Courtesy of Alton Motobu, Oahu, Hawaii.

With nearly 900 people* signed up for the 46th annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim certain rules apply to keep the race fair and respective of the aloha spirit that permeates throughout the Hawaiian islands.

Race director Kaia Hedlund announced the time penalties that will be assessed to swimmers who do not follow the marine law of the 2.4-mile Waikiki Roughwater Swim across Waikiki Bay.

Swim cap penalty: Swimmers must wear their assigned cap for the entire race – they should keep the cap on until they cross the finish line. Penalty for non-compliance of cap rule is a 5-minute time penalty.

Swim suit penalty: Men’s brief or jammers and women’s one or two piece suits shoulder to hip. Wetsuits are not permitted or any suit that provides any flotation. Penalty for non-compliance of swim suit rule is a 10-minute time penalty.

Interference penalty/disqualification: Any purposeful gross interference with other swimmers that is observed/witnessed by race personnel will render the person subject to disqualification including pull back dunking, violent behavior or any action that can cause harm to another person. On the beach, any intentional flagrant interference with another swimmer in order to gain advantage (pushing, tripping, tackling etc.) will render the perpetrator subject to disqualification or a 1-minute time penalty.

Groups-False Start penalty: Anyone who false starts will receive a 5-minute penalty. Anyone who starts prior to their group’s start will be disqualified. If someone starts in a later group than assigned, there will be no time penalty; however, their time will not be adjusted to accommodate the later start.

Failure to round turn buoys: disqualification.

But for those who follow the rules, the swim is one of the most enjoyable in the world. Hawaiian Islands channel swimmer Alton Motobu completed exhaustive research and compiled the top swimmers who have completed in the event – without penalties throughout their careers.

Based on the results for 44 editions of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim between 1970 and 2014 (not including the cancelled 2005 race), Motobu came up with a plethora of interesting data:

Most Frequent Overall Winners – Male
4-time winners:
* Paul Stader in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980
* Alex Kostich in 1994, 2002, 2004, 2006
3-time winners:
* Brett Phillips in 1974, 1975, 1979
* Malcolm Allen in 1996, 1997, 1999

Most Frequent Overall Winners – Female
8-time winner
* Kaili Chun in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984
4-time winners
* Nadine Takai in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
* Luana Rowe in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
3-time winners
* Lisa Hazen Johns in 1991, 1993, 1995

Fastest Male Finish Times (regardless of buoy placement, drafting rules, currents)
1. Jonathon Ezer (1971) 41:09
2. Daniel McLellan (1992) 42:13
3. Trent Grimsey (2009) 42:20

Fastest Female Finish Times (regardless of buoy placement, drafting rules, currents)
1. Lisa Hazen Johns (1991) 46:00
2. Liz Hogan (1971) 46:42
3. Kathy Shipman (1972) 46:49

Most Top 3 Male Overall Finishes
1. Alex Kostich – 8 times: 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
2. John Flanagan – 7 times: 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2009
3. Paul Stader – 5 times: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
3. Max Metzker – 5 times: 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989
3. Chris Moore – 5 times: 1982, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992
3. Noa Sakamoto – 5 times: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007

Most Top 3 Female Overall Finishes
1. Kaili Chun – 9 times: 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984
2. Nadine Takai – 8 times: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2007
3. Luana Rowe – 6 times: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Fastest Woman Finisher in Overall Results by Place
* Nancy Ivy – 1973: 3rd place overall finisher
* Kaili Chun – 1976: 3rd place overall finisher
* Kathy Shipman – 1972: 5th place overall finisher
* Julia Francisco – 1975: 5th place overall finisher
* Kaili Chun – 1979: 5th place overall finisher
* Kaili Chun – 1980: 5th place overall finisher
* Nadine Takai – 1988: 5th place overall finisher

