Keo Nakama
Encyclopedia
Keo Nakama was an American
swimmer.
Nakama was born in the town of Puʻunene, Hawaii on the island of Maui
. His swimming career included a world record 20:29 in the mile swim, Big Ten Conference
titles at Ohio State, and numerous national and international victories. The outbreak of World War II
prevented his competing in an Olympic Games
: Nakama was at his peak from 1940 - 1944. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in 1975.
Nakama is best known for swimming from the island of Molokai
to Oahu
in Hawai'i, at 40 years of age. In September 1961, he crossed the dangerous 27-mile Ka Iwi Channel in 15 ½ hours; he was the first person to verifiably accomplish this feat.
Nakama was later elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives, where he served for five terms until 1974. He died in Honolulu at the age of 91.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer.
Nakama was born in the town of Puʻunene, Hawaii on the island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. His swimming career included a world record 20:29 in the mile swim, Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
titles at Ohio State, and numerous national and international victories. The outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
prevented his competing in an Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
: Nakama was at his peak from 1940 - 1944. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
in 1975.
Nakama is best known for swimming from the island of Molokai
Molokai
Molokai or Molokai is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles in size with a land area of , making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the 27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of Oahu across the 25-mile wide Kaiwi Channel and north of...
to Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
in Hawai'i, at 40 years of age. In September 1961, he crossed the dangerous 27-mile Ka Iwi Channel in 15 ½ hours; he was the first person to verifiably accomplish this feat.
Nakama was later elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives, where he served for five terms until 1974. He died in Honolulu at the age of 91.
External links
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin: "They don't make them like Keo no more"
- Honolulu Advertiser: "Nakama ruled in the pool, shined on the baseball diamond"
- http://www.swimnews.com/news/view/8901