Julie J. Swanzy was elected to Life Membership in the Outrigger Canoe Club in 1928 in recognition of her long friendship and support of the Club. At the request of OCC Founder Alexander Hume Ford she founded the Women’s Auxiliary to the Outrigger Canoe Club in 1909 and remained as its volunteer president until 1926.
She actively encouraged women’s swimming activities at Waikiki, and the Auxiliary sponsored an annual swimming meet during her tenure. The Swanzy Cup, named for her, was awarded to the best all-round woman swimmer in the islands.
Mrs. Swanzy organized the auxiliary and negotiated terms of its association with the all-male Outrigger club, making sure her women members received equal beach amenities as the men. Most members of the Auxiliary were the wives and daughters of the Outrigger members as well as single females. The Auxiliary provided chaperones every afternoon at their clubhouse on Waikiki Beach to keep everything comfortable and satisfactory for the members.
In 1926, Outrigger opened its membership to women and led by Mrs. Swanzy, the Women’s Auxiliary declined an offer to merge with the Outrigger and instead continue as an independent organization. The club was renamed the Uluniu Women’s Swimming Club and is still active today. Upon the change Mrs. Swanzy resigned to let new ideas grow the club. At the time the membership of the Auxiliary was 600.
Mrs. Swanzy passed away in 1941 at the age of 80.