Current Weather in Wailea (just north of Makena) and at Kahului (Maui airport)

For more info on Hawaiian (including Maui) beach safety, check the new UH website.  More beach safety can be found on this Kaua'i site, too.  And Oahu's lifeguard page.

2007 Results Labor Day, Monday, Sept 3, 2007 8:30am

The 3rd annual Maui 'Aumakua 2.4 mile Swim and Sprint Mile took place Monday, September 3rd, 2007 in Makena Bay, Maui, Hawaii off South Malu'aka Beach fronting the Maui Prince Hotel.  The Sprint mile started 12 minutes later.  In-water starts for safety, and run up the beach through the gate finish.  Pictures courtesy John Pope ... YouTube going through the arch ... and YouTube group (YouTube vids courtesy Kayak Coordinator Chris of Maui Eco Tours) ... more pictures of Channel Swim and Aumakua.

See you next year Labor Day, Monday, Sept 1, 2008

And hopefully some of your friends.  Mahalo to everyone who made this event a huge success.  And fun!

You must be registered with USA-Swimming or with USMS to swim in this sanctioned event.

Tides for the 3rd Annual Maui 'Aumakua Swim on 9/3/2007 (graph 24h day; height in feet), Sunrise, Sunset, Moonrise, Moonset for Makena Maui on race day.

Net proceeds from this swim benefit two non-profit swim clubs on Maui: Maui Dolphins Swim Club (USA-S) and Maui Masters Swim Club (USMS).  We try to keep costs of running a safe and fun swim low with the generosity of our sponsors and volunteers.

The Maui Channel Swim will be taking place as usual from Lanai to Lahaina Saturday September 1, 2007.

The Waikiki Roughwater Swim seems to have permanently moved back to Labor day.  Unfortunately that means that after you swim the MCS, 'Aumakua and WRS are in conflict timewise.  The WRS is a great swim with a great history we (race directors and many 'Aumakua race participants) have have enjoyed.  We hope to see you in Makena, but if you are interested in doing the WRS instead, we understand ... have a great swim, a fun time with friends, and swim with Aloha and joy!  The 'Aumakua swim was created to partner with the Maui Channel Swim in 2005 for many reasons ... and we found that many swimmers preferred staying on Maui, joining in the after-MCS dinner and festivities, and resting rather than traveling to Honolulu.

Maui Masters Swim Club (a USMS sanctioned club) and Maui Dolphins Swim Club (a USA-S sanctioned club) are co-hosting the meet this year.

For more information on the sea life we swim with, see this presentation created by one of our Maui Masters and Maui Dolphins coaches: Dave Rostetter.

'Aumākua: Family or personal gods, deified ancestors who might assume the shape of sharks (all islands except Kaua'i), owls (as at Mānoa, O'ahu and Ka'ū and Puna, Hawai'i), hawks (Hawai'i) 'elepaio, 'iwi, mudhens, octopuses, eels, mice, rats, dogs, caterpillars, rocks, cowries, clouds, or plants.  A symbiotic relationship existed; mortals did not harm or eat 'aumākua (they fed sharks), and 'aumākua warned and reprimanded mortals in dreams, visions, and calls.

"The Arch".  For more pictures of this part of the ocean, check out our Sunday swims at Tropical Light Photography.

Approximate Map of course overlaying Satellite View of Makena, Maui.

See these other sites for references about 'Aumakua: Coffee Times, article from Honolulu Advertiser, a definition, or from KCC.

You are visitor Number