The Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum promotes, preserves, and perpetuates Hawaiian aquatic sports for the future by celebrating the achievements of pool and open water swimmers, divers, water polo athletes, and by sponsoring aquatic exhibits and performances.

The Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Hawai’i Swimming Legacy Project founded in 2002 with the aim to inspire and engage all generations in the perpetuation of Hawaii’s aquatic athletes, and to provide information about those who competed in the past. Panel displays picturing and telling the stories of the Hall of Fame honorees are often shown at libraries, schools, hotels and community events.

Under the leadership of Richard Sonny Tanabe, Sue Nishioka, Cory LarRieu, Gary Hosaka, Carl Kawauchi, John D. Nielsen, Keith Arakaki, Wally Nakamoto, Diane Stowell and Alton Motobu research and select the most outstanding athletes from various water related activities who meet a predetermined criteria.

Posthumously inducted athletes include the following (years indicate their Olympic participation):

Duke Kahanamoku (1912, 1920, 1924, 1932), Bill Harris (1920), J.K. Gilman (1920), George Kane (1920), Fred Kahele (1920, 1924), Paul Kealoha (1920, 1924), Warren Kealoha (1920, 1924), Harold Krueger (1920), Ludy Langer (1920), Helen Moses (1920), George “Dad” Center (1920), Coach Sam Kahanamoku (1924), Bill Kirschman (1924), Henry Luning (1924), Charles Pung (1924), Mariechen Wehselau (1924), Fullard Leo (1924), Clarence Buster Crabbe (1928, 1932), Manuella Kalili (1932), Malolo Kalili (1932), William “Opelu” Pai (1939), Thelma Kalama (1948), Alan Stack (1938, 1952), Jimmy Tanaka (1940), Coach Soichi Sakamoto, Coach Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto, Coach Yoshito Sagawa, Dr. Richard You, Jose Balmores, Bunmei Nakama, Richard Cleveland (1952), “Halo” Takashi Hirose (1940), Aileen Riggin-Soule

The Class of 2002 athletes include the following:
*Open Water and Channel Swimmers: Keo Nakama, Dr. Harry Huffaker
*Swimmers: Keo Nakama, Bill Smith, Ford Konno, Fujiko Katsutani, Chieko “Chic” Miyamoto, Bill Woolsey, Lillian “Pokey” Watson, Evelyn Kawamoto

*Water Polo: Leigh Josephson, Ken Smith
*Masters swimming: Jim Welch, Dr. Harold Sexton
*Diving: Keala O’Sullivan
*Coach: Albert Minn
*Contributor: Mirian LarRieu

The Class of 2003 athletes include the following:

*Open Water and Channel Swimmers: Morris “Mo” Matthews, Diane Stowell, Fred Trask, Jim Welch
*Swimmers: Brent Berk, 1968, George Onekea 91956) Yoshi Oyakawa (1952, 1956), Richard “Sonny” Tanabe (1956)
*Water Polo: Dr. Heidi U. McElhaney
*Masters swimming: Charlotte Costello, Dr. Pete Okumoto, Joan Osborne, Pete Powlison
*Coach: Wally Nakamoto

The Class of 2005 athletes include the following:
*Coach: Edward Kawachika
*Masters swimming: Bruce Clark, Ernest Leskovitz, Steve Borowski, Joe Lileikis
*Channel swimmers: Robin Isayama, Carl Kawauchi
*Ocean swimmers: Kaili Chun, John Flanagan
*Swimmers: Robin Backhaus, Mitzi Higuchi, Ken Nakasone, Chris Woo
*Water Polo: Chris Duplanty, Shari Baird, John Nielsen, Susan Nishioka
*Contributor: James Anderson

The Class of 2008 athletes include the following:

*Coach: Harry Mamizuka
*Masters swimming: Betty Ann Barnett, Spencer Eldred, Lloyd Osborne, Cappy Sheeley
*Channel swimmers: James Caldwell, Linda Kaiser, Michael Spalding
*Ocean swimmers: Betty Ann Barnett
*Swimmers: Fred Haywood, Ivanelle Hoe, Jerry Miki, Herbert Kobayashi, D.D.S.
*Water Polo: Sean Kern, 2000
*Contributors: Ralph Hale M.D., Jane Hale, Charles Dwight III, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Ph.D.

The Class of 2012 athletes include the following:

*Coach: Ken Suenaga
*Masters swimmers: June Ford, Brett Phillips, Nadine Takai Day
*Ocean Swimmers: Nadine Takai Day, Rick Heltzel, Paul Stader, June Ford, Brett Phillips
*Swimmers: Toyoko Takeyama, Julia Murakami Woolsey, Zachary Zorn, Matt Biondi
*Water Polo: Aaron Chaney
*Contributor: Malcolm Cooper

Top photo shows channel swimmer Robin Isayama. Lower photo shows ocean swimmer Kaili Chun.

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