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Taking a cue from the “paddling through the years” theme of Saturday’s Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a Championship regatta, Manu O Ke Kai played the hits and racked up an event-high 10 race wins and 15 runner-up finishes to notch its eighth straight league title on a high note.
As the beachside DJ played classic songs primarily from the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s to keep paddlers and spectators engaged, Manu did just that by amassing 188 points to top Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (140 points) — which prior to Manu’s eight-peat won six Hui Wa‘a crowns in a seven-year stretch — in the AAA Division (29-plus events) amid steady tradewind breezes under mostly clear skies at Keehi Lagoon.
Ka Mo‘i built an 86-70-69 lead over Manu and Kaneohe through the regatta’s first 21 races thanks in part to seven race wins over that span. The strong start spurred by the Ka Mo‘i keiki and kupuna did not last, though, as eight races later, Manu had cut the deficit to just one point, 114-113. With 15 races to go, Manu had flipped the leaderboard with a 118-114 lead over Ka Mo‘i and did not relinquish command.
Thanks to a victory by its women’s 50 crew, Manu O Ke Kai bolstered its advantage to more than 30 points over Ka Mo‘i. The winning crew, which secured an undefeated season in the event, featured Ivy Blomfield, Gordean Kaluahine, Colleen O’Ferrall-Jones, Michele Sales, Barbara Souki and Carla Vierra, and finished the half-mile race in 4 minutes, 31.35 seconds to best Kalihi Kai (4:44.15) and Ka Mo‘i (4:53.66).
“This was a great race. My crew and I have trained hard all year, and our coach always tells us to paddle for each other, paddle for the team,” Souki said. “We had a great start, managed to keep our timing, and came out of the turn strong and stretched it out from there — the canoe felt really good.”
Haleiwa-based Manu O Ke Kai continued its dominant run as the orange-and-white-clad paddlers wrapped up an undefeated season with the win.
“We’re always practicing in upwind conditions, so we definitely take advantage of these winds and use a long, powerful stroke rate,” Souki said. “Every year, winning as a club is very special. As long as we support each other and cheer each other on as a club, that’s the key.”
Kaneohe – winner of eight Hui Wa‘a titles in nine tries, including seven straight triumphs, during a streak that ended in 2010 – claimed the AA Division (15-28 events) with 102 points to hold off Lāhui O Ko‘olauloa (101 points), Alapa Hoe (82 points), Kalihi Kai (57 points), Waikiki Beach Boys (52 points) and I Mua (25 points).
Windward Kai claimed the A Division (up to 14 events) crown with 61 points and bested Team Olelo (38 points), Waikiki Yacht Club (33 points), Kamehameha (26 points) and Ka Mamalahoe (20 points).
Manu also registered undefeated seasons in the boys 18 and women’s junior races, along with Alapa Hoe’s women’s open four crew and the men’s 40 crew from the Waikiki Beach Boys.
More than 1,100 competitors ranging in age from 8 to 88 represented 17 Hui Wa‘a clubs in 46 races spanning 1/4 mile to 1 1/2 miles. Winning crews earned seven points toward the team standings, while second-through-sixth-place finishers were awarded five, four, three, two and one.
In addition to competing for individual championship medals, crews jousted for vital points with the goal of qualifying for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship regatta on Aug. 1 at Keehi Lagoon. The top two crews from each Hui Wa‘a event according to the cumulative points standings earned automatic berths in the state competition, so the difference between finishing one place higher or lower in any given week over the two-month-long regatta season could have made the difference between qualifying and ending the summer campaign.
“We need to continue to train hard together, keep our cardio up with our on-land cross-training, and make sure that the vibes in the canoe are always positive,” Souki said. “That energy allows our canoe to ride smoothly along with our communication and working together as a group when we get out there for states.”
The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association will hold its championship regatta today at Keehi Lagoon. Lanikai Canoe Club, the six-time defending HCRA state champion, is vying for an eighth consecutive OHCRA title.
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As the beachside DJ played classic songs primarily from the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s to keep paddlers and spectators engaged, Manu did just that by amassing 188 points to top Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (140 points) — which prior to Manu’s eight-peat won six Hui Wa‘a crowns in a seven-year stretch — in the AAA Division (29-plus events) amid steady tradewind breezes under mostly clear skies at Keehi Lagoon.
Ka Mo‘i built an 86-70-69 lead over Manu and Kaneohe through the regatta’s first 21 races thanks in part to seven race wins over that span. The strong start spurred by the Ka Mo‘i keiki and kupuna did not last, though, as eight races later, Manu had cut the deficit to just one point, 114-113. With 15 races to go, Manu had flipped the leaderboard with a 118-114 lead over Ka Mo‘i and did not relinquish command.
Thanks to a victory by its women’s 50 crew, Manu O Ke Kai bolstered its advantage to more than 30 points over Ka Mo‘i. The winning crew, which secured an undefeated season in the event, featured Ivy Blomfield, Gordean Kaluahine, Colleen O’Ferrall-Jones, Michele Sales, Barbara Souki and Carla Vierra, and finished the half-mile race in 4 minutes, 31.35 seconds to best Kalihi Kai (4:44.15) and Ka Mo‘i (4:53.66).
“This was a great race. My crew and I have trained hard all year, and our coach always tells us to paddle for each other, paddle for the team,” Souki said. “We had a great start, managed to keep our timing, and came out of the turn strong and stretched it out from there — the canoe felt really good.”
Haleiwa-based Manu O Ke Kai continued its dominant run as the orange-and-white-clad paddlers wrapped up an undefeated season with the win.
“We’re always practicing in upwind conditions, so we definitely take advantage of these winds and use a long, powerful stroke rate,” Souki said. “Every year, winning as a club is very special. As long as we support each other and cheer each other on as a club, that’s the key.”
Kaneohe – winner of eight Hui Wa‘a titles in nine tries, including seven straight triumphs, during a streak that ended in 2010 – claimed the AA Division (15-28 events) with 102 points to hold off Lāhui O Ko‘olauloa (101 points), Alapa Hoe (82 points), Kalihi Kai (57 points), Waikiki Beach Boys (52 points) and I Mua (25 points).
Windward Kai claimed the A Division (up to 14 events) crown with 61 points and bested Team Olelo (38 points), Waikiki Yacht Club (33 points), Kamehameha (26 points) and Ka Mamalahoe (20 points).
Manu also registered undefeated seasons in the boys 18 and women’s junior races, along with Alapa Hoe’s women’s open four crew and the men’s 40 crew from the Waikiki Beach Boys.
More than 1,100 competitors ranging in age from 8 to 88 represented 17 Hui Wa‘a clubs in 46 races spanning 1/4 mile to 1 1/2 miles. Winning crews earned seven points toward the team standings, while second-through-sixth-place finishers were awarded five, four, three, two and one.
In addition to competing for individual championship medals, crews jousted for vital points with the goal of qualifying for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship regatta on Aug. 1 at Keehi Lagoon. The top two crews from each Hui Wa‘a event according to the cumulative points standings earned automatic berths in the state competition, so the difference between finishing one place higher or lower in any given week over the two-month-long regatta season could have made the difference between qualifying and ending the summer campaign.
“We need to continue to train hard together, keep our cardio up with our on-land cross-training, and make sure that the vibes in the canoe are always positive,” Souki said. “That energy allows our canoe to ride smoothly along with our communication and working together as a group when we get out there for states.”
The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association will hold its championship regatta today at Keehi Lagoon. Lanikai Canoe Club, