Molokai Island
Moloka'i is called The Friendly Isle, the 5th largest Hawaiian Island at 38 miles (61 km) long by 10 miles (16 km) wide, and somewhat rectangular in shape. Moloka‘i has no fast food chains, high-rise buildings, shopping centers, movie theaters, or traffic signals and is located about 9 miles (14.5 km) northwest of Maui, 9 miles (14.5 km) north of Lāna‘i, and 22 miles (35 km) southeast from Oahu across the Kaiwi Channel.
The island of Molokai has the highest percentage of native Hawaiians of any of the Hawaiian Islands except Ni‘ihau. Much of Molokai’s relatively small population (less than 8,000 total) still clings largely to a subsistence lifestyle of farming, fishing, hunting, and gathering.
Moloka‘i was formed by Kauhakō and Kamakou Volcanoes, which originally created two separate islands. These two islands were joined when later lava flows formed the Ho‘olehua Plains. The island has vast amphitheater valleys and spectacular coral reefs. The sea cliffs along Moloka‘i’s northern shore have an average steepness of more than 55 degrees and rise to more than 3,300 feet (1,006 m), making them among the highest sea cliffs in the world.
Contents
Kaiwi Channel Swim
The start of the Kaiwi Channel Swim is on Kepuhi Beach in Kepuhi Bay on the western shores of Molokai. Other start points include La'au Point or Kaluakoi Resort.
Maui Nui Swim Open Water Swims
- Harry Huffaker attempted the Maui Nui Crossings (originally called the 3 Islands Swim) in 1989. He made at least two legs of the three non-stop crossings, but weather and water conditions prevented him to complete the entire 3 Islands Swim.
- Becca Mann completed the first 57.78 km Maui Nui Swim in August 2019 between the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on 18-19 August 2019 with Captain Michael Twigg-Smith, Escort crew Steve Haumschild, Shelley Oates, Relief Captain Mike Scott, feeder Beth Mann, planning and organization by the Kaiwi Channel Association.
- 15.75 km Pailolo Channel from Maui to Moloka'i started at 1:00 pm and finished at 5:01 pm on 18 August 2019.
- 26.50 km Kalohi Channel from Moloka'i to Lana'i, started at 5:09 pm and finished at 3:20:15 am on 19 August 2019.
- 15.33 km Auau Channel from Lana'i to Maui, started at 3:29:35 am and finished at 9:53 am on 19 August 2019.
- Captains Andy Joca and Phil Kibby escorted 56-year-old Ted Lomicka on his Maui Nui Swim in 23 hours 47 minutes, starting at 3:23 pm on 21 February and finishing at 3:10 pm on 22 February 2026. He swam the 'Au'au Channel first in 5 hours 54 minutes from the Old Club Lanai on Lāna'i to Ka'anapali Beach on Maui; the 13.5 km Pailolo Channel second in 9 hours 48 minutes from Ka'anapali Beach on Maui to Kamalo, Moloka'i, and the 14.9 km Kalohi Channel third in 8 hours 0 minutes from Kamalo on Moloka'i to Shipwreck Beach on Lāna'i.
- On 8 October 2026, Terri Dietz completed history's third Maui Nui Swim between the islands of Lana'i, Maui, and Moloka'i in a cumulative time of 25 hours 26 minutes with Captain Andy Joca and crew members Cameron Foucht, Meredith Graf, Zane Wright, Michele Moore, and Kate Macias.
- 15.33 km 'Au'au Channel from Club Lana'i to Ka'anapali Beach, Maui from 3:36 pm to 10:38 pm
- 15.75 km Pailolo Channel from Ka'anapali Beach, Maui to Kamalo, Moloka'i from 10:41 pm to 9:16 am
- 26.50 km Kalohi Channel from Kamalo, Moloka'i to Paopao Point, Lana'i 9:23 am to 4:49 pm
Molokai Channel Swimmer List
Individuals who have successfully swum across the Molokai Channel:
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. 2007 - Mike Spalding (60), finishing in Hanauma Bay on Oahu, 15 hours 15 minutes
12. 2007 - Kelly Gleason (42), finishing in Hanauma Bay on Oahu, 15 hours 15 minutes
13. 2007 - 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
23. 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
27. 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 on 2 December 2012
30. 2014 - Leahi Camacho (16), 14 hours 44 minutes
31. 2014 - Katie Benoit (44), 18 hours 0 minutes
32. 2014 - Yesenia Cabrera Fuegos (41), 16 hours 50 minutes
33. 2014 - Cameron Keith (15), 14 hours 55 minutes
34. 2014 - Victoria Rian (46), 14 hours 42 minutes
35. 2014 - Jim Barber (54), 14 hours 42 minutes
36. 2014 - Rohans More (29), 16 hours 28 minutes
37. 2015 - Attila Mányoki (42), finishing at Makapu'u Beach on Oahu in 12 hours 2 minutes
38. 2015 - Andre Wiersig, finishing on Sandy Beach on Oahu in 18 hours 26 minutes
39. 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
42. 2016 - Thomas Pembroke finishing in 15+ hours on Oahu
43. 2016 - Adrian Sarchet finishing on Sandy Beach, Oahu in 16 hours 24 minutes
44. 2016 - Dr. Tom Hackett in 14 hours 54 minutes
45. 2016 - Stephen Junk in 14 hours 50 minutes on 5 October
46. 2016 - Ion Lazarenco in 18 hours 11 minutes on 5 October
47. 2016 - Beth French in 16 hours 59 minutes on 6 December 2016
48. 2016 - Cameron Bellamy in 16 hours 1 minute on 26 February
49. 2016 - Steve Walker in 18 hours 8 minutes on 26 February
50. 2016 - Abhejali Bernardova in 21 hours 52 minutes on 26 March
51. 2016 - Pat Gallant-Charette (66) in 24 hours 54 minutes on 21 May
52. 2016 - Prabhat Raju Koli (16) in 16 hours 22 minutes on 6 June
53. 2016 - Nora Toledano in 14 hours 28 minutes on 10 July in a tandem swim with Mariel Hawley
54. 2016 - Sarah Ferguson in 16 hours 56 minutes on 25 July finishing on Makapu'u Beach, Oahu
55. 2016 - Toni Enderli in 20 hours 45 minutes on 2 September 2016 finishing on Sandy Beach, Oahu
56. 2016 - Jorge Crivilles Villanueva
57. 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. 2017 - Mariel Hawley Davila
60. 2018 - Dean Summers in 20 hours 12 minutes on 26 April
61. 2018 - Mark Tan in 15 hours 19 minutes on 1 July
62. 2018 - Lynton Mortensen in 14 hours 49 minutes on 1 July
63. 2018 - John Zemaitis
64. 2018 - Joe Zemaitis
65. 2018 - Dina Levacic
66. 2018 - Jonathan Ratcliffe
67. 2018 - Anna Strachan
68. 2019 - Paul Georgescu in 14 hours 9 minutes in April
69. 2019 - Christian Jongeneel
70. 2019 - Florin Tomos
71. 2019 - Paul Feltoe
72. 2020 - Steve Minaglia
73. 2020 - Debbie Merwick
74. 2021 - John Batchelder
75. 2021 - Dmitry Petrov
76. 2021 - Barbara Hernandez
77. 2021 - Andrey Bozhko
78. 2021 - Edie Markovich, 15 years old, youngest to cross the channel
79. 2021 - Sarah Thomas
80. 2022 - Marcia Cleveland in 17 hours 45 minutes in March
81. 2022 - Mark Sowerby in 14 hours 23 minutes in April
82. 2022 - Suwei Chen
83. 2022 - Guy Moar
84. 2022 - Daniel Vivero
85. 2022 - Jaime Lomelín Gavaldón
86. 2022 - Rene Martinez
87. 2022 - Herman van der Westhuizen
88. 2022 - Nathalie Pohl
89. 2022 - Zach Margolis
90. 2022 - Terri Dietz
91. 2022 - Lori King
92. 2022 - Sayani Das
93. 2023 - Karen Ennis
94. 2023 - Kieron Palframan
95. 2023 - Rob Woodhouse
96. 2023 - Lauren Lesyna
97. 2023 - Alessandra Cima
98. 2023 - Chris Allshouse
99. 2023 - Edward Lomicka
100. 2023 - Jorge Ivan Agudelo Vargas
101. 2023 - Eziquiel Becerril
102. 2023 - Eduardo Collazos
103. 2023 - Grainne Moss
104. 2023 - Andy Donaldson
105. 2023 - Steve Leitch
106. 2023 - Maya Merhige
107. 2023 - Andy Walberer
108. 2024 - Tsanko Tsankov
109. 2024 - Caitlin O'Reilly
110. 2024 - Patrick Autissier
111. 2024 - Bengisu Avci
112. 2024 - Andreas Waschburger
113. 2024 - Michael Moreau
114. 2024 - Anshuman Jhingran
115. 2024 - Izebel Sierra
116. 2024 - Graco Morlan (Oʻahu to Molokaʻi)
117. 2024 - Christopher Chuck
118. 2024 - Rachel Randall
119. 2024 - Halani Christina Moss-Vete
120. 2024 - Ryan Utsumi
121. 2024 - Petar Stoychev
122. 2024 - Colby Dimsdale
123. 2025 - Rob Lea
124. 2025 - Edie Hu
125. 2025 - Paul Leonard
126. 2025 - Boguslaw Ogrodnik
127. 2025 - Simon Olliver
128. 2025 - Jennie Conway
129. 2025 - Thomas Rathbun
130. 2025 - Haley Chasin
131. 2025 - Aysu Türkoğlu
132. 2025 - Tim Lorge
133. 2025 - Lorelei Schmidt
134. 2026 - Aby Ortega
135. 2026 - Sebastian Gonzalez
136. 2026 - Iskander Sagarminaga Ateaga
137. 2026 - Norihito Yoshioka
138. 2026 - Loren King
139. 2026 - Nick Jessen
140. 2026 - Joanne Norman
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.
Note: Bill Pai (William K. (Opelu) Pai) reportedly completed the first Molokai Channel crossing in 1939 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.
External links
- Crossing The Molokai Channel Is A Huge Success
- Joanne Norman On Her Last Leg of the Oceans Seven
- Ocean Man Ted Lomicka Completes The Maui Nui Swim
- Edie Hu Becomes First Woman to Cross from Oahu To Molokai
- Paul Leonard’s Molokai Channel Redux Is A Success
- Simon Olliver Overcomes The Channel of Bones to Achieve The Oceans Seven
- Salvatore Cimmoni Crosses Molokai in his Swimming in the Seas of the Globe
- Taking Aussie Tough to a Whole 'nother Level: Joanne Norman Is Back, Tackles Tough Tsugaru
- Yasemin Altintas and Murat Öz Abort Tandem Molokai Channel Crossing after Bite from a Cookiecutter Shark
- Aussie Tough: Joanne Norman Will Be Back
- Paul Leonard Is Hit By Cookiecutter Shark In The Molokai Channel
- Oceans Seven Rivalry: Aysu Türkoğlu versus Bengisu Avcı
- Anatomy of a Record across Molokai - The Story of Andreas Waschburger
- Halani Moss-Vete Swims in Her Sanctuary in a Tribute to her Mother
- Cameron Keith, Edie Markovich, Maya Merhige - all of 15 with 42 to Go
- The Story of René Martínez Saenz’s Molokai Channel Crossing
- René Martínez Saenz Swims Through the Night Across the Molokai Channel
- Jaime Lomelin Breaks the Record for Moloka’i Channel for a Mexican Swimmer
- Daniel Vivero Swims Through The Night
- Mark Makes Molokai
- Around And Around And Across Goes John Batchelder
- Dan Simonelli Talks About Helping Others On WOWSA Live
- Beth French Swims Through The Night And Vog To Oahu
- Molokai Channel Swim website
- Ka'iwi Channel Swim, Ready For An Epic Undertaking
- Ka'iwi Channel Swim
- 28 or 45, Either Way Channel Of Bones Is Extremely Tough
- Aloha! Kaiwi Channel Swim Underway
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Highlights And History Of the Ka'iwi Channel
- Cameron Keith Crushes Ka'iwi
- Rohans More Doing The Oceans Seven
- Shark Encounters Of The Closest Kind
- Ocean Adventurers Weigh Risks And Rewards, Part 2
- Ocean Adventurers Weigh Risks And Rewards, Part 1
- Shark Spawning Season In September
- Zombies Swim Western Molokai Shore
- Swimming During A Tsunami Warning
- The Channel Of Bones To Be Released On October 26th