Fastest Woman Finisher in Overall Results by Time
* Lisa Hazen Johns – 1991: 6th overall – 18 seconds behind 1st overall finisher
* Stacey Gartrell – 1997: 9th overall – 24 seconds behind 1st overall finisher
* Karen Burton – 1992: 8th overall – 48 seconds behind 1st overall finisher

Most Top 3 Age Group Finishes – Male
* Ernie Leskovitz: 23 times, 1st-20x, 2nd-1x, 3rd-2x
* Rick Heltzel: 22 times, 1st-12x, 2nd-7x, 3rd-3x, 4th-6th-4x
* Mo Mathews: 21 times, 1st-14x, 2nd-6x, 3rd-1x
* Fred Trask: 17 times, 1st-8x, 2nd-5x, 3rd-4x, 5th-1x
* Jim Welch, 14 times, 1st-8x, 2nd-6x

Most Top-3 Age Group Finishes – Female
* Betty Ann Cary Barnett Sallee: 34 times, 1st-31x, 2nd-2x, 3rd-1x
* Diane Stowell: 23 times, 1st-22x, 2nd-1x
* Sui-Lan Ellsworth: 17 times, 1st-3x, 2nd-10x, 3rd-4x, 4th-5x
* Miki Yoshida David: 12 times, 1st-7x, 2nd-2x, 3rd-3x, 5th-9th-4x

Most Finishes from 1970 to 2014* 1. Ray Nakamoto (age 65), 37 times 1976-2014
2. Betty Ann Cary Barnett Sallee (68), 34 times 1972-2014
3. Alton Motobu (63), 33 times 1980-2014
4. Bruce Clark (72), 32 times 1975-2014
5. Carl Kawauchi (71), 30 times 1981-2014
5. Joe Lileikis (51), 30 times 1981-2014
7. Rick Heltzel (57), 28 times 1984-2014 7. Phyllis Quinn (58), 28 times 1982-2014
9. Diane Corn (56), 24 times 1985-2014
9. Jill Buss (58), 24 times 1988-2014
9. Robert Roper (71), 24 times 1974-2010
12. Diane Stowell (72), 23 times 1981-2006
12. Laurie Foster (59), 23 times 1980-2014
12. Russell Iwamura (53), 23 times 1983-2014
12. Ernie Leskovitz (77), 23 times 1991-2014
16. Valisa Saunders (60), 22 times 1981-2014
16. Sui-Lan Ellsworth (64), 22 times 1988-2011
16. Linda Kaiser (59), 22 times 1984-2009
16. Ellen Shockro (72), 22 times 1987-2014
20. Lynn Jolly (49), 21 times 1992-2014
20. Mo Mathews (77), 21 times 1976-2004
22. Sharyn Klafehn (59), 20 times 1982-2006
*Age as of last participation in Waikiki Roughwater Swim

Most Consecutive finishes
1. Alton Motobu: 28 from 1986 to 2014
2. Ray Nakamoto: 27 from 1976 to 2002
3. Carl Kawauchi: 25 from 1981 to 2006

Oldest Male Finishers
* Gerald O’Regan, age 88 in 1988
* H. William Burgess, 84 in 2012

Oldest Female Finishers
* Ruth Manfredi, age 78 in 2002
* Lori Auhll, age 78 in 2014

Youngest Male Finishers
* Timothy Marr, age 7 in 1986
* Chris Bartels, age 7 in 1974
* Donald Chong, age 7 in 1972

Youngest Female Finishers
* Elise Baker, age 7 in 1999
* Anela Peneku, age 7 in 1978
* Terese D’Orazio, age 7 in 1973
* Robin Utu, age 7 in 1972

* Number of swimmers in 2009 (911 swimmers), 2010 (967 swimmers), 2011 (865 swimmers), 2012 (1119 entrants, 891 finishers), 2013 (1,100 entrants, 923 finishers), 2014 (1,013 entrants, 835 finishers), 2015 (813 entrants).

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