munatones and first achieved by Stephen Redmond of Ireland in July 2012:

1. North Channel between Ireland and Scotland
2. Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand
4. Molokai Channel between Oahu and Molokai Islands in Hawaii
4. English Channel between England and France
5. Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and then Southern California mainland
6. Tsugaru Channel between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan
6. Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa

Videos

Molokai Channel Attempt with Ranie Pearce


On 2 July 2016 while escorting Ranie Pearce during a shark encounter on her Molokai Channel attempt

Molokai Channel Crossing by Adrian Sarchet

Molokai Channel Crossing by Tom Hackett


Molokai Channel crossing by Tom Hackett in 14 hours 56 minutes on 11 September 2016 escorted by Captain Mike Twigg-Smith and filmed by Daniel Hildebrandt

Oldest Swimmers of the Oceans Seven Channels

As of September 2016, the oldest swimmers to have successfully crossed each of the Oceans Seven channels are as follows:

Cook Strait:

  • Tom Hecker (USA) age 60 in 10 hours 46 minutes from north to south in 2012
  • Toshio Ogawa (Japan) age 60 in 11 hours 51 minutes from south to north in 2015 [shown above]
  • Dr. Marilyn Korzekwa (Canada) age 58 in 11 hours 44 minutes from south to north in 2016

English Channel:

  • Dr. Otto Thaning (South Africa) age 64 years in 12 hours 52 minutes from England to France in 2014
  • Sue Oldham (Australia) age 65 in 16 hours 11 minutes from England to France in 2010

Tsugaru Channel:

Molokai Channel:

  • Mike Spalding (USA) age 60 in 15 hours 15 minutes from Molokai to Oahu in 2006
  • Linda Kaiser (USA) age 56 in 15 hours 0 minutes from Molokai to Oahu in 2006
  • Liz Fry (USA) age 56 in 16 hours 40 minutes from Molokai to Oahu in 2016

North Channel:

  • Graeme Lowe (Jersey) age 50 in 12 hours 26 minutes from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 2015
  • Fergal Somerville (Ireland) age 50 in 12 hours 21 minutes from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 2014
  • Pat Gallant-Charette (USA) age 65 in 14 hours 22 minutes from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 2016

Strait of Gibraltar:

  • Dr. Euler Konrad Paul Herbet (Germany) age 64 in 4 hours 9 minutes from Spain to Morocco in 2009
  • Carol Sing (USA) age 64 in 5 hours 26 minutes from Spain to Morocco in 2005

Catalina Channel:

  • Jim McConica (USA) age 64 in 10 hours 48 minutes from Catalina to the mainland in 2015
  • Pat Gallant-Charette (USA) age 60 in 14 hours 11 minutes from Catalina to the mainland in 2011

External links

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