OCC Sports

  • About OCC
  • Olympians
  • Winged “O”
  • ODKF
  • Canoe Racing
    • Outrigger’s Role in Canoe Racing History
    • About the Canoes
    • Macfarlane Regatta
      • Who is Walter James Macfarlane?
      • Regatta Records
      • Event Results by Year
      • Perpetual Trophies
      • Historical Trophies
      • T-Shirts & Merchandise
      • Macfarlane News Articles
      • Outrigger Magazine Articles
      • Race Day Programs
      • Macfarlane Photos
    • Dad Center Memorial Canoe Race
    • Skippy Kamakawiwoole Race
    • Moloka’i Hoe
    • Na Wahine O Ke Kai
    • The Waikiki Cup
    • Bob Fischer Memorial Trophy
    • HCRA
    • OHCRA
    • Canoe Racing Committee Chairs
    • OCC Canoe Racing Head Coaches
    • OCC Magazine Articles Canoe Racing
  • Ocean Sports
    • Canoe Sailing
    • Canoe Surfing
    • Boating & Fishing
    • OC-1
    • Ocean Triathlon
    • Paddleboard
    • Rowing
    • Sailing
    • Surfing
    • Surfski/Kayak
    • Swimming
    • Water Polo
    • OCC Winter Tri-Ocean Races
  • Land Sports
    • Basketball
    • Biathlons
    • Bicycle
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Motorcycle
    • Mountainball & Softball
    • Rugby
    • Running
    • Shooting
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Triathlon
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
      • OCC Volleyball History
      • Indoor Volleyball
      • Beach Volleyball
      • OCC Women’s Volleyball
      • Dodge Parker Volleyball Award
  • OCC Archives
    • Oral Histories
    • All OCC Archives
  • Photo Archives
    • Photo Search
    • Browse
You are here: Home / Ocean Sports / Swimming / Channel Swimming

Channel Swimming

Harry Huffaker
Harry Huffaker

Swimming the nine channels between the Hawaiian Islands is a goal of many ocean swimmers.  The Outrigger Canoe Club is proud to have among its members Harry Huffaker and James Caldwell who were pioneers in channel swimming in Hawaii.  Huffaker was the second person to conquer the Kaiwi Channel between Molokai and Oahu in 1967 amd Caldwell was the first to master the Auau Channel between Lanai and Maui in 1970.  Huffaker was back in 1972 to be the first to complete the Kaiwi swim in the opposite direction from Oahu to Molokai.  He was also the first to defy the Kalohi Channel (Molokai to Lanai) and the Alenuihaha Channel (Hawaii to Maui). Caldwell was the first across the Palilolo Channel in 1973.

Since those early crossings, a number of other Outrigger members have completed the channel crossings.  See their accomplishments below.  Read more

Maui Channel Relays

Outrigger Canoe Club swimmers competed in the first open-water relay swim in the Auau Channel from Lanai to Lahaina in 1972 and continued to be involved in the swim for more than a decade.  Competing teams came from Hawaii and California the first year, but the event became an international event in later years.  Read more


Auau Channel

Lanai to Maui
8.8 miles

1970

Jim Caldwell
1st person to cross

1983

Jim Krueger
Mike Spalding

1984

Ian Emberson
Mike Miller

1987

Harry Huffaker
Ulrich Klinke
Jim Krueger
Bruce Sloan
Diane Stowell

1989

Harry Huffaker
Harry Huffaker

1990

Mike Miller

2002

Mike Miller

2003

John Nielsen

2004

Mackenzie Miller
Mike Miller

2008

Mackenzie Miller

2011

Mike Miller
(Maui to Lanai)

2014

Stefan Reinke

2015

Laurie Foster
Mary Quinn

2017

Stefan Reinke (Maui to Lanai)

2019

Stefan Reinke
Stefan Reinke (Maui to Lanai)

2020

Stefan Reinke

2021

Stefan Reinke (2x)
Candes Gentry
Michael Spalding

2022

Diane Corn
Candes Gentry

2023

Stefan Reinke


Alalakeiki Channel

Kahoolawe to Maui
7 Miles

1992

Ulrich Klinke

2001

Laurie Foster
(Maui to Kahoolawe)
Mike Spalding


Alenuihaha Channel

Hawaii to Maui
30 miles

1970

Harry Huffaker
(First Channel Crossing)

2011

Mike Spalding


Kalohi Channel

Lanai to Molokai
9.3 miles

1989

Harry Huffaker
(1st Molokai to Lanai)
Ulrich Klinke

2007

Laurie Foster
(Molokai to Lanai)
Mike Spalding
(Molokai to Lanai)

2014

Stefan Reinke

2017

Stefan Reinke

2021

Candes Gentry
Quinn Riordan


Kaulakahi Channel

Kauai to Niihau
17 Miles

2003

Laurie Foster
Mike Spalding

2020

Stefan Reinke


Kaiwi Channel

Molokai to Oahu
26 miles

1967

Harry Huffaker
(Second, Molokai to Oahu)

1972

Harry Huffaker
(First, Oahu to Molokai)

1979

Ian Emberson
Mike Miller

2007

Mike Spalding

2009

Mackenzie Miller

2017

Stefan Reinke

Kalohi Channel

Lanai to Molokai
9.3 Miles

1989

Harry Huffaker (Molokai to Lanai)
Uli Klinke

2007

Laurie Foster

2014

Stefan Reinke (Molokai to Lanai)

2014

Stefan Reinke

2021

Candes Gentry
Quinn Riordan


Kealaikahiki Channel

Kahoolawe to Lanai
17 Miles

2005

Laurie Foster
Mike Spalding


Pailolo Channel

Maui to Molokai
8.5 miles

1973

Jim Caldwell
(1st crossing)

1989

Harry Huffaker

1990

Mike Spalding

1991

Ulrich Klinke

1993

Dennis Blake

2017

Stefan Reinke

2019

Stefan Reinke

2021

Candes Gentry
Quinn Riordan
David Bell

2023

Diane Corn


Three Channels Three Days: Pailolo, Kolohe and Auau Channels

2017

Stefan Reinke

2019

Stefan Reinke

 


Site Visitors: 134

This website, its written content and any photographic images, art work or other materials contained therein are protected by US copyright laws. Any use of any of the materials contained in this website without the express written authorization and approval of Outrigger Canoe Club constitutes a violation of Outrigger Canoe Club’s intellectual property rights and is strictly prohibited.

Copyright © 2025 Outrigger Canoe Club All Rights Reserved | Website design by Hotpixels.com