About HOW

HOW is an informational and database service only.  HOW provides limited information for marathon swims among the Hawaiian islands, certifies successful swimmers who complete these swims with adequate documentation, and records the certified swim on electronic media.

ALL SWIMMERS SWIM AT THEIR OWN RISK.  HOW recommends against any swimmer taking on any open water swim without the necessary training, preparation, research,  and safety planning.  It is absolutely the swimmers responsibility to plan all aspects of their swim and to verify that they are in adequate health to take on any open water swim.  

Swimming in open water is inherently a high risk activity especially in Hawaiʻi.  Through years of experience members of HOW have encountered many high risk situations including but not limited to harsh marine and coastal conditions and dangerous wildlife and human activity to name a few.  For example, we have seen some swimmers, Olympians, and several Oceans 7 swimmers succumb to severe debilitating injuries, sea sickness, stings, and currents.  These risks are in addition to the high physical demands marathon swimming already places on the swimmer.  

Hawaii Open Water

Established 2025