We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact one of the board members.
Kamehameha Swim Club Coaching Staff
John E Flanagan
Head Coach
John began his coaching career after his graduation from Auburn University where he was a member of the NCAA National Championship Swim Team in 1997 and a 4 year National Team member. John is a distance freestyle specialist where his swimming career continued to excel after college by winning the 10K National Open Water Championship in 2001. John’s international fame came from a gold medal in the 1998 World Championships and the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships. John also competed as a professional triathlete with an 8:49 best Ironman. He was first out of the water at the 2009 Ironman World Championships and holds numerous 70.3 and Ironman Swim Records.
John combines his coaching strengths with his brother Kevin, as they share the Head Coach responsibilities at the Kamehameha Swim Club. He joined KSC in 2001 and has seen the team win 39 straight Hawaii State Championships. John and Kevin have taken KSC swimmers to a USA National Title, the 2008 Olympic games, Olympic Trials, Senior Nationals, Junior Nationals, Sectionals, and Zones. Along the way KSC swimmers have broken over 400 Hawaii State Records and also include Sectional and Zone Champions. John is an ASCA Level 5 coach with a Masters in Exercise Physiology from the University of Hawaii.
Kevin Flanagan
Head Coach
Kevin took over the reigns as Head Coach of KSC in 2000 where he has led the team, along with his brother John, to 39 straight Hawaii State Championships. The Head Coaches have coached KSC swimmers to a USA National Title, the 2008 Olympic Games, Olympic Trials, Senior Nationals, Junior Nationals, Sectionals, and Zones. Along the way KSC swimmers have broke over 400 Hawaii State Records and also include Sectional and Zone Champions. Kevin graduated in 2000 as a two-time All American swimmer at Florida State University where he was a conference and school record holder. Kevin won three high school swim championships while at Punahou and was a High School All American. He is a two time American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Hawaii State Coach of the Year.
Robin K Flanagan
Age Group Coach
Luke Warren Barnes
Age Group Coach
Born and raised in Tulsa Oklahoma in the small community of Berryhill. I began my aquatic adventures through Boy Scouts of America getting my Mile Swim Badge, scuba certification and a 10 day High Adventure canoe trek into Minnesota and Canada. Lifeguard certification lead me to become waterfront director at YMCA Camp Takatoka for 3 summers in a row. I also was head lifeguard and teaching swim lessons at the downtown Tulsa YMCA between summers. My move to Hawaii at the age of 21 helped me to further peruse my aquatic dreams. I found the Oahu Club and have been living out my dream teaching swim lessons and coaching swim team ever since.
Jasmine Mau
Age Group Coach
Kanoa Kaleoaloha
Age Group Coach
Regan Lee
Age Group Coach
Regan started swimming at a young age but didn’t start competing until she was 14, swimming with the Stuttgart Piranhas until 2016, when her father was stationed in Hawai’i. From late 2016 to 2019, she swam with Kamehameha Swim Club while also attending University of Hawaii at Manōa. Since then she’s been teaching swim lessons at the Oahu Club and last year joined the Kamehameha coaching staff. Her favorite and best stroke is butterfly and misses racing 50, 100, and 200 fly.
Dr. Mike Bennett, MD FACS
Age-Group Coach
Dr. Michael Bennett, a renowned vitreo-retinal surgeon, has earned accolades as one of the best physicians in the USA and received recognition as one of the Top 100 Retinal surgeons in the world. His journey in excellence began at an early age, where he developed a profound appreciation for hard work and dedication.
Starting his swimming career at the age of 9 in Miami, Florida, Dr. Bennett achieved success, becoming a three-time Junior National Champion in the 200IM and 400IM while swimming with the Miami Hurricanes. He continued his pursuit of excellence at the University of Virginia, where he not only earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Physics but also made waves by becoming an ACC conference champion. The exceptional Swim Team achievements led to a place in the UVA Athletic Hall of Fame.
Following his Olympic Trials pursuits, Dr. Bennett shifted his focus to academics. He earned his MD degree in New York City, subsequently specializing in ophthalmology and retinal surgery, with a HEED fellowship at Emory University. Dr. Bennett's expertise in sports extended beyond biotech and medicine, as he served as a consultant and keynote for NIKE's SPARQ program.
His athletic pursuits have remained a life long passion, including a stint as a professional and All-American triathlete, as well as participating in 10 IRONMAN competitions, achieved 29th in World at CrossFit Open and enjoyed various other endurance events like the Leadville 100, Molokai to Oahu, Cape Epic MTB, La Ruta, and HURT 100.
Jamy Lum
Age-Group Coach
Kevin Frifeldt
Age-Group Coach
Jaqualine Barklund
Age-Group Coach
Kale Ai
Age-Group Coach
Coach Kale began swimming at KSC under the Flanagans as a 10&under. He progressed as a KSC club swimmer and as a Kamehameha High School swimmer and water polo player until his graduation in 2013. He specialized in long distance freestyle.
