Welcome [] the 62nd Annual Keo Nakama Invitational July 2-4, 2010 Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center Welcome The Keo Nakama Swimming Invitational is the oldest swim meet in …

to the 62nd Annual

Keo NakamaInvitational

July 2- 4, 2010

Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center

Welcome

The Keo Nakama Swimming Invitational is the oldest swim meet in Hawaii.

Established over half a century ago by legendary coach Soichi Sakamoto, it

continuously draws the best teams in the country, and from overseas, who

wish to combine a great swimming experience and a magnificent vacation

in beautiful Hawaii. This meet is USS sanctioned and is held at the Central

Oahu Regional Park Aquatics Center. The swim meet is named after Hawaii’s

most well know swimmer, Keo Nakama.

State Anthem

Hawai‘i Pono‘ï

Hawai‘i pono‘ïNänä i kou mö‘ïKa lani ali‘i,Ke ali‘i

Hui:Makua lani ë,Kamehameha ë,Na kaua e pale,Me ka ihe

Hawai‘i pono‘ïNänä i nä ali‘iNä pua muli kouNä pöki‘i

Hawai‘i pono‘ïE ka lähui e‘O käu hana nuiE u‘ië

Hawaii’s own true sonsBe loyal to your chiefYour country’s liege and lordThe chief

Chorus:Royal fatherKamehamehaShall defend in warWith spears

Hawaii’s own true sonsLook to your chiefThose chiefs of younger birthYounger descent

Hawaii’s own true sonsPeople of loyal heartThe only duty liesList and abide

Hawaii Swimming ClubWelcomes you all to the 62nd Keo Nakama Invitational

We welcome everyone and thank you for joining us this year for the 62nd AnnualKeo Nakama Invitational Swimming & Diving meet. This year, for the first time in a longtime, we are including diving as part of our meet. We hope you will get a chance to watchsome of that competition.

It is our pleasure to host this meet and to continue the legacy, which was started byour Head Coach, Soichi Sakamoto. If you had the opportunity to see the Honolulu Theatrefor Youth presentation of “The Three Year Swim Club,” by Lee A. Tonouchi, a good part ofthat play was based on the very stories contained in our booklet. We hope you will enjoyreading the stories of Keo Nakama. Envision in your mind what athletes of that time had toendure to accomplish their goals and fulfill their dreams. Then continue to strive and reachyour own goals. Graduating seniors, take some of that endurance and grit along with youwhen you head off to college.

We would like to thank our HSC parents and the sponsors of this event. Withoutyou, we would not be able to host this meet. Your support, dedication and hard work areappreciated more than words can say.

To the lifeguards, maintenance staff and pool manager Glenn Pang, we appreciateall you do to provide the swimming community with a first rate swimming facility.

Thank you to the many volunteer officials. Your dedication to the sport of swim-ming and the swimming program in Hawaii is what allows us all to continue to enjoy thatwhich we take for granted. Without our volunteers, we would have no sport. Thank you!

As Coach Sakamoto would always say on the deck, “Swim swiftly!” Hope you all enjoy a weekend of great competition.

Aloha,Coach Keith ArakakiHawaii Swimming Club

The Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center

Welcomes the 62nd Keo Nakama Invitational

Aloha and welcome to the Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center. The center is a world-class

facility that includes a 50-meter pool with electronic touch pads and a diving well with 1- and

3-meter boards. We opened our main entrance to the public on Veterans Day in 2005. The

Honorable Mayor Mufi Hannemann dedicated the facility to honor all the men and women who

answered the nation’s call to duty, and who selflessly served and sacrificed so our youth could

live and play in peace.

This facility was designed to host a variety of local, national and international aquatic sporting

events and to be a training site for the community. The facility schedule and public lap swim

hours are available on our web site at: www.honoluluparks.com [Locations, Hours and Contact

– District V]; or for real-time information on current schedule go to twitter.com enter:

vmac96797 in search box.

We would like to welcome all of the swimmers to the 62nd Annual Keo Nakama Invitational

Swimming & Diving meet. We are excited for all of you and wish you the best of luck. Please

respect the pool rules posted around the pool and have a safe meet.

Mahalo,

Glenn Pang, Pool Director

It was Keo Nakama’s wish, following

his return to Honolulu after his grad-

uation from the Buckeye Institution,

in 1946, to invite his former team and

teammates over as an outstanding

swimming attraction and event.

So, with the help of George Higa

(owner of the Honolulu Cafe at that

time) and sports promoter Ralph Yem-

puku (a bosom friend of George), the

first Keo Nakama Swimming Meet

was held at the famous Waikiki War

Memorial Natatorium.

Up to the inaugural meet, Keo had

captained some of the greatest cham-

pionship teams at his Alma Mater;

in addition, he was the University's

baseball captain in his final year.

The visiting Buckeyes team consisted

of some of the nation’s outstanding

swimmers and champions including

Jim Counselman (present coach of In-

diana University); Halo Hirose, Keo’s

former teammate; Al Wiggins; and

Jack Hill, the great middle distance

champion.

Keo and I pondered on a appropriate

name for the meet. I settled on the

idea that we should perpetuate his

name since he had done so fabulously

with his swimming exploits here

and in college. I wanted the “Keo

Nakama Swimming Meet” to be a

reminder that it was Keo, more than

anyone else during his time, who had

brought about the renaissance of

swimming to Hawaii when it was at a

standstill following the days of Duke

Kahanamoku, Buster Crabbe, and the

Kalili boys. Since the first meet, the

great University of Michigan swim-

ming team (coached by now deceased

Matt Mann) was invited to follow its

arch-rival here for the second Keo

Nakama Meet; again the meet was

held at the Waikiki Natatorium.

Thereon, some of the world’s greatest

swimmers made their appearances here

from 1948-1972. Included among them

were: Japan’s great Furuhashi (who

blazed the trail in swimming the 1500

meters below the 19 minute barrier);

Masao Furukawa (the 1956 Olympic

breaststroke gold medalist); and Shiro

Hashizumi; Australia’s Jon Henricks

(the 100 meter freestyle champion in

1956). Among the United States’ cream

of the crop swimmers and divers were:

Chris Von Saltzer (1960-1964 Olympic

great); Pat McCormick and Sammy Lee

(Olympic diving champions 1948,

1952, 1956 respectively); Barbara Strak

(another backstroke star); Bumpy Jones

(University of Michigan’s great IM

Swimmer); Bill Yorzyk (American

butterfly champ); George Breen (Coach

Counselman’s U.S. distance titalist);

Frank McKinney (Indiana’s twice 2nd

place winner in the 1956 and 1960

Olympics); Shelly Mann (Washington,

D.C.’s U.S. butterfly gold medalist);

Gail Peters (perennial winner in Na-

tional championship); and many others.

From 1948-1972 the Keo Meets were

filled with pageantries and they in-

cluded parades, Queen of the Meet,

Royal Hawaiian Band, military

bands, Hawaiian music and enter-

tainment, synchronized swimming

and water ballet, clown diving, swim-

ming exhibitions (Johnny Weismuller

and Duke Kahanamoku), and the

presence and appearance of movie

stars – Edward G. Robinson, John

Wayne and Danny Kaye. Caroline

Kennedy also was present when she

was 9 years old.

The Keo Nakama Meets were staged

at the Waikiki War Memorial’s 100

meter pool. It was changed on two oc-

casions to a 50 meter pool with bulk-

head. During those years, the meets

were held for two weeks, one in the 50

meter pool at Farrington High School

and Kaimuki High School.

Attendance wise, the earliest Keo

Nakama Meets, were paid admission,

were outstanding as the permanent

and temporary bleachers were packed

solid with standing room only.

Hawaii will long remember Casey

Nakama, a combination athlete – a

swimmer and a baseball player!

How It All Began... by Coach Soichi Sakamoto

“Coach, how about inviting Mike Peppe’s perennial collegiate champion Ohio State University’s swimming team for a major meet here ?”

• World Record...One Mile 20:29.00

• 5 Pan American Games Titles

• 8 Big Ten Titles

• 13 NCAA and AAU Titles

• 5 Australian National Titles

• 1943 Big Ten Swim Champs,

Swim Team Captain for Ohio State U.

• 1944 Big Ten Baseball Champs,

Baseball Team Captain for Ohio State U.

• First person to swim the Molokai (Kaiwi)

Channel. Year: 1961 Age: 41. Approximate

distance of 32 Miles

Records and Titles for Hall of Fame Swimmer

KEO NAKAMA

NCAA Men's Swimming Champions

http://hickoksports.com/history/ncaamswim.shtml

440-Yard Freestyle

1943 Keo Nakama, Ohio State 4:43.2


1500-Meter Freestyle



Swimming Hall of Fame

http://www.hickoksports.com/history/iswimhof.shtml

Nakama, Keo USA 1975

http://starbulletin.com/97/07/03/sports/story1.html

http://www.ishof.org/HonorUSA.html

Nakama, Keo (1975) Swimmer, USA

PAN AMERICAN SWIMMING

CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1940 (5 golds)

AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS: 1939

(5 titles: all freestyle events, 330 yd

individual medley)

U.S. NATIONALS: 27 titles (110yd to 1500m)

WORLD RECORDS: extended from mile at

New Haven at age 22 to 27-mile Molokai

Channel at age 41.

