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
Three Channels Three Days: Pailolo, Kolohe and Auau Channels
2017
Stefan Reinke
2019
Stefan Reinke