Swimmer Goes to States

Photo courtesy of Aka’ula School

Community Contributed

By Kamauliola Pupuhi, Aka`ula School, grade six

Editor’s note: The State Age Group Swimming Championships were held on Oahu from July 14-17. Mauli Pupuhi was the only Molokai swimmer to make the AAA national time standards required to enter the meet. Mauli trains with Aka`ula School and swims for Maui Dolphins. He was joined on Oahu by five Maui Dolphin swimmers from Maui. Mauli wrote about the experience for the school newsletter, reprinted with permission here.

Swimming at states was the hardest thing I have ever done. I was the only Molokai swimmer to qualify for state championships. They were held on Oahu and my whole family flew there so I could swim. The swim meet lasted four days and I had to wake up super early each day and get my gear together and leave for the pool. I have never been so nervous in my life. After my warm up on the first day I was ready. My first swim was a 50-meter butterfly. After I got out of the pool my arms and legs felt like Jell-O. Each day I went home exhausted. I swam in four races, had personal best times in three, and medaled twice. On the final day, when I got our of the pool after my last swim, Miss Newberry and my mom and dad were all very proud of me.