Hawaii’s 1921 Territorial Legislature funds construction of the living Memo-

rial with its 100 X 40 meter saltwater swimming pool was built to honor 101

who died and the nearly 10,000 others who served in WWI from Hawaii with

$250,000.

Opened on August 24, 1927, the birthday of Olympic Gold Medalist and god-

father of modern surfing, Duke Kahanamoku, who dives in for the first cere-

monial swim before a cheering, capacity crowd. During its heyday, the

Natatorium hosts celebrity swimmers including Esther Williams, Buster Crabbe

and Johnny Weissmuller as well as some 34 members of the International

Swimming Hall of Fame. It is later also used by the DOE for its mandatory

elementary school Learn to Swim Program. Hawaii's last Olympic swimmer

learned to swim at the Natatorium.

Owned by the State but operated under and executive order by the City, the

Natatorium is closed in 1979 due to thirty years of neglect. Prior to its closure

in 1979, the last recorded public investment in capital maintenance was

$100,000 in 1949.

On both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Named to the Na-

tional Trust for Historic Preservation’s II Most Endangered list in 1995. In 1997

the same team that designed the highly successful Ko‘olina Swimming La-

goons completes an exhaustive study of coastal conditions, structural integrity

and construction alternatives. After considering everything from removal to

modifications to full restoration, the State concludes that complete restoration

with a re-engineered pool is the most sensible option. The re-designed pool

would be Hawaii’s only fully ADA-accessible saltwater swimming venue with

lifts for wheelchair-bound swimmers to enter the pool.

(Photos courtesy of the Hawaii State Archives).

Waikiki NatatoriumHosts the 1st Keo Nakama Swim Invitational

The Natatorium, circa 1928.

San Souci, circa 1930.

Swimmers diving off the floatiing deck.

It all started in the irrigation ditch in

Puunene, a good eighteen years back

when the little boys in their knee pants

used to jump in the running water to

swim, play tag and dive for objects.

And among these youngsters tadpol-

ing around in the often filthy water

were boys who were later to become

America’s outstanding mermen and

champions.

Keo Nakama, the eldest of the

Nakama family of three boys includ-

ing Bunmei Nakama, who later be-

come a champion himself, used to

sandwich a cool plunge in the ditch

between his endless tasks of helping

his mother with her work around the

household. But before this happened,

Keo’s mother did everything around

the house to bring up the young boys’

midst humble means. And as the

mother stated in one of her favorite

sayings, “I had to let Keo alone crying

in his crib as I was too busy with my

work, and because of this, my son

developed such a thing as will power,

strength and tenacity. In addition to

this he suffered a lot as he grew up and

was constantly working to help me

with my chores.”

Swimming was just one of those

natural things that the ditch boys

indulged in besides playing marbles,

cowboy and Indian, and baseball in

which young Keo began to show

much promise. Up-stream and down-

stream went the close-to-the nature

paddlers and this helped to develop

their arm and leg power beyond what

ordinary pool-swimming would give.

And mixed in with their ordinary fun-

swimming, the gang as they called

themselves, swam in the never-to-

be-forgotten ditch races. The familiar

yells and screams that accompanied

Keo Nakamatheir crazy antics and races were com-

mon occurrences and almost proved to

be a nuisance to those who lived near

the ditch. Already these teenagers

were beginning to sense the superior

seed and endurance of those within

their midst. They began to name and

pick them on their sides to strengthen

whatever team they organized to

race against each other. Keo Nakama,

Halo Hirose, Asagi Honda, Sammy

Nakasone, Jose Balmores, Emerick

Ishikawa, and Hisashi Yamada were

names that began to become more and

more popular in these kid-races.

Nearby was Puunene School which

Keo and his friends attended and it

was here they started themselves in a

regular unit for competition against

boys of other schools on Maui. The

regularly scheduled kids’ and school

swimming meets under the sponsor-

ship of the Alexander House Commu-

nity Association of Maui gave the

boys the necessary impetus and chal-

lenge to test their mettle against out-

side competition. By this time, Keo

had grown to about twelve years of

age and he and Halo Hirose began to

thunder their way to victories in all of

their Maui Kid races. The closest race

was in the 100 yard freestyle in which

both boys competed. The final result

was never decided until the last foot or

two as either one could do around a

minute flat for the distance. Puunene

School, which had never won a Maui

School Swimming championship up

till then, finally began to win victory

after victory to be come peerless

among the school boy ranks.

Later while at Maui High School, the

up and coming nators began to make

themselves felt throughout the territory

as Keo won the 500 yard freestyle race

and broke the existing criterion of 6:07

plus and Halo swam the 220 yard

freestyle event in 2:22 plus. This start-

ed the ball rolling for the duo, but it

was not until that great day when Keo,

who was sixteen years of age chal-

lenged and vanquished the Olympic

tested Ralph Gilman in the 400 meter

race, did the world know that here at

last was a real champion who could

take the place of Hawaii’s swimming

greats like Duke Kahanamoku. Later

in the 200 meter freestyle race against

the great Olympic champion, Jack

Medica, our pair finished second and

third with Keo taking the silver medal

for his great work. After this great race

Jack Medica stated, “These boys are

already fit for topnotch competition.

They ought to go to the National meets

on the Mainland.” This statement

proved very true as Keo placed second

in the one mile, 800 meter and 400 me-

ter races while Halo finished second in

the 200 meter event to Adolph Kiefer.

This happened in the 1938 Men’s Out-

door National Swimming Meet at

Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1939 at Detroit, Michigan, right

after Keo’s triumphant and memo-

rable swimming trip to Australia,

young Nakama won his first National

crown in the 200 meter freestyle event

and placed second in the 400 and 800

meter races to the champion Ralph

Keo Nakama and Halo Hirose

Flanagan. It was the first National

team championship for Maui.

At Santa Barbara, California the next

year, Keo lost his crown in the event

that he won in 1938 to the great Otto

Jaretz. The Valley Islander, who rep-

resented the Alexander House Com-

munity Association, vindicated him-

self by winning his races in the 400

meter and 800 meter freestyle events

to win two National Championship

crowns. These great performances

paved the way for the second in a row

team title for Maui.

1940 was not very bright for young

Keo as he underwent an operation for

appendicitis and everything appeared

gloomy for him as far as swimming

was concerned. However, the big

Hawaiian Outdoor Swimming Cham-

pionship Meet was just about three

months after the operation and follow-

ing his doctor’s permission, Nakama

started preparing for the big event. He

proved himself fit and as good as ever

when he swam the best 400 meter race

in his life in which he did a 4:46.8 to

place second to the scintillating star

Bill Smith, who won it in the record

time of 4:44.8.

Then at the National Outdoor Swim-

ming Championships at St. Louis, Mis-

souri, our fast recovering swimmer

proved that he was still the great cham-

pion by annexing the 1500 meter and

800 meter crowns, and coming second

to Bill Smith in the 400 meter race. He

tied with Jose Balmores and Bill Smith

for the high point swimmer of the meet.

Once again the outstanding perform-

ances of our young star brought back

the third team title in a row for the Val-

ley Island and Alexander House Com-

munity Association.

1941 proved to be the greatest year for

young Nakama as he performed his

greatest swimming feat by establishing

a world’s record of 20 minutes 29 sec-

onds in the one mile swim and being

out-touched by Bill Smith when he too

made a world’s record of 9 minutes

54.6 seconds in the 880 yard freestyle

race at New London, Con cut.

1942 on to 1945 Keo heralded as the

greatest Buckeye swimmer and he was

honored by becoming captain of his

team in 1944 and 1945. Inter-colle-

giate championships became a byword

with the Mauian as he was king of the

1500 meter and 400 meter events

throughout his college

years. 1945 saw Keo not

only a swimmer but he

played and captained his

Ohio State baseball

team. Keo’s second love,

baseball, began to creep

up on him and he could-

n’t resist the temptation

of the diamond game.

Following graduation,

Hawaii beckoned Casey

(a name which Keo

adopted while playing base ball) home,

and since then he has hung up his fa-

miliar trunks but still takes an active in-

terest in his beloved sport as a very ca-

pable official. Today, Hawaii wants to

remember and commemorate the great

athlete from Puunene, Maui and keep

him close to its heart as one who had

done much for Hawaii’s sake through

his never-to-be-forgotten feats in the

water and for his great sports like con-

duct out of the water. For this, the Keo

Nakama Meet was inaugurated to per-

petuate the name of Hawaii’s great ath-

lete. Last year, Ohio State – Keo’s alma

mater was invited to take part in the

first meet, and this year University of

Michigan will be our guests.

