Maui High junior Aika Swanson took home the gold in the 500-yard swim at a state meet on Maui. Photo courtesy Kaysa Ong

Maui High School junior Aika Swanson was a bit disappointed when she came close but didn’t win the 200-yard race at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association girls state swim meet as she had in 2024, but she felt relieved and happy when she took first place in the 500-yard freestyle competition at the K. Mark Takai Swimming and Diving Championships.

Swanson finished the 500 freestyle in 5:00.56.

“I was very glad to take home a gold medal for Maui High,” she said.

Swanson was also thankful that her parents, Neil and Keiko Swanson, were in the stands cheering her on in both races.

“It was great for both of them to be there,” she said.

Maui High swim coach Reid Yamamoto said Swanson has been acquiring the skills she needs to be a college swimmer.

“She’s smart,” he said. “She’s a talented individual and has a great feel for the water.”

Training is rigorous for Swanson, swimming 6,000 to 7,000 yards a day in quick 200 to 300 yard bursts, focusing on stamina, strength, and endurance.

She goes surfing occasionally and took ballet and contemporary dance last year. But she said she has focused on swimming through this school year and hopes for a college scholarship.

She’s interested in pursuing law or medicine and also plans to study finance in college.

Competitors from other high schools on Maui also had their moments in the state competition.

Kamehameha School Maui freshman Cruz Storer placed fourth in the boys 100-yard freestyle (46.61) and second in the boys 100-yard backstroke (50.35).

Kihei Charter’s Sova Mayer took fourth in the girls 1-meter diving competition (266.40).

Baldwin sophomore Kieran Harper and junior Kaiden Yoshikawa took fifth and seventh, respectively, in the boys 1-meter diving contest.

Lahainaluna senior JakeMcGill took fourth place in the 100-yard butterfly followed by Maui High sophomore Ryan Ong in fifth.

Maui Preparatory Academy junior Sadie M. Stafford, sophomore Halia Caiserman, junior Sacha Salem and junior Sloane Jucker placed sixth in the girls 200-yard medley relay (1:53.30). Caiserman also placed sixth in the girls 100-yard butterfly (1:00.28).