In 2003, the lifelong vision of Ken Suenaga—one of Hawaiʻi’s most respected swim coaches and mentors for more than 50 years, and a Korean War veteran—became a reality in Central Oʻahu. Coach Suenaga believed Hawaiʻi deserved a world-class aquatics center where athletes could train and compete at the highest levels, while also serving the broader community through fitness, safety, and shared purpose. His dream was not limited to swimming alone, but to a place where the water could bring people together across generations.