This article was taken from the “SecondAnnual” Keo Nakama Swimming Invita-tional, August 20–31 1947. Yes, the meetwas 7 days long —trials finals!!! The Sec-ond Annual Keo Nakama Swimming Meet

1939 Keo Nakama with Uke and group

Specializing in representation and Consultations for

civilian FEDERAL EMPLOYEES for over 30 years

Terminations, Appeals, RIFs,Discrimination, Disability,Harassment & Retaliation

MSPBOSC

EEOC

ELBRIDGE W. SMITHSMITH HIMMELMANN, AAL, ALC

TOPA Financial Center, Suite 311

745 Fort Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Tel: 808-523-5050

[email protected]

www.shlaw.us

MEMBER

Kiana White

Hawaii Swimming Club

Mililani High School

Lindenwood University

at St. Charles, Missouri

Congratulations to all of our Graduating Seniors.

……So read a note of appreciation which appeared in the Monday, Oct. 2, 1961

editorial section of the Honolulu Advertiser.

From 1930, Keo Nakama was a 41-year-old physical education instructor at

William Paul Jarrett Inter ate School. The 5-6, 145 pound swimmer hadn’t com-

peted since winning 13 National AAU championships between 1939-45.

What drew over 10,000 spectators and well-wishers to the beach and cliffs

surrounding Hanauma Bay on Friday evening, Sept. 29, 1961 was history in the

making. Nakama had tackled the 27-mile Kaiwi (Molokai) Channel and would

emerge from the water 15 hours and 37 seconds after diving in near Laau Point

on Molokai.

But what awed the entire state of Hawaii was something more. It was that some-

thing Nakama tried to instill in the Island youngsters he came in contact with

as a teacher, swim coach and softball coach. That even those goals which

seemed in able can be achieved through the proper dedication, preparation and

effort. Kiyoshi (later “Keo”) “Casey” Nakama began his legendary swimming

career in the Hawaiian.

Commercial & Sugar Company irrigation ditches in Puunene, Maui under the

tutelage of Hall of Famer coach Soichi Sakamoto. Sakamoto had started with a

small group of youngsters – including Nakama’s sprint running-mate Takashi

(Halo) Hirose – which grew to over 100 boys and girls.

The plantation allowed Sakamoto to move his entourage to the new Frank F.

Baldwin Memorial Park Pool where, in 1937, “The Maui 3-Y.S.C.” (Three-

Year Swimming Club) was born. From 1930 -1941 the 3-Y.S.C.s won three

AAU men’s outdoor teams championships, but their real goal was the 1940

Olympics.

Both Nakama and Hirose went on

to win several individual and team

honors under Ohio State University

Coach Mike Peppe, during WWII,

But it is believed that the war and

subsequent cancellation of the ’40

Olympics was the only factor that

kept them from winning Olympic

swimming medals.

In 1943 the Buckeyes were greeted

by jeers and snide remarks at the Na-

tional Indoor Championships at Yale

University for entering a certain fresh

man of Japanese ancestry. We were at

war with Japan. Coach Peppe stood

up and told the crowd that Ohio State

has only Americans on this team and

our American-Japanese boy swims.

The crowd cheered the favored Yale

swimmer, Renee Choteau, when he

stood up on his block. When little

Nakama took his place the crowd was

deafeningly silent.

Choteau caught Nakama at the 350

mark of that 400, but Nakama – not

to be denied–pulled ahead in the last

five yards to win the event. The

crowd, realizing here was a man

worth of his Japanese-American title,

gave Nakama a standing ovation.

Nakama had shown a lot of people

that day that anyone – even the Ori-

ental son of an immigrant plantation

worker – can become anyone he

wants to,provided he is willing to

work hard at it and be proud of what

he is.

It’s a philosophy Nakama has carried

with him wherever he has ventured.

The Molokai Channel By Lin Clark

HSN Assistant Editor

All Hawaii is proud of you, Keo Nakama.You and your spirit and your strength have given us all a thrill

that goes far beyond the automatic burst of pride in a victor.You have reminded us all what man can do if he has a mind to.

Sometimes in these dark days of world danger when awesomeforces threaten, we tend to forget what a man is, how he is, whathe can do. You have refreshed our memory.

Your triumph over the Molokai Channel is our triumph, too.Thank you for that, Keo Nakama. We all needed it.

And after winning 27 National cham-

pionships, obtaining his master’s de-

gree from Ohio State, and returning

to Hawaii two years later to teach and

to coach high school swimming at

Farrington, Leilehua, McKinley and

later at UH. Nakama didn’t abandon

that philosophy.

In fact, it was that notion of believing

in oneself that was most responsible

for pushing Nakama across that

Channel – even after others, includ-

ing Greta Andersen, the Danish-born

channel swimmer – had failed.

The whole idea of tackling a channel

crossing came from buddies at the

“Y”, and it started as a joke. “I had let

myself get out of shape and my doc-

tor told me to exercise more, so I

joined the YMCA,” Nakama related.

“It was there that my racquetball bud-

dies started telling me that I could do

it. Greta Andersen had tried two times

earlier that year, so it was on eve

one’s mind. The joke turned serious

and I finally decided to try it.”

So Nakama increased his training

regimen, enlisted the help of a few

friends and dove into (so to speak)

the seemingly impossible.

The event entailed a great deal of

planning: Bill Chung and Tom Higa

co-chaired a committee to sponsor

Nakama; experienced fishermen and

divers familiar with existing currents

were recruited; Capt. Tommy Akana

charted the course and Dr. Coolidge

S. Wakai prepared a high protein con-

centrate for Nakama’s meals in route.

After one postponement due to unfa-

vorable currents Nakama plunged

into the water at 3 a.m. Friday, Sept

29. All paddling surfboards, Allen

Chang, Sodie Kabalis, Marco No-

mura and D. Kaeo provided an escort

on either side and behind Nakama. In

front was a shark cage towed by one of several accompanying sampans and

cabin cruisers. Forty-three men in all came across the Channel with Nakama.

At times other swimmers joined Nakama – for short period of time – to pace him.

One hour out, Nakama became sick when a glassy sea turned to rough open

ocean and he lost Thursday evening’s steak dinner. For a short time he entered

the shark cage to recover, then re-entered the water.

Twice more he was sick and felt nauseated until he was stung on the arms and

torso by a man-o’-war.” The stings made me forget I was seasick. I thought

about all the work my friends had done and how they believed I could do it. I

kept going.”

After several course changes and some “feedings” of tea and orange juice (with

honey), and more man-o’-war stings, Nakama came within view of Oahu. He

ordered his crew to “put on some steam.” By 1 p.m. five-foot swells were push-

ing Nakama toward Hanauma Bay. “I swam for what seemed like hours and the

mountains of O‘ahu didn’t come any closer.” Nakama recalled. “ I was sure

somebody was moving those mountains back.”

At about 4:20 a strong current did start to push him back. After a double dose

of the orange mixture he pushed stubbornly on.

Finally, at 6:33 p.m., after negotiating the coral reef inside the bay, Nakama

walked ashore, looking a little bewildered and smiling shyly. He looked more

as if he’d just finished a leisurely afternoon swim than a grueling 35- mile (ac-

tual distance covered) channel crossing.

Throngs of people swarmed around him –almost disqualifying his effort be-

fore he reached the designated finish line. They screamed and reached out to

him, yelling congratulations.

“I made it Mama,” he said to his wife, Evelyn, as she draped a lei around his

neck and hugged him. His six daughters, also bearing leis, struggled through the

crowd to join him.

Nakama recalled he was “kind of tired, but wise I felt real good.” Asked by a

reporter if he wanted to repeat the feat, he’d replied, “No, I don’t think so.

That's the last time I swim that one.”

Nakama’s mentor, Coach Soichi Sakamoto, wasn’t surprised by his protege’s

milestone: “When he made up his mind to do it, I knew he could.” he said sim-

ply. “In all his years of competitive swimming, he always accomplished what-

ever goal he set.”

WHAT’S MORE: Nakama, who picked up the nickname “Casey” since he

never struck out on the Buckeye base ball team, is still active in the

Kawananakoa Softball League and assists the Detroit Tigers as a local talent

scout. Nakama: Recalling the Crossing, the Man behind It

1959, I was 8 years old. I had taken

swimming lessons for a year or so at

Central YMCA. I wanted to join the

swimming team there because my

older brother was swimming.

My mom knew the coach there and

introduced me to him. “His birthday

is the same day as yours”, she said.

“May 21st.”

The beginning of my swimming career

was a blur. Coach Nakama was teach-

ing us the butterfly with a breaststroke

kick one week (Orthodox Breast-

stroke), then the next week he taught

us the dolphin kick. Then we could mix

up the dolphin and breast kick, then we

couldn’t do anything but the fly kick.

