Kealakehe senior youngest to swim Kaiwi Channel

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Stephens Media Hawaii

Stephens Media Hawaii

Kealakehe High senior Leahi Camacho survived a debilitating Portuguese man-of-war sting Sunday to become the youngest person to swim the 26-mile Kaiwi Channel between Molokai and Oahu.

Camacho, 17, finished the swim in 14 hours, 43 minutes, arriving on Oahu’s Sandy Beach at 12:33 p.m., according to her coach, Steve Borowski.

Camacho began her swim Saturday night after leaving Molokai’s Hale O Lono Harbor.

Borowski said she was stung by the man-of-war at about 5:30 a.m. delaying her swim for about 30 minutes.

Borowski, her Kealakehe High and Kona Aquatics coach, who was in the support boat, put on his swim gear and swam alongside her for a short period after the sting.