Linda Kaiser, Respecting And Conquering The Channels

One of Hawaii's most accomplished marathon swimmers and member of the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame, 58-year-old Linda Kaiser, notched another channel under her belt this month - her longest and most difficult channel swim to date.

Like Penny Palfrey in March this year and Harry Huffacker back in 1970, Kaiser crossed the 30-mile (48 km) Alenuihaha channel on September 12th in 17 hours from the Big Island of Hawaii to Maui.

Kaiser has also crossed the 26-mile (42 km) Kaiwi Channel (Molokai Channel) in 2007, the 9.3-mile (15 km) Kalohi Channel from Molokai Island to Lanai Island in 2001, the 7-mile (11 km) Alalakeiki Channel from Kahoolawe to Maui in 1991, the 8.5-mile (13.6 km) Pailolo Channel from Maui to Molokai in 1990, the 17-mile (27 km) Kaulakahi Channel from Kauai to Niihau in 2003, and the 17-mile (27 km) Kealaikahiki Channel from Kahoolawe to Lanai in 2005.

"You've got to respect the ocean. You've got to come prepared. If you're not serious, and you're not focused on what you're doing, you're bound to have trouble. The ocean doesn't put up with any wimps."

Kaiser should know. It was during her 1990 Pailolo Channel swim from Maui to Molokai when she noticed a dark shape in the water beneath her. According to her interview with Honolulu Magazine, the shape was "no larger than a fist at first, but was growing quickly and racing straight for her."

"All of sudden I thought, 'Oh, that's a shark.' He just kept coming straight up, and I said to myself, 'Ooh, this may not be good.'" After the 12-foot shark circled her a few times, the shark lost interest.

But that scare obviously has not slowed her down.

" It's a great feeling of accomplishment. I don't do it for anybody else. I do it for me."

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Hawaii Open Water Swimming Hall of Famers

Today, the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame will induct 17 aquatic athletes in its 2008 ceremonies. Part of the Hawaii Swimming Legacy Project, the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame has eight categories: Ocean Swimmers, Channel Swimmers, Swimmers, Water Polo, Coaches, Masters Swimming, Diving and Contributors.

In the Ocean Swimmers and Channel Swimmers categories, famed Keo Nakama and Dr. Harry Huffaker were inducted in 2002.

In 2003, Morris "Mo" Matthews, Diane Stowell, Fred Trask and Jim Welch were similarly honored.

In 2005, Robin Isayama (shown above) and Carl Kawauchi were honored as Channel Swimmers and Kaili Chun and John Flanagan were honored as Ocean Swimmers.

This year, Betty Ann Barnett, a 2006 FINA World Swimmer and holder of several world and U.S. masters records, James Caldwell, the first solo swimmer across the Auau and Pailolo Channels, Linda Kaiser (shown to the left), who has swum seven of the channels in Hawaii, and Mike Spalding, the first to swim the Kaulakahi and Kealaikahiki Channels among his seven channel swims, will be honored.

Kaiser recalled her 1990 swim between Maui and Molokai Islands across the 8.5-mile Palilolo Channel, when she swam something from the depths racing straight for her.

"All of sudden I thought, 'Oh, that's a shark. He just kept coming straight up, and I said to myself, 'Ooh, this may not be good,'" as the 12-foot shark circle a number of times beneath her before moving on.

These Hall of Famers are indeed made of something special.

Upper photo of Robin Isayama from the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame.

Lower photo of Linda Kaiser by the late Sergio Goes of the Honolulu Magazine.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association