Molokaʻi waterman Marshall Rosa among four newly inducted legends to the Hawaiʻi Waterman Hall of Fame

Four influential figures in Hawaiʻi’s water sports officially entered the Hawaiʻi Waterman Hall of Fame this week. This year’s inductees are Marshall Rosa of Molokaʻi, Laola Lake Aea of Kauaʻi, Olympic development coach Johnny Puakea, and the late swim coach Harvey Chilton, recognized for their lasting contributions to the water sports community.

The event, sponsored by OluKai, took place on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Outrigger Canoe Club.

Marshall Rosa of Molokaʻi has spent more than 60 years shaping Hawaiian canoe racing and surfski as an athlete, innovator, mentor, and steward of ocean knowledge. He is a two-time Molokaʻi Hoe Canoe Racing World Champion, earning titles in 1975 and 1977, a dominating pioneer of open ocean surfski, the creator of the Rose Ski, and a highly respected outrigger canoe paddling coach. Marshall’s understanding of the Kaʻiwi Channel is legendary; paddlers from around the world still seek his guidance. He said, “The ocean has always been my educator, my school, my playground.”

Laola Lake Aea of Kauaʻi is celebrated for her surfing and paddling accomplishments, including winning five straight state outrigger canoe championships with Hui Nalu, the 1976 US Open Surfing Championship, the 1977 US Open Tandem Surfing Championship, top-place age group finishes in downwind SUP, world sprints gold, and four Molokaʻi Channel championships. She was part of a group of pioneering wahine surfers who founded the Hawaiʻi Women’s Surfing Hui, paving the path for women in competitive surfing. Laola’s years of effort to improve ocean safety on Kauaʻi culminated in her becoming president of the Kauaʻi Lifeguard Association.

Johnny Puakea of Oʻahu is honored for more than three decades as a coach, mentor, and innovator. After an injury spoiled his K2 Olympic pursuit, Johnny coached kayaking at Punahou for 10 years, coaching them to win nine times and tie once. He became an Olympic development coach, and all seven of his athletes made the world team. He has coached paddling for Hui Nalu, Outrigger Canoe Club, and Team Bradley, a team he led to six world championships. Through his brand, Puakea Designs, Johnny has designed many top-selling canoes, and continues a third-generation stewardship of Hawaiian canoe culture.

Harvey Chilton of Oʻahu was inducted posthumously for his impact coaching swimming in Hawaiʻi for 45 years. He was among the first elite swim coaches of African American ancestry. He was the first coach of Hui Nalu Swim Club, where he trained Duke Kahanamoku, Sam Kahanamoku, and Ludy Langer. He then founded Hui Makani, where he coached Warren and Pua Kealoha, Henry Luning, Charles Pang, Manuela and Maiola Kalili, Bill Smith, and Bill Kirschbaum. He also helped coach Buster and Buddy Crabbe. At least 10 of his swimmers became Olympians.

Many former Hall of Fame inductees were in attendance, including Buffalo Keaulana, Fred Hemmings, Johnny McCandless, Jock Sutherland, Patti Paniccia, Archie Kalepa, Walter Guild, Laura Blears, Mark Cunningham, Mike Spalding, Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, Duane DeSoto, Kalani Vierra, and Marc Haine.

The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to financially support the development of individuals and organizations that perpetuate the spirit and legacy of Duke Kahanamoku.

As of 2026, the Foundation has awarded 914 grants and 1,221 scholarships totaling more than $4 million in community investment. Its work supports Hawaiʻi scholar-athletes, teams, events, and programs in swimming, surfing, canoe paddling, kayaking, diving, water polo, sailing, and volleyball, while also advancing water safety and access to water sports.

The Hawaiʻi Waterman Hall of Fame was established by the ODKF Board of Directors in 2008 to recognize legendary athletes with strong Hawaiʻi connections who excel in water sports and leave their sports and communities better than they found them. The Hall of Fame celebrates the role models and stories that reflect Hawaiʻi’s ocean culture.

For more information, visit www.DukeFoundation.org.