Flip turn with butterfly. Touch the wall

on your free turn, then we didn’t have

to touch the wall. If that wasn’t con-

fusing enough, I had to stay out of my

brothers way in the water. He would

push off into me or swim right over

me. Coach Nakama, meanwhile, was

very patient, knowledgeable and fair.

My first trip with the swimming team

took us to the Island of Kauai. Coach

Nakama had a big meeting with the

swimmers and parents. Something

was said about selling cookies and

sending postcards to all the people

that we sold cookies to, to let them

know how we did at the swimming

meet. He was a caring coach.

I don’t remember the swim meet

specifically, but I do remember wak-

ing up early to find Coach cooking

breakfast for 30 – 40 of us swimmers!

Bacon & eggs. He must’ve been

cooking since 4:00 AM.

Coach taught us how to play water

polo. “Look out for Coach’s daugh-

ters Karen & Kaycee, they got long

nails,” some one yelled.

Speaking of daughters, Coach has six

of them. Karen, Kaycee, Terry, Joey,

Lynn and Jamie. Counting his wife,

that’s seven women and just him. My

mom always told Coach if he wanted

a boy she would give me away. “No

way, not a house full of girls!” I

changed my perspective as I got older.

Coach really cared. At a swim meet

at Palama Settlement, he lined up all

30 swimmers, and gave us all a fast

and brisk massage to limber us up for

the event. “If any thing, this will help

your swim, keep loose,” he said.

From Central Y Swim Club we

changed our name to Waikiki Athletic

Club. I think WAC, sponsored us in

our swimming program.

Then a strange thing happened. Coach

started running around the Central

“Y” field. Around and around. When

he got off the field he told us that he

had already swam 5-6,000 kilometers

in the morning. Wow!!!

Shortly there after, he announced to

the team that he was going to swim the

Molokai Channel. This came shortly

after Greta Andersen tried unsuccess-

fully to swim the channel, twice.

I remember going down to Ala Moana

shopping center and watching Ms.

Anderson swim back and forth in a

portable swimming pool. ( I remember

when there was no Ala Moana shop-

ping center, and only a heap of coral.)

At a point of time before the 1961

Molokai crossing, Mr Ida and Mr

Richards (parents turned assistant

coaches) took over the team to free

up Coach Nakama’s personal training

time. Coach was getting more intense

now. We would see him running

longer around the track and do a

swim workout twice a day.

The day Coach swam the channel, I

was glued to the radio. The swim

seemed to be going ok, then in the

late afternoon, the radio announcer

said that “Keo was having trouble in

the water” speculation was he would

be pulled out and equated his efforts

to Greata Andersen’s failed attempts.

Then Coach Nakama made a Her-

culean effort to finish the swim. We

were down at Hanauma Bay with what

seemed like hundreds and thousands

of people. They were lined up along

the walkway and the parking lots were

overflowing. “Wow, mom, how are we

going to see Coach come in?”

The swim team had a banner con-

gratulating Coach. Some of the

swimmers met, but we never saw

him. Later that evening, we all did get

to see him come in, on the television!

As a swimmer, that was pretty much

the last time I saw Coach Nakama.

Then there was talk of folding up the

I Still Call Him CoachBy K. Arakaki

May 21, 2007, 86 years old Keo Nakama and Matthew Arakaki

club and how we would be farmed

out to our “Parent” club... Hawaii

Swimming Club.

“My swimming coach, was Coach

Sakamoto,” Coach Nakama said. “He

taught me how to swim fast and he

can help you.” “I would like all of

you to swim for him and represent

Hawaii Swimming Club.”

Aside from coaching at Farrington

and Leilehua High School he was

the coach at McKinley High School.

McKinley High School, under his di-

rection, won the Territorial Champi-

onships over Kaimuki High School,

by a few points he said. But we were

his only age group team he had ever

coached.

My brief experience with Coach is

one I’ll cherish forever!

He was a guiding light for me and

showed me how to persevere. How to

set goals and do my best to accom-

plish them. He gave me a chance to

be successful.

I still call him Coach.

The author of this article now coaches theParent team, Hawaii Swimming Club, andtook Coach Nakama’s advice to coachHawaii Swim Club with the guidance of theheart.

this article was taken from the

OHIO NEWS BUREAU, INC., CLEVELAND, OHIO;

SEPTEMBER 13, 1943

Kio Nakama, O.S.U. Swim Champ

Saves Life of Sailor !

Columbus, Ohio, September 13 – “They also serve who only stand

and wait.”

First spoken by a blind poet more than 300 years ago it has rever-

berated down the halls of time but never more vividly recalled than

a few days ago on the Ohio State campus by a little Hawaiian boy

thousands of miles away from his homeland.

It all started a little more than a year ago when Kio Nakama, a

member of the Ohio State Varsity swimming team and one of the

greatest natators in the country was rejected by the Army because

of flat feet.

Dejected, downhearted and lonesome, little Kio threw himself into

his school work in an effort to forget his disappointment. Major-

ing in physical education the youngster started his pratice teaching.

He volunteered to help teach swimming to the Navy Recognition

school students.

Kio asked for the hard cases. Men who couldn’t swim a stroke

were turned over to him for instruction, all part of his practice

teaching.

One case in particular claimed his attention. A young lieutenant

from Princeton not only could not swim but held a strong antipa-

thy toward water. He was assigned to Nakama for instruction.

Weeks and weeks of work followed. Patient, painstaking work.

Hour after hour in the pool but at last the lieutenant mastered the

technique.

Came graduation from the Recognition School the lieutenant was

assigned to the Helena, everyone by this time knows the fate of

that ship.

Came a letter a few days ago from the lietenant to one of his in-

structors: “tell the little Hawaiian boy I was in the water for more

than an hour and with his patient teaching I wouldn't be writing

this letter. He saved my life.”

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SWIMMING AND WATER POLO

BASKETBALL

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TENNIS

SOFTBALL

SOCCER

RUGBY

Full itinerary to include accommodation,meals, sightseeing and fixtures.

Contact: Gullivers Sport Travel Email: [email protected]

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Ph: 0011 612 9267 8655

Fax: 0011 612 9261 4361

Friday - July 2, 2010

07:00 a.m. VMAC Opened — Set-up completed

07:30 a.m. Practice starts for 1-Meter Springboard Competition

Revision of Dive Sheets

08:00 a.m. No further Dive Sheet revisions will be accepted

08:30 a.m. Practice ends

09:00 a.m. 1-Meter Springboard Competition Starts

Level(s) 1 thru 8 Female, then Male

10:30 a.m. 1-Meter Springboard Competition Ends

10:30 a.m. Practice Starts for 3-Meter Springboard Competition

Revision of Dive Sheets

10:45 a.m. No further Dive Sheet revisions will be accepted

11:00 a.m. Practice ends

3-Meter Springboard Competition begins

Level(s) 1 thru 8 Female, then Male

12:30 a.m. 3-Meter Springboard Competition Ends

02:00 p.m. Clean-up and Closed

Saturday - July 3, 2010

Estimated Time

11:30 a.m. All divers will perform their best dive

1-Meter, then

3-Meter

HAWAII SWIMMING CLUB

62nd ANNUAL KEO NAKAMA

SPRINGBOARD DIVING INVITATIONAL MEET

JULY 2 - 3, 2010

SESSION 1 • Friday - July 2, 2010

GIRLS EVENT # DIVISION EVENT BOYS EVENT #

1 OPEN 200 IM 2

3 10 & U 200 IM 4

5 11 - 12 200 IM 6

7 13 - 14 200 IM 8

9 15 - 16 200 IM 10

11 OPEN 100 Free 12

13 10 & U 50 Free 14

15 11 - 12 50 Free 16

17 13 - 14 50 Free 18

19 15 - 16 100 Free 20

21 11 - 12 400 Med Rly 22

23 13 - 14 400 Med Rly 24

25 15 - 16 400 Med Rly 26

27 OPEN 400 Med Rly 28

HAWAII SWIMMING CLUB

62nd ANNUAL KEO NAKAMA INVITATIONAL

VETERANS’ MEMORIAL AQUATIC CENTER

JULY 2 - 4, 2010

SESSION 2 • Friday - July 2, 2010


29 11 - 12 200 Free Rly 30

31 OPEN 200 Free Rly 32

33 11 - 12 50 Fly 34

35 13 - 14 100 Fly 36

37 15 - 16 100 Fly 38

39 11 - 12 100 Back 40

41 OPEN 100 Fly 42

43 13 - 14 200 Back 44

45 11 - 12 50 Breast 46

47 15 - 16 200 Back 48

49 OPEN 200 Back 50

51 11 - 12 200 Free 52

“In all his years of competitive swimming, Keo Nakama always accomplished whatever goal he set.”

