HSC COACHING STAFF

K. Mark Takai Veteran's Memorial Aquatic Center (VMAC BRANCH)

 - Coach Aaron Saito (GOLD GROUP)        EMAIL: [email protected]

Coach Aaron is a proud Hawaii Swim Club alumnus who has been part of the HSC family for over 13 years. After growing up in the program as a swimmer, he’s now been coaching the Gold Group and inspiring the next generation of athletes to reach their goals.

Aaron has been swimming since he was 4 years old, earning multiple achievements along the way. At 14 years old, he became a state champion in the 100 Butterfly, and later captured two more state titles in the 100 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly at the 2020 High School State Championships. He’s also reached State, Regional, Sectional, and Futures qualifying standards, showcasing his long-term dedication and love for the sport.

Aaron has a deep love and passion for swimming and continues to train and compete himself. He hopes to inspire, guide, and encourage his swimmers to be successful and to develop the same lifelong love for the sport that has shaped so much of his own life.

Coach Kainoa Yee (SILVER & BRONZE GROUP)

Salt Lake Branch

Coach Bryce Soriano (GOLD GROUP) - [email protected]

Coach Bryce was born and raised in Washington and has been swimming competitively since age six. Bryce swam with Valley Aquatics Swim Team his whole age group career from 2009-2020. During his time with VAST, he was able to qualify and compete at Washington State Championships, Northwest Age Group Regionals, Age Group Western Zones (2012, 2014, 2015), Sectionals, Futures, Junior Nationals and qualified for Nationals in the 200 breaststroke. Bryce was also a participant of USA Swimming select camps locally and nationally where he trained and learned under top USA Swimming coaches in the nation. He specialized in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke and 200 and 400 Individual Medley. 

 

Bryce also swam varsity all four years of high school swimming, representing Stadium High School, where he placed top 8 in the 100 Breaststroke all four years at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) 3A Boys State Swim/Dive Championship and is still the current school record holder in the 100 Breaststroke.  

 

Bryce is passionate about helping swimmers achieve their goals, creating a positive team culture, and to always have fun. His coaching philosophy centers on having a growth mindset, always learning, improving and striving to be better than yesterday through technical excellence and consistent effort.

 

Coach Sharon (Silver/Bronze GROUP)

 - Coach Josh (BRONZE GROUP) 

KROC Center Branch

 - Coach Bailey (GOLD GROUP)

Coach Bailey has been swimming since she was 7 years old. She has been coaching swimming for 2 years and loves bringing out the strengths in her athletes. She is also a Personal Trainer and grew up as a multi - sport athlete competing in Swimming, Paddling, Triathlon, Surfing, and Dance.  She pushes each athlete to excel and achieve their goals, both in and out of the water.

Bailey made an early transition to Open Water Swimming and became dedicated. In 2019 she was honored with the Rell Sun award after placing in the North Shore Open Water Swim Series and the Molokai to Oahu World Paddle Boarding Championships, (along with many other local prone paddle, swim, and surf competitions) within the same season. She continues to enjoy all water disciplines with swimming being her first love.
 
Bailey aims to train her swimmers to be disciplined, dedicated, and enjoy the process. 
 - Coach Kirk (SILVER GROUP)

Coach Kirk loves all things water! Being raised on the Southern California beaches bodysurfing, boogie boarding and board surfing, as well as swimming for Irvine Nova Aquatics, Kirk found true happiness wherever there was water and friends to share it with. 

Naturally, he gravitated to Hawai'i after highschool and attended the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. As a City and County lifeguard during college, Kirk trained open water, discovered mutisport/triathlon and swam with UH Rainbow Masters. He went on to compete in five Ironman Triathlons and countless other road and offload triathlons, cycling events, running races and open water swims. He has prone paddled the Molokia to Oahu Paddleboard Race three times and competed in the Molokai Hoe Canoe Race with the Waikiki Beach Boys. 

He founded the junior swim club program at Kroc Center and now joins his daughter Coach Bailey on the deck at Kroc coaching the Silver squad for HSC.

Coach Keith (BRONZE GROUP)

Coach Keith has been coaching since 1969.  First with Coach Ronald Honda at Kaimuki High School and in 1970, with Coach Soichi Sakamoto and the Hawaii Swim Club.  I owe my coaching experience to the two coaches that helped me get started and to teach me the fundamentals of coaching.  Thank you Coach Ron Honda and Coach Soichi Sakamoto!