good morning. small waves around the island. cloudy and windy. going for a doggie swim, then do some computer work. have a great day!!!
this is Richard “Sonny” Tanabe. sonny’s been competitive swimming and free diving in hawaii since the duke kahanamoku days. he was on the 1956 USA olympic swimming team, which is a huge accomplishment. i was super lucky to go on a trip to the tuumolu islands in tahiti with sonny. we had a blast!!
i was amazed by his bottom time, his approach to fish, and his big warm heart….
during the trip. there was this big channel between islands that had current that looked like a river on days. it was deep blue and infested with sharks. everyday we seen it, we’d joke about having a swimming competition across it. tahitians vs. hawaiians. none of us wanted a part in it because if you miss the island, you will get swept out to sea and will need a boat to rescue you. but being the competitor sonny was, he pushed it and it happened on the last day of our trip…. it was a relay with team tahiti vs. team hawaii. no fins, no masks, and no joke. but lot’s of fun and laughs….
the tahitians came to hawaii in october and sonny put together a reunion party. i was in japan so i missed it but sonny didn’t leave me out. he personally made this wooden plaque for all of us. this is something i will cherish for the rest of my life…
sonny also gave me this USA olympic gold medal. my first ever!!!
on the back, it says 2008 HAWAII – TAHITI TAIRAPA PASS SWIM CHAMP.
that trip, that swim, that dive, and the members on that special trip will never be forgotten…. thanks to red sea adventures, kyle, james, sonny, tim, wendell, and all the tahitian divers for a great time!!! maruru!!!
*for sonny tanabe’s credentials, check out this link: CLICK HERE FOR RICHARD “SONNY” TANABE’S LEGACY…..