SESSION 3 • Saturday - July 3, 2010


53 10 & U 200 Free Rly 54

55 13 - 14 200 Free Rly 56

57 15 - 16 200 Free Rly 58

59 10 & U 50 Fly 60

61 13 - 14 100 Breast 62

63 15 - 16 100 Breast 64

65 10 & U 100 Back 66

67 OPEN 100 Breast 68

69 13 - 14 200 Free 70

71 10 & U 50 Breast 72

73 15 - 16 200 Free 74

75 OPEN 200 Free 76

77 10 & U 200 Free 78

SESSION 4 • Sunday - July 4, 2010


79 11 - 12 200 Med Rly 80


83 11 - 12 100 Fly 84

85 13 - 14 200 Fly 86

87 15 - 16 200 Fly 88

89 11 - 12 50 Back 90

91 OPEN 200 Fly 92

93 13 - 14 100 Back 94

95 11 - 12 100 Breast 96

97 15 - 16 100 Back 98

99 OPEN 100 Back 100

101 11 - 12 100 Free 102

103 13 - 14 400 Free Rly 104

105 11 - 12 400 Free Rly 106

SESSION 5 • Sunday - July 4, 2010


107 10 & U 200 Med Rly 108

109 13 - 14 200 Med Rly 110

111 15 - 16 200 Med Rly 112

113 10 & U 100 Fly 114

115 13 - 14 200 Breast 116

117 15 - 16 200 Breast 118

119 10 & U 50 Back 120

121 OPEN 200 Breast 122

123 13 - 14 100 Free 124

125 10 & U 100 Breast 126

127 15 - 16 50 Free 128

129 OPEN 50 Free 130

131 10 & U 100 Free 132

133 15 - 16 400 Med Rly 134


Aloha Aquatics, HI

Mya R Adams

Liz S Becherer

Ceci Brezeale

Emma K Chun

Darby Y Davidson

Patrick L Delos Santos

Jakob J Dewald

Lindsey S Dewald

Stephen E Dewald

Sofia L Frasz

Nicole K Halemano

Anna L Harder

Alexus K Iaea

James M Kaku

Cassie L Kawamata

Erin E McMurdo

Rachel M Miyoga

Natalie C Moore

Fabiene A Palipti

Sarah M Warren

Savanna P Warren

Sean S Yamada

Tobey K Young

Aulea Swim Club, HI

Josh M Bittick

Sophia Y Bruno

Gina C Butler

Natalie J Butler

Katie S Dalgamouni

Micah K Faurot

Noah H Faurot

Hi‘ilani P Hopkins

Jaek J Horner

Aaron M Kiyotoki

Olivia G Klem

Kiana P McDonald

Aspen J Morgan

Serena H Myatt

Nick J Pederson

Hallie H Pound

Rachel L Randall

Alyssa M Reyes

Mitch P Richmond

Desiree P Takahama

Josh K Toy

Kiana M Yamashiro

Nicholas B Zachmeier

Caulfield Grammar

School, Australia

Georgie Connor

Prue Cormack

Lachlan Dickie

Sam Dwyer

Patrick Eaves

Miet Engelhardt

Angela Flinter

Samantha Fynmore

Tim Gouskov

Lachlan Iossifidis

Zoe Iossifidis

Alex Kompos

Phoebe LawlessPyne

Llewellyn Little

James Margary

Anna McEvoy

Andrew Roberts

Tom Shepard

Edward Stoios

Ruby Stoios

Annie WardAmbler

William Westaway

Desert Storm

Swimming, CA

Jared K Miao

Tyler K Miao

Hawaii Swim Club, HI

Angela I Acosta

Kasey L Agena

Peter J Agustin

Bailey K Akimseu

Kevin I Arakaki

Shayna M Asuncion

Angel M Bacos

Blaze P Baraquio

Echo J Baraquio

Emily L Batts

Kiarra L Burkitt

Rey L Cabanilla

Ryan L Cabanilla

Leo Y Chan

Kevin J Cheng

Ronald Chu

Shelby M Cornell

Austin D Corpuz

Jorden D Corpuz

David K Curiel

Jasmin L Curiel

Alex L Daley

Dru L Daley

Carson K Davis

Alannah L Don

Lian T Don

Ryan T Drinkward

Colin K Fellezs

Max S Fleischauer

Raquel K Foster

Hiroko D Fraser

Brooke K Fujihara

Mahea E Gardiner

Jake S Glasgow

Hali‘a D Gora

Kilinoe M Gora

Josette K Gose

Micah S Gowen

Edan L Grimsley

Enki L Grimsley

Enlil L Grimsley

Presenting the Athletes:

