The prestigious Kukio Blue Water Swim celebrated its 15th annual event by welcoming 250 athletes back to the white sandy beach of Kua Bay Saturday, Sept. 17.
The 1.2-mile open water event is the Big Island’s only point-to-point swim that consistently attracts a highly competitive field, beginning from Maniniowali Beach at Kua Bay, and finishing at Uluweuweu Bay at Kukio.
The sold-out event paused over the last two years due to COVID-19, but returned with gifts for participants — near perfect conditions of sunny skies, crystal clear waters, sightings of spotted eagle rays, a favorable current, and breathtaking views of Maui’s Haleakala as the backdrop.
Kukio’s race record has stood firm for six years. Darren Phelan from Palo Alto, California, set the standard in 2016 with his time of 22 minutes and 17 seconds.
Once the race started at 8 a.m., it was nothing but white wash of arm and legs thrashing to gain position. However, by the halfway point of the race, Phelan’s record looked to be in jeopardy.
Kamuela’s Brock Imonen began to separate himself from the field, and by the last yellow turn buoy, the 20-year-old swimming phenom had established a near two-minute lead from the pack prompting spectators to wonder of the possibility to breaking Phelan’s record.
With 200 yards to go, excitement filled the air. With every stroke, the clock ticked closer and closer. The crowd screamed louder and louder.
“Go Brock, you got this! Come on Brock! Go Brock, GO!”
Once he touched sand, Imonen popped up and sprinted up the sandy beach to cross the finish line in a new race record time of 22 minutes and 12 seconds — breaking Phelan’s 2016 record by five seconds.
“It feels amazing!” Imonen said of his win. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to come here since college, but thankfully I’m now at UH Manoa and my coaches have been allowing me to come back.
“I knew about the record and I was just trying to gun for that because it would be a stepping stone toward getting in shape for swim season. Thankfully I was able to get it but I was honestly worried that someone was going to be on my butt during the race, so luckily, it worked out in my favor.”
Imonen — a former Academy Swim Club and Hawaii Preparatory Academy standout — currently swims on the men’s team for UH Manoa and recently placed second overall in the Triple Crown Swim Race Series. He also won the Kukio Blue Water Swim in 2018 at age 16, and was just 14 years old when Phelan’s 2016 record was set. Imonen shared he was a little worried and had to turn around three or four times doing back stroke to see where his competition was.
“I knew I was in the lead but I thought there was at least one person between me and the lead group,” he said. “I was a little worried that Jeff (Faiola) might have been there because he beat me at the last swim race. So, I knew where I was, I just didn’t know how far ahead.”
Imonen also didn’t know how close he was to breaking the race record.
“I couldn’t hear anything until I got out of the water,” he said. “Then Aunty Mel (Aiona) was screaming that I was about to break it. It’s been six years since the record was set. I bet (Darren Phelan) will be back next year to try and get it back.”
Imonen felt the conditions were great and it turned out to be a family affair as his mother (Sarie), father (Brent), and younger brother (Zane) also competed.
“It means a lot,” said Imonen when asked how it felt to win coming from such an athletic family. “This is a stepping stone to following my dad a little bit, and it’s a good feeling knowing that I can still do this.”
Behind Imonen’s record-breaking win was a huge chase pack led by second place finisher, Kailua-Kona’s Kyle Katase (24:07), and Kamuela’s Jeff Faiola, who finished in third at 24:11.
Also in the chase pack were the top female finishers.
Captain Cook’s Jayden Hall was first to sprint through the finish chute in a time of 24:16. Not too far behind was Kailua-Kona’s Bella Shurley in 24:23, and Brenda Avery rounded out the women’s podium with her time of 24:32.
“I feel great and when I saw the red arch (finish chute), I just kept telling myself I’m almost there, I just got to do it,” said Hall. “I really didn’t know if there was another woman in front of me as I was not focused on that. I felt really good about my race and when I came up, I saw my time and my coach (Joyce Follis) announced that I was the first woman.”
Hall said she’s been swimming competitively for 10 years and currently swims for the Kona Dolphins and Kealakehe High School swim teams. The 17-year-old West Hawaii Explorations Academy senior is focused on her upcoming high school season.
“I’m co-captain of my team and I’m really looking forward to having a good senior season.”
For race director Melanie Aiona, who is a runner, triathlete and the Spa Recreation Director at Kukio Golf and Beach Club, the return of the Kukio Blue Water Swim after a two-year hiatus meant bringing back the quality race event that participants remember, love and enjoy.
“The only way we wanted to bring it back was if we could do the same type of quality event that we’ve done in the past,” Aiona said. “We were greeted with eagle rays, perfect conditions, records being broken — just a perfect day to welcome back the 15th annual Kukio Blue Water Swim.
“It’s known as the Blue Water Swim because of the different types of depths you go through swimming this race. It’s all different shades of blue and there is also a deep blue part of it. It’s also the work that the volunteers do to ensure a quality race — the party after, the DJ, and this is the only point-to-point race on the Big Island. It’s magical, it’s a hard swim, it’s a true open water swim, and I think that’s the magic of it.”
Aiona added how she felt witnessing Imonen winning and breaking Kukio’s swim race record.
“I can’t describe it. He’s like a son to me and I know how hard he’s worked. I know he’s had to overcome some obstacles and to see him not only dominate the race today, but break the record, wow!”
For any newbies wanting to participate in this amazing swim race next year, Aiona shared some advice.
“Train for it — the feeling you get at the finish line is like none other. You can do this. The experience and memories you will take from finishing the Kukio Blue Water Swim is unparalleled — you can’t match it!”