Keo Nakama
Three Year Swim Club
Former world record holder: Mile 20:29.00
13 NCAA and AAU National Titles/27 National Championships
5 Pan American Games Titles
5 Australian National Titles
8 Big Ten Titles
First person to swim the Molokai (Kaiwi) Channel
"The original ditch boys from Camp 5"
International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree

Keo Nakama, named as the first great Hawaiian swimmer of the modern era by the International Swimming Hall of Fame, held the world records from the mile to 27 miles during the 1940's.  Amazingly, his world records extended from the mile swum at New Haven when he was 22 years old to the 27 mile Molokai Channel swum when he was 41 years old.

Mr. Nakama received his masters degree from Ohio State in 1945.  After teaching at the University, Mr. Nakama returned to Hawaii as a high school teacher, a swimming coach, and an athletic director.  He was later elected and served in the Hawaii State Legislature from 1964 to 1974.  Mr. Nakama is currently a Community Relations Director for the HGEA, and he is also a baseball scout for the Detroit Tigers.  

Keo Nakama Invitational swim meet, held in his honor and hosted by the Hawaii Swim Club, will hold its 52th annual competition on June 30-July 2, 2000.

See complete profile and stories of Mr. Keo Nakama at:
http://www.hawaiiswim.org/team/hsc/keoStories/tocStories.html

Sources and Credits:
Keith Arakaki and Hawaii Swim Page at:
http://www.hawaiiswim.org/team/hsc/keoStories/tocStories.html

International Swimming Hall of Fame page at:
http://www.ishof.org/HonorAchievements.html