Kalia K Guillermo Sabado

La‘akea D Gum

Jessica A Gum

Jayson M Hagi

Brandi L Halemano

Leilani T Herrera

Corilynn K Higa

Kawelu K Higashino

Austin X Hirstein

Zeheng Huang

Eric Hwangpo

Kramer A Ichimura

Diamond K Inouye

Nicky S Inouye

Paris K James

Madeline F Jamora

Cassandra E Jones

Mika F Kane

Amanda W Ki

Heewoon Kim

John C Kim

Phoebe S Kim

Young Jae Kim

Joey Kim

Mare Kitabayashi

Drayton B Kollasch

Sheri S Komori

Zack J Kresge

Raymond H Lai

Hyun Woo Lee

Joyce H Lee

Jack Lee

Raymond S Li

Kirra P Lindman

Megan K LuiKwan

Jessica S Luong

Stacia N Malmos

Cathlene N Masicampo-

Van Ostrand

Robby T Masicampo-

Van Ostrand

Stella K Matthews

Molly T McGuire

Jimmy L McGuire

Jack R McGuire

Michael P McGuire

Amy Miao

Mazie Miao

Mikayla K Min

Darah N Miyashita

Kaylie N Miyashita

Jordan J Nakao

Naomi K Ng

Nigel K Ng

Dana T Okuma

Megan T Okuma

Rysen K Otomo

Connie Ruan

Teresa Ruan

Emily Ruan

Julian L Ruiz

Cierra Nicole G Sabado

Tatum M Samson

Kanoa Sawai

Vanshj Seth

Zukie Seth

Jamesmichael C

Sherman-Lewis

Johnmartin N Sherman-Lewis

Joyelaine P Sherman-Lewis

Caitlyn H Shigaki

Raedyn H Silva

Sumin Sung

Evan S Suzuki

Nikkie M Talion

Ashley V Vasquez

Ben Wang

Joanna Wang

Dariane M Watanabe

Alea M Weber

Elizabeth A Wells

Kiana A White

Tyler K Wong

Kent S Yamada

Kyle S Yamada

Grace Yang

Mari N Yoshimura

Iolani Swim Club, HI

Nicholas S Arima

Cagla A Brennan

Maximus W Chang

Susan M Hasegawa

Nathan D Hue

Erin M Ibaan

Amos J Jun

Kelsie C Kodama

Rafi S Lee

Chase T Nakamura

Taryn K Okemura

Izabella V Sakoda

Alyssa Y Sasaki

Hannah S Silva

Kyleigh K Takahashi

Camryn J Yee

Robyn M Yim

Kamehameha

Swim Club, HI

Kale A AI

Ryan D AllenLongfield

Anela E Alumbaugh

Victor W Alumbaugh

Noah T Ames

Ethan A AustinElbaz

Wesley A Babcock

Dylan R Becker

Nicholas M Becker

Kimberlee L Cadell

Krislyn C Cha

Arthur W Cheung

Daren T Choi

Shanelle R Choi

Jeffrey T Collins

Connor R Damaschi

Steven P Derman

Natalie R Fong

Curtis J Frifeldt

Jason S Frifeldt

Kevin D Frifeldt

Aukai A Gilliland

Randi H Gongob

Charlea I Goodness

Evan A Hamamoto

Summer A Harrison

Nainoa N Hartley

Hanna D Heiss

Kayla M Heiss

Angela M Huber

Leah L Huber

Megan L Hunt

Chad A Ikegami

Emma K Jenny

Kacy L Johnson

Jared A Jones

Jordyn A Jones

Kaiulani K Kaalekahi

Sara S Kahanamoku-Snelling

Kaleikoa K Kaleoaloha

Kanoa K Kaleoaloha

Devynn M Kaneshiro

Catia Marie N Kaniho

Jonah I Kaniho

Dane I Kawamoto

Noel M Kawano

Joshua T Kay

Monica M Kirk

KeikiLani N Knudsen

Vanessa M Kwong

Braysen K Libed

Christopher D Ma

Ka‘ena Y Maeda

Jasmine K Mau

Gayla M McQuaid

Kristi L McQuaid

Megan A Miyahira

Mimi K Moody

Samantha C Moody

Kevin R Moy

Jaime Ann K Mukai

Natsuko R Muranaka

Kekoa D Nakasone

Kyle A Nakatsuka

Alika B Naone

Ka‘ikena B Naone

Kupa‘a B Naone

Anu H Nihipali

Chrisitan T Nishimura

Allyson K Ontai

Lance K Ontai

Danny K Palimoo

Maia A Petrides

Michael T Petrides

Donovan R Pope

Ki‘i K Rea

Evan T Rosca

Ryan K Saunders

Corrine Y Shigeta

Tomas N Sodini

Stephanie H Spear

Ryan M Stack

Stephanie K Suda

Tyler Sugimoto

Kira N Terada

Sean K Terada

Shandee A Teruya

Maya N Tigley

Kai C Tsubota

Jacob C Urbano

Victoria T Wakasa

Ethan A Walter

Rebecca K Walton

Jessie K Watkins

Alex M Whitfield

Michaela L Whitfield

Brent T Yanagihara

Ian K Yanagihara

Michelle A Yoshida

Sharon S Young

Bryant H Zeh

Kaneohe Swim

Association, HI

Esther R Beatty

Kekai K Davidson

Mykah T Fujiwara

Moana K Hillen

Elizabeth Mueller

Devin W Sandoval

Michael A Schenk

Ryan T Schenk

GaBo G Steele

SeeWah S Steele

Elijah S Tabar

Alex R Yee

Beth M Yee

Kona Aquatics, HI

Noe M Vargas

Manhoben Swim

Club, Guam

Jacob Bustamante

Chris Duenas

Tommy Imazu

Daraven Perez

Amanda Poppe

Santiago Poppe

Johnny Rivera

Manoa Aquatics, HI

Chelsea W Chan

Reverie M Hara

Dong Hyeon Hwang

Dong Jin Hwang

Travis S Lau

Jenna Y Morikubo

Bryce Murley

Jenna A Nishida

Jonathan Y Oba

Eric T Park

Yoji Starkey

Skylar M Taba

Aaron T Wong

Ky Wong

Rachel M Wong

Christian C Yang

Wyatt H Young

Mid Cities Arlington

Swimming, TX

Tiffani P Tanaka

Dayne K Yanai

Lynbrook Aquatics, CA

Tehani M Agosto

Criselle A Alop

Kyndra M Alop

Samantha M Beck

Casey M Garcia

Rachael C Garcia

Michael S Gillis

Cody U Porter

Jake T Schaffer

Tomochan T Shellko

Derek S TanizakiHudson

Lani T TanizakiHudson

Olympique de Pirae,

Tahiti

Keahi Agnieray

Tearii Cowan

Ranihau Doom

Kaweinga Hart

Tunui Nui

Maheata Richmond

Henere Sommers

Pearl Harbor

Aquatics, HI

Athena L Alvarez

Noelle Y Chang

Samantha M Dammann

Sophia E Dammann

Michael J Hampton

Alexandra M Huffman

Addison K Jackson

Ericka L Matulenas

Joshua M Matulenas

Audrey M Mumford

Kana M Shake

Rebekah G Tandberg

Conor F Uetz

Punahou Aquatics, HI

Jolene E Akasaki

Maddie Balish

Luke Boyer

Ella Copp

Noa Copp

Leia Deer

Anna Deryck

Sean Deryck

Lia Foster

Jake Gaughan

Elan Giddings

Ashlee Grover

Alvin Lai

Justin Lee

Brandon Leong

Gregory Loui

Kaiko Manson

Kelly Marshall

Jacqueline Mash

Madison Meister

Emily Nakata

Melissa Newsham

Iris Onaka

Perry Onaka

Maria Parker

Rhiann Sato

Noah Soxpollard

Zack Uchima

Kekoa Vieira

Edward Weldon

Nicole Yarbrough

Rainbow Aquatics, HI

Rachel K Fujita

Evan G Fukumoto

Gail K Fukumoto

Taiga T Hashimoto

Jay J Holmes

Trisha H Ishikawa

Patrick A Lum

Robbie Y Mau

Jonathan T Nishida

Marc K Okimura

Lisa L Owen

Rachel L Owen

Andrea M Powell

Kayla K Rask

Savath Saepoo

Diana M Sellner

Anson K Tam

Patrick Y Tam

Eiji E Taone

Matt M Velasco

Ashlyn M Witherwax

Cody M Wong-Pascua

Schofield Sharks

Swim Club, HI

Mary Helen H Gustafson

Alex A Henderson

Sophie L Henderson

Alec H Lee

Madeline C Lee

Adam R McKittrick

Taylor R McKittrick

South Maui Sharks, HI

Alex T Armstrong

Trini J Martinez-Grim

Erica A Sawczynec

Pearl City

Aquatics, Inc., HI

Monique R Duplessis

Cheyenne A Garcia

Frankie F Gilliland III

Kylie K Hong

Lesley K Hong

Dustin N Ikeda

Kristi N Ikeda

Kayla S Ippongi

Tyra E Ippongi

Aimee M Iwamoto

Reyna A Iwamoto

Erika T Kakazu

Tahni M Kakazu

Natda Luangkhot

Stephen Park

Charlene A Rivers

Dawson J Sloan

Matthew A Taira

Akira Kanamaru

Grant E Kaneshiro

Shireen S Kheradpey

Rainer A Kiessling

Robbie B Kiessling

Roxy R Kiessling

Ruddy T Kiessling

Esther Kim

Bobby Ky

Carolyn Li

Kevin Liu

Andrew P Lum

Splash Aquatics,

Inc., HI

Joseph N Ahia

Jennifer Y Chung

Taiyo Endo

Kate S Fujii

Shawn J Fujii

Shaye Demi R Ganuelas

ErikaAnn F Kim

Logan E Kim

Kelcie E Kimura

Sydney M Kimura

Jonathan S Magota

Eryn N Nakashima

Lauryn M Nakashima

Taylor N Peralta

Evan H Sakai

Kyle T Sakai

Michael T Sakai

Hayato Shigihara

Bryce K Tanaka

Jaycie A Tanaka

Caitlyn C Whang

Jun Yeub Yoon

Toby R Yoshida

Ciera M Young

Grant C Zukeran

Gregory C Zukeran

Victoria K Zukeran

Sunshine Aquatics

Swim Club, HI

Taylor N Bogdahn

Courtney K Choy

TJ J Dawson

Lyra L Gonzalez

Aja O Grande

Katherine F Guevara

Kimi T Guevara

Jarrell N Hibler

Albert M Lee

Kaya M Lee

Walter M Lee

Aukai A Lileikis

Nohea M Lileikis

Kara J Machida

Kenji M Mori

Katie M Woo

Zack Y Woo

Michaela M Yamashita

Superior Stingray

Swimming, OR

Alyse P Darnall

Tarakito Swim Club,

Guam

Justin Fell

Diego Shimizu

AJ Sholing

Unattached Iolani, HI

Shawmasama Chun

Unattached, HI

Senil Hyun

Senin Hyun

Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center Facility Rules

1. ALL ATHLETES AND SWIMMER NEED TO SHOWER BEFORE ENTERING THE POOL

2. NO FOOND OR DRINKS ON MAIN POOL DECK

Except for Meet Officials, Volunteers, and Coaches during scheduled competition events. Spectators

and events participants may have food and drinks in bleacher and grass area where team tent are

set up. Athletes may use plastic water bottles for re-hydration on pool deck.

3. BULK HEADS ARE OFF LIMITS TO ALL SPECTATORS AND SWIMMERS

Only Meet Officials, Facility Personal and Coaches are permitted on the bulkhead during the course

of the meet and scheduled practice times. Exception: swimmers who are assisting during distance

events.

4. DIVING WELL IS CLOSED DURING SWIMMING EVENTS

Only during short course season. All Diving Boards are closed except for diving competitions and

practice.

5. BLEACHER AREA, PLEASE KEEP A 3-4 FOOT WALK PATH ALONG HAND RAIL

From October 2009-February 2010,

Honolulu Theatre for Youth toured an

original production by Lee Tonouchi

entitled The Three Year Swim Club.

Reaching over 10,000 students and

families this production was an audience

favorite and hopes to return to an HTY

season in the future. For more information

about the Honolulu Theatre for Youth

please visit htyweb.org

The Three Year

by Lee A. Tonouchi

Hawaii Swim Club honors Nakama By Seabrook Mow

Special to The Advertiser

He may not have been the most recognizable figurestrolling around the Palolo Recreation Pool, but KeoNakama was never far from people’s thoughts.

“He’s cool,” said Helena Suehiro, 16. “He does have a meetdedicated to him.”

Suehiro was one of 550 club swim-mers participating in the 53rd KeoNakama Swimming Invitational, athree day meet that attracts topswimmers from Hawai‘i and theMainland.

While the event honors one ofHawai‘i’s swimming legends, italso gives youths from the Islandsa chance to square off with Mainland swimmers.

“Number one, it lets the kids know the tradition in Hawai‘iswimming and they get the experience to swim againstpeople from other counties,” said Iolani's intern swimcoach, Bobby Brewer, a former national 100 backstrokechampion and Olympic trials competitor.

