What You Can’t See Might Not Hurt You
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Carl Kawauchi of Honolulu swam the 8.5-mile Pailolo Channel from Maui to Molokai on his fourth career channel in the Hawaiian Islands.
Kawauchi has also crossed the Auau Channel (Maui to Lanai), the Kalohi Channel (Molokai to Lanai) and the Alalakeiki Channel (Kahoolawe to Maui).
Due to the swells on Maui, Kawauchi had a difficult time selecting a start location on the lava rock shore. During his crossing, he later faced a bloom of Portuguese man o’ war and box jellyfish, but he ultimately finished in 4 hours 45 minutes.
During his swim, the local authorities closed the beaches where he started his swim due to several 12-14 foot tiger sharks feeding in the area. Kawauchi recalled, “The sharks probably were there when I started, but it was dark and I didn’t see anything. I’m glad I didn’t see them. If I saw them I probably would have aborted the swim.“
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Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.
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