Daniel Kailikoa Eugenio Coakley grew up in the old sugar plantation town of Kohala on the isolated northern tip of the Big Island of Hawaii. Kohala means sweet (ko, name for sugarcane) breath (ha, the breath from the naau or core of the body and sun or warmth of the sun (la, meaning the sun) or “sweet breath of the sun”.

Hawaii Loa the principal navigator of the second ocean voyaging canoe migration to the Hawaiian Islands landed at Kohala and gave it its name. (as told by Aunty Emma Defries via Jalna Keala). It is also the home of King Kamehameha the Great or I, who conquered all of the Hawaiian Islands and brought it under one rule and thus ended the civil wars of competing chiefs. He then promoted peace and harmony through out the islands.

Daniel’s Hawaiian name Kailikoa, which kids of Hawaiian decent receive at birth from their parents, grandparents or a respected member of the family, came by way of “kou inoa po”. A name that was whispered by his ancestors to his mother in a dream. The name was puzzling, not readily recognized but after consulting with those knowledgeable with the “kaona” or hidden meaning of the Hawaiian language the true meaning of the name was revealed.

It’s literal meaning is“thick skinned warrior” but the “kaona” or hidden meaning meant “the warrior that snatches the victory from behind”.

Throughout his swimming career when it seemed he had lost the race, Kailikoa would burst from behind to snatch the victory and became a fearsome opponent. At the age of 15 he became a dual citizen of the Philippines and raced against the top two Philippine national sprinters one of which was the PHI record holder. Beating them in an exhibition 50m free race earned him a spot on the senior Philippine national team.

In the 24th Southeast Asian Games held in Rachisima, Thailand in Decemer 2007, Daniel a complete unknown to the Asian swim world, did just that. In the morning prelims he set a new Philippine record in the 50m free with a time of 23.03 seconds and making him the fastest qualifier ahead of the current record holder and champ, Arwut Chanapasean of Thailand. However, many people thought that the other swimmers were holding back for the evening finals. In the finals Kailikoa burst to a 22.80 50m free and set a new Southeast Asian record and new Philippine record and he was only 17 years old at that time. His time also qualified him for a berth at the Beijing, Olympics. In August of 2008 at Beijing he swan a 22.69 50m free making him the fastest 17-18 year old in USA history before the high tech suits were implemented and then banned after the 2009 Roma World Championships.

Today Daniel continues to train at Bolles in Jacksonville, Florida in preparation to defend his 50m free title at the 25th Laos Southeast Asian Games to be held from Dec. 10 - 18, 2009. The competing countries are Malaysia, Viet Nam, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar and Laos. The SEAG was first conceptualized in 1959 to promote cooperation, understanding and relations amongst the countries of the Southeast Asian countries.