“This event exposes them (children) to a lot of differentcultures; to show them that there’s more then Hawai‘i,”Reid Yamamoto, a coach at Hawai‘i Swim Club said.

Brewer, like many people, know Nakama by name andreputation, but have never actually met the 81-year-old.

Nakama tries to avoid the spotlight and is now just anotherspectator at the meet.

He even goes as far as saying, “I’m just too afraid to tellthem to name the event after someone else.”

That isn’t likely to happen, though.

“But without an event like this, people would forget whoKeo Nakama was,” said meet Keith Arakaki, the directorand a swim coach for Hawai‘i Swim Club.

While the Nakama meet may be held in a pool, it’s notwhere Nakama first learned to swim.

Nakama learned to swim in an irrigation ditch in Pu‘unene,Maui.

“We would swim from bridge tobridge,” said Nakama. The dis-tance between each bridge wasabout 50 meters, and he wasswimming against the current.

The preparation would pay off inhis competitive years.

Arakaki recalled a story aboutNakama, also his first swim coach,

in a race against a U.S. Olympic champion Ralph Gilmanin the 30s. Gilman was visiting Hawai'i for an exhibitionmeet.

“Keo Nakama (in this late teens) stepped up to the block,Gilman (in his twenties) was 6-feet 3-inches and Nakamawas 5-5. They had a good race for about 300 meters andNakama pulled through the last 20 meters of the event andbeat this Olympic star. And this was a nobody (Nakama)from the plantation.”

Nakama twice missed his opportunity for the Olympics inthe 40s. The first was a result of World War II, and the sec-ond one was because of a “funny kind of rule,” he said.“They said when I taught (Nakama was a physical educa-tion teacher) I was already a professional.”

But even without the Olympics, “Swimming has been verynice to me, I got to travel all around the world,” he said.

In addition, he was the first person to swim the 27-mileKaiwi channel between Moloka‘i and O‘ahu.

“What Mr. Nakama did was so phenomenal and we holdthis event to honor him and remind the kids and the parentsof the achievement that he did,” Arakaki said.

The Advertise, July 9, 2001

KEO NAKAMA

Baseball/Swimming 1943-45

Inducted: 1979Keo Nakama was an All-American distance freestyler, winning four

NCAA, six Big Ten , three NAAU indoor and six NAAU outdoor

titles. Nakama was a vital contributor on OSU’s National Champi-

onship teams in 1943 and 1945. The two-sport star was also a member

of the OSU baseball team, starting at third base on the 1943 Big Ten

Championship team. He is the only person in the modern history of

Ohio State to be a captain of two varsity teams in the same year.

http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/genrel/osu-mhof.html

From the Australian press.

How they viewed the great swimmer from Hawaii

Back (L-R): Charley Oda, Bill Smith, unknown,

Halo Hirose, Jose Balmores

Front (L-R): Bunmei Nakama, unknown, Keo Nakama

1934 Halo and Keo at Puunene summer school

August 1938, Keo on board the S.S. Hamuula

Keo Nakama

WORLD RECORDS:One Mile, New Haven

at age 22

Keo Nakama, Coach Sakamoto,

a big swimming fan, “Duke”

John Wayne and Mr. Paulie (former

owner of the L.A. Rams and previous

owner of Coconut Island) with Hawaii

Swimming Club’s National Team!

At age 41, first person to ever swim the 26 mile

Molokai Channel

pionship years for Hall of Fame Coach

Mike Peppe’s Buckeyes with Keo the

captain his last two years. He also cap-

tained the Ohio State University base-

ball team. Back in the Islands Keo's

Coach, Hall of Fame Coach Soichi

Sakamoto, was beginning a new era of

great Hawaiian Swimming.

He trained them in an irrigation ditch

on Maui and his first of many Na-

tional Champions was Keo Nakama.

Keo’s Puunene School won its first

Maui School Swimming Champi-

Keo Nakama never got his chance at

the Olympics because of World War

II, but his “Big Meet” record is no

less Olympian. At the 1940 Pan

American Swimming Championships

in Ecuador, the diminutive Hawaiian

won 5 events. At the Australian Na-

tionals in 1939, he won 6 titles,

adding the 330 yard Individual Med-

ley to his sweep of all 5 freestyle

events. Nakama is a little guy com-

pared to the size of most swimming

champions, but wherever he has been

big things have happened, not only to

himself but to what ever team he has

belonged.

During his swimming career in the

early 1940’s, Nakama won 27 Na-

tional Championships from 110 yards

to 1500 meters. His World Records ex-

tend from the mile (1760 yards) swum

at New Haven when he was 22 years

old to the 27 mile Molokai Channel, a

first-time ever swim, when he was 41

years old.

Nakama’s 3 varsity seasons at Ohio

State, were Big Ten and NCAA Cham-

Need an Employment Lawyer in Hawai‘i?

www.flex.com/~hsc/nela.htmlwww.nela.org

Keo Nakamaonships when Keo and his friend,

Halo Hirose, became old enough to

swim. It was the same at Maui High

School and on the main land when

Sakamoto’s Nakama led Alexander

House Community Association Team

won the first of several U.S. National

AAU Team Championships in 1939.

After the war, Hawaii’s big Annual

International Swimming Meet at the

tide-filled Waikiki War Memorial

Natatorium was naturally named the

Keo Nakama Meet.

Keo received his Masters Degree at

Ohio State in 1945, taught at the Uni-

versity for two years and then re-

turned to Hawaii as a high school

swimming coach, teacher and athletic

director. He was elected and served in

the Hawaii State Legislature from

1964 to 1974.

Keo is married to the former Evelyn

Oyadomori and they have 6 daugh-

ters. Currently, Keo is a Community

Relations Director for the HGEA and

also is a baseball scout for the Detroit

Tigers.


Hawaii Swimming Club, Maui


Coaches

Waikele:

Emmett Vidal

Keith Arakaki

VMAC:

Scott Sherwood

Salt Lake:

Claire McKewen

Ernest Cheung

Maui:

Reid Yamamoto

Rodney Hayashi

www.hawaiiswim.org

Our History And Philosophy

Hawaii Swimming Club (HSC) was founded by “Coach”

Soichi Sakamoto in 1945 with the purpose of promoting and

developing swimming for the benefit of Hawaii’s youth.

“Coach” Sakamoto’s exploits are well known and he is per-

haps best remembered for his development of Olympic swim-

mers using the cane field ditch in Puunene as his training pool.

Hawaii Swimming Club’s mission is to continue the timeless

tradition established by “Coach” Sakamoto for the benefit

of our youth. Our coaches fully embrace his philosophy that

age group swimming is for the development of competitive

athletes – yes, but perhaps more important, swimming is a

means of teaching our children life values.

Our desire is to establish an environment where coaches, par-

ents and children can share in a commitment, discipline, hard

work, respect for others and showing our gratitude. Swimming

is important but the love of God, family and education are all

higher in priority. Oh yes, having FUN is important too.


Hawaii Swimming Club, Salt Lake

Hawaii Swimming Club,

Hawaii Swimming Club, Waikele

VMAC Hawaii

Fast Training, Fast Racing, Swim Swiftly!

Olympic of PIRAE is a swimming club which counts250 licenses member from 5 to 70 years. The club ismanaged by an office which is composed of the fol-lowing voluntary people:

President: Jean SUEN KOVice-president: Arthur AGNIERAYTreasurer: Michel SOMMERSAssistant treasurer: Matairea FAAHUSecretary: Mayor LOU CHAOAssistant secretary: Patricia NG PAO

The club employs qualified trainers of which the oldest has worked for the good of Polynesian swimming for 42 years! (Mr Karl CERAN-JERUSALEMY,trainer of the elite (open competitors) !)

The club uses primarily a basin of 50 m for its trainings and training courses.

The conducting line of the club is the respect ofothers and the blooming of the child within thefamily circle and to excel in the sporting effort.

Swimming club of Tahiti “Olympique de PIRAE”

Tarakito Swim Club is a private club

from Guam, USA established in 1995.

It has approximately 120 members

ranging from Swim School to Nationally

ranked Senior Competitive swimmers.

The Head Coach is Pepeʼ Laflamme.

TARAKITO SWIM CLUB

Head Coach Pepeʼ Laflamme

Caulfield Grammar School 2010 Hawaii Swimming & Diving Tour

Celebrating more than 125 years of his-tory, Caulfield Grammar School has grownto become one of Australia's most wellknown and influential co-educational dayand boarding schools through its innova-tive approaches to teaching and learning.

Caulfield is located in Melbourne Victoria,and is the second largest independentschool in Australia with over 3,000 day andboarding students attending the Schoolʼsfour metropolitan campuses.

Swimming and Diving are two of the mostpopular sports at Caulfield GrammarSchool, with over 220 students represent-ing the School in the Associated PublicSchools (APS) competitions.

