• USA Swimming Age group swimming (18 years and under)
• USMS United States Masters Swimming (19 years and over)
• US Diving
• US Synchornized Swimming
• US Waterpolo

USMS used to be under the same umbrella as USA Swimming, but received independence in the early 80's. However, USMS was first created within USA Swimming in about 1972.

Within USMS there are 8 Zones which were formed to meet the specific needs and represent the various areas of the country. The zones names are: Breadbasket, Colonies, Dixie, Great Lakes, Northwest, Oceana, South Central and Southwest. These zones are physical divisions for different regions of the country. Each zone has a representative. Ours is Richard Smith, from Sacramento, Calif.. Hawaii is in the Oceana Zone.

Each Zone is furthered divided into Local Masters Swim Committees (LMSC). LMSC's are smaller divisions of the zones. LMSC represent and serve even better the local needs of the masters swimming committee. Our zone is shared with 1 other LMSC, Pacific Masters Swimming (which covers the area of N. Calif, and parts of Nevada). All other zones are made up of 3 or more LMSC. The reason there are only two LMSC's in our zone, is because Pacific Masters Swimming (PMS) is the largest LMSC in the country with over 8000 registered masters swimmers. Our LMSC was created by Bruce Clark in 1974 (I believe). We owe Bruce a lot, because with out his vision, we probably would not have had an LMSC at all!! I forget how many LMSC's are in the country but I think it's around 30+.

LMSC's are registered with USMS and each LMSC has their own by-laws, and board. LMSC's report to their Zone chair at least annually. USMS provides a LMSC handbook, which is revised each year, This handbook gives guidelines and rules for how to operate an LMSC.

Each LMSC is made up of Masters Swim Clubs who are registered through USMS and their LMSC. Each Masters Swim Club has it's own by-laws and board. USMS has guidelines and information for starting a swim club.

It is up to each club to support and/or host masters meets. It is up to the LMSC to support and/or host any LMSC Championship meets. It is up to the Zone and LMSC's to host and/or support any Zone Championship meets.

Our LMSC is Hawaii Masters Swimming Assoc, HMSA. Our board is made up of the following officers: Chair, four Vice Chairs (one each from the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu), Treasurer, Registrar, Records, Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and Legal Council.  In 2009, to be in compliance with new organizational structure and requirements from USMS, the HMSA board is working on updating the Bylaws.  Current Bylaws are posted here.  The USMS Minimum Standards were approved at the recent 2009 USMS Convention in Chicago Sep 2009, and we've added two new "required" HMSA officers: Secretary and Official's Chair.

Our goal is to support masters swimming in Hawaii and to offer services in further organizing our sport within Hawaii through whatever means we can. As our organization grows and gets more cohesive in it's growth we will be able to better serve our swimmers by hosting and/or helping support swim meets, open water events, bringing to Hawaii larger already established meets (such as Pan Pacific Masters Championships, USMS National Championships etc.). As we grow it is hoped that more people will step forward to assist in our growth. An area I see that we'll need to promote volunteers in are: becoming certified Officials (which can be done through the local LSC - the local swimming committe for age group swimming). USMS does not currently offer it's own certifying program, and therefore we use USA Swimming's certification program or the YMCA or Collegiate Certification programs for officials.

Hawaii Masters (HIMA) is our state club and was formed for Hawaii swimmers who compete outside of our state to be able to compete under one club from Hawaii. Which allows them to score points together for Hawaii, and race together on relays. With how things are done now, each swimmer has three choices to register: 1) unattached; 2) with their USMS registered swim club; 3) with the "state club" - HIMA. HIMA is strictly a name, with no governing body or board.

There are many benefits to joining USMS. One of the most important is the offering of secondary insurance to all registered swimmers and swim clubs. This insurance is also used for sanctioned or recognized swimming meets, ocean races or solo swims. Registration also includes a subscription to Swim Magazine, the official swim magazine for masters swimmers. It allows when you are travelling to be able to find and swim with any other registered club in the country. It allows you to be able to set state, national and world masters records. It provides an organization whose sole purpose is promoting, supporting and creating masters swim programs in the country. USMS has nearly 40,000 registered masters swimmers nationwide. The organization is made up of all volunteers except for the Executive Secretary (the only full-time position); a small stipend is paid each year to: Marketing Liason; Webmaster; and Swim Magazine USMS Editor.