THE HISTORY OF ALOHA AQUATICS

Over the years, Mililani has produced many outstanding swimmers and citizens. Aloha Aquatics has been the driving force behind this, but its history dates back to the beginnings of Mililani Town.

Mililani Swim Team first started at Recreation Center 1 in 1971 with the first increment in Mililani Town’s development. The first coach was Edna Smith, who was also responsible for putting the team together. The team’s objective was to provide children residing in Mililani with an organized recreational activity. The team became a member of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the National governing body of all amateur sports at the time. Swimming was the first organized sport in Mililani.

Between 1971 and 1974, Mililani Town grew rapidly and so did the team. With the expansion of the community, Recreation Center 2 was built for the purpose of providing a competitive training facility for the swim team. During this time period, Julie VanDyke became the team’s second coach. Swimming became very popular in Hawaii and the team grew to over 100 swimmers. Although Mililani was a young team compared to other teams in Hawaii, its future looked bright.

In 1974-75, the team searched for a replacement for Coach VanDyke who moved on. At the time, Kerry Kamisato was coaching a swim team in Wahiawa and was offered the enviable position in Mililani. In order to avoid making a choice between Wahiawa and Mililani, a merger of the two teams was proposed and adopted. The new team was called the Wahiawa-Mililani Marlins Swim Club.

The Marlins Swim Club was a huge success with groups training at Rec 1, Rec 2, and Wahiawa pools. The team numbered over 130 swimmers and ranked as high as third in the State, behind powerhouses Punahou and Aulea. In the late 1970’s, the team was forced to leave Wahiawa pool and moved its top group to Rec 2, where the team is based today.

In 1980, an idea surfaced between the coaches of Aiea Swim Club (Len Limahai), Kahului Aquatics (Ed Tamura), Hilo Aquatics (Ed Kawachika), and the Marline Swim Club (Kerry Kamisato), to combine "forces" and give our swimmers incentive, confidence, and camaraderie when competing on the mainland. With few swimmers from each team qualifying for mainland meets, this move would unite all swimmers. To identify the team with Hawaii, the name Aloha Aquatics was chosen.

During the 1980’s, Aloha Aquatics surpassed all of the coaches’ dreams. It gave swimmers and parents a chance to share and experience great times with others from the neighboring islands. Team outings, such as the annual Memorial Day Maui camp, were events which everyone eagerly looked forward to. The swimmers were motivated and excelled beyond expectations, claiming the top spot at several State Championships.

Emerging from the high of the 80’s and into the 90’s, many changes began taking place within the organization. Coaching changes at Aiea, Maui, and eventually the Big Island, changed the makeup of Aloha Aquatics. Aiea, Maui, and the Big Island re-established their independence. In 1999, Kerry Kamisato moved to the Big Island and Ron Tsuchiya became Aloha Aquatics head coach. After Ron’s depature in 2004, Lauralee Kawamata took over as interim head coach.

Throughout the Mililani, Marlin and Aloha Aquatics eras, the team’s proven success is shown by the many records which still stand today. The 1979 Marlin team holds the 13/14 girls 200-meter medley relay record. The 10 and under boys have held relay records since 1981. The Aloha Aquatics 15/16 and senior girls have 200-meter free and medley records as well. The relay records reflect he depth and talent of a team, as well as individual efforts. There have been many swimmers from our program who have left their individual marks in the State record books, some of which still remain unbroken. Our swimmers have competed at all levels from State Championships, Western Zones, Junior National Championships, to even the National Championships and the Olympic Trials. Our own Keiko Price, a senior at UCLA has competed at all these levels. She always dreamed about making the U.S. Olympic team and continues to pursue her goal today. She, like swimmers that have preceded her and others to follow, will experience the hard work, commitment, dedication, and discipline it takes to be a swimmer.

The swim program here in Mililani has produced quality individuals who know the value of hard work and realize that nothing comes easy. Regardless of whether they become champions, all of them will be able to apply the same values and traits learned in swimming to becoming successful in life.