The School has a proud history in Swimming and Diving. Within the APS Competition, Caulfield GrammarSchool has continually been a leader. Caulfield Grammar School was the first school to simultaneously holdboth the Boys and Girls Championships at the one time. The Girls squad held the Championship trophy for9 years before relinquishing it in 2007. Since then the team has finished 2nd each year. The Boys Team wonback to back premierships in 2002 / 03 and since then have finished in the top three schools. The 2010 sea-son saw both teams come second by narrow margins and they are building for the 2011 season. The schoolhas also been successful in the State Relays Championship, winning the Rob Woodhouse Trophy regularlyfor the best Co-educational school when the event was held.

Aside from team performances, the School has had a number of past and current students represent theschool with distinction. At the recent National Age Championships for Australia, Caulfield Grammar Schoolstudents won a remarkable 14 gold medals, in a total of 19 medals overall. The school is also very proud ofCameron Prosser, a past student who was recently selected in the Commonwealth Games team to repre-sent Australia in Delhi later this year.

The 2010 Tour is the first Swimming and Diving Tour to the USA by the School and consists of 22 swimmersand 3 divers, accompanied by five staff.

Caulfield Dive Team

Caulfield Swim Team

Iolani Swim Club

Our club is a USA Swimming year-round competitive

swim team offering high quality professional coaching

and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. The

goal of our team is to provide every member an oppor-

tunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success

at his or her level of ability, from novice to international

competitor.

All of our coaches, as members of the American Swim

Coaches Association, have access to the most com-

prehensive training and certification program for youth

coaches of any sport in the United States. They pro-

vide assurances that the time children spend in swim-

ming will be quality time. MARS also works as a feeder

program for area high school swim teams and many of

coaches are also the head coaches of their respective

high school teams.

Splash Aquatics

Sports Basics Hawaii Dive Team

Kona Dolphin Swim Club

2010

Front left to back:

Kristi Cotton, Assistant Coach

Kathy Clarke, Owner/Assistant Coach

Harry Canales, Head Coach

The Manhoben Swim Club, started in 1978 and is under the direction of Head Coach Ed

Ching and Assistant Coach Don San Agustin. The team is comprised of swimmers ranging

from the ages of six to twenty broken down into three sub-teams, depending upon the swim-

mers skill level and age. Under Coach Ching and Coach San Agustin, the team has made

some impressive accomplishments and recognitions. Some of the Manhoben Swimmers still

hold records in the U.S. and Saipan. Our Swimmers have participated in many prestigious

competitions and medaled like the South Pacific Games, Australia Age Group Championships

and here at the Keo Nakama Invitational, plus not to mention many have been selected to rep-

resent Guam in the Olympics. Two of the Manhoben Swimmers ranked in the USA Swim-

ming.. Last year, Manhoben swimmers competed in the Worlds in Rome andEast Asian

Games in Hong Kong. Our swimmer made finals at the East Asian Games and broke Guam

Records in two age categories,. Coach Ching is head coach for Guam in 5 Olympics con-

secutively with several his swimmers, and Coach San Agustin was selected by Guam Na-

tional Olympic Committee to be head coach for the Guam swimmers who participated at the

South Pacific Games in Samoa, Worlds in Rome, Jr Pan Pacific in Maui, Pan Pacific in Korea

and East Asian Games in Hong Kong.

MANHOBEN SWIM CLUBHagatna, Guam

Front row: Santiago Poppe, Daraven Perez, Tommy Imazu,Back row: Chris Duenas, Johnny Rivera, Jacob Bustamante, Amanda Poppe

RAINBOW AQUATICS

What Kids Are Saying About Swimming:

“The best part about swimming is when you beat your time. It doesnʼt even matter if you lose the race as long as you tried your best; you can walk away

with a smile on your face. When youʼre in the water you forget that people maybe watching and all you care about is getting to the other side of the pool and

touching the wall. You can just let go and fly.”— Stormie, 12

“I used to only swim in the summer when it was hot out, but now I go to thehealth club and swim every week, even in the winter. Iʼm going to try out for my

schoolʼs swimming team this year.”— Bill, 12

“Swimming is more than just playing in my pool. It is good for my heart andkeeps me in shape. It is definitely a great exercise for children.”

— Miriam, 11

“Iʼve been told swimming is a wimp sport but we donʼ t get time outs and wecanʼt stop and catch our breath. Itʼs tough but fun.”

— Amber, 13

From pbskids.org

Real Estate Referral Center, Inc.Sherry A. Goya (S), President

1806 South King Street, Suite 31Honolulu, HI 96826

Email: [email protected]

Phone: Fax:808-722-8487 808-235-3650

on Elbridge W. Smith&

Perry Ann Howell

of

SMITH HIMMELMANNATTORNEYS AT LAW • A LAW CORPORATION

Take pleasure in supporting/sponsoring

Hawaii age group swimmers


and

Coach Keith Arakaki

in honoring

KEO NAKAMAone of Hawaii’s greatest swimmer

Gook Luck!

and

Good Swimming!

745 Fort Street, Suite 311Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Telephone: 523-5050www.shlaw.us

[email protected]

Specializing in Representing Federal Employees

Here is a list of where you can catchFourth of July fireworks around Oahu.

July 2rd, Friday:

Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Friday NightFireworks on Waikiki Beach

July 3rd, Saturday:

Aloha Tower Marketplace - 8:45 p.m.

July 4th, Sunday:

Ala Moana Shopping Center - 8:30 p.m.

Hickam Air Force Base - 8:30 p.m.

Kailua - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Kapolei, Wet and Wild Hawaii - 8:50 p.m.

Maili Beach Park - 8:00 p.m.

Maunalua Bay, Hawaii Kai - 8:00 p.m.

Pearl Harbor - 9:00 p.m.

Schofield Barracks - 9:00 p.m.

Turtle Bay Resort - 8:00 p.m. “at dark”

Aloha Tower Marketplace July 3rd Fireworks ExtravaganzaAloha Tower Marketplace hosts its annual pre-Independence Day cele-bration on Saturday, July 3, from 3 pm to 10 pm, the festivities includingfood, fun and live music for both kids and adults. The ultimate fireworksshow is set to go off from Honolulu Harbor around 8:45 pm. Admissionis FREE. Start your 4th of July celebration a day early with fun for thewhole family at Aloha Tower Marketplace! For more information, visitwww.alohatower.com or call (808) 566-2337.

Ala Moana Center 4th of July Fireworks SpectacularAla Moana Center presents the largest fireworks show on IndependenceDay thatʼs been popular with locals and visitors. The fireworks extrava-ganza will begin at 8:30 pm. There is plently of excellent entertainmentstarting at noon. For more information and a shopping discount, visitwww.alamoanacenter.com/julyw.htm?indday, or call (808) 955-9517.

4th of July Celebration & Fireworks at Turtle Bay ResortIt is a FREE community event with the celebration starts at 5:30 pm withlive entertainment by the Kaʻala Boys and Kapena. There will be booths,military displays, food and games. The fireworks show start “at dark”around 8:00 pm. Admission and parking is FREE. For more information,visit www.turtlebayresortblog.com, or call (808) 293-6053.

Maunalua Bay Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks This family-friendly event starts at 1:00 pm with entertainment, foodbooths, and a fireworks show at 8:00 pm. Maunalua Bay is located be-tween Diamond Head and Koko Head on the southeast side of Oahu.For more information, visit www.independecedayatmaunaluabay.org,or call (808) 396-9226.

4th of July Sunset SailThe 4th of July Sail is a fundraiser for the Wild Dolphin Foundation topromote wildlife conservation efforts. Enjoy a catered buffet dinner andsee the fireworks while sailing out to see the brilliant star display. Theboat departs from Kewalo Basin Harbor at 7:00 pm just before sunset tocapture the transition form glorious sunset to silver moonlight. For moreinformation, visit www.sialhawaii.com, or call (808) 306-7273.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Elbridge W. Smith, Smith Himmelmann, AAL, ALCStuart McElhaney, The Pillbox Pharmacy

Able Pest Exterminators, Inc.Gulliver’s Sport TravelWaipio Shopping Center

Real Estate Referral Center, Inc.Hawaii Swimming Club Parents

A very special Mahalo to all of our HSC families.

Thank you for your hard work, generous food and monetarydonations. There are so many things that could not happenwithout your help from planning, coordinating the swimmingand diving events, assisting the visiting teams, gathering spon-sors, helping with the deck set up, shopping, hospitality, hous-ing, artistic skills in putting together our souvenir booklet,safety marshalling, recycling, deck and office officiating, lifeguarding, head timing and clean up. Every job is so crucial tothe success of our meet. And each year we rely on the con-tinued support of all of our great parents. Thank you for yourgenerosity and for responding to the call for help!

Documents

Welcome [] the 62nd Annual Keo Nakama Invitational July 2-4, 2010 Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center Welcome The Keo Nakama Swimming Invitational is the oldest swim meet in …