HOW Swims

Why HOW?  Hawaiʻi offers some of the most challenging and beautiful open water swimming in the world.  We know that every swimmer needs a target... something to aim for... something to inspire.  Our aim is to share our experiences and knowledge with others, to foster community, and to inspire competition.  In the sport of open water swimming there is nothing quite like the feeling one gets when a challenge is accepted and a goal later achieved.

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.  For example, we have seen some swimmers, Olympians, and several Oceans 7 swimmers succumb to severe debilitating injuries, sea sickness, stings, food-poisoning and currents.  These risks are in addition to the high physical demands marathon swimming places on the swimmer.  

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 prior to engaging in any open water activity.

Hawaii Open Water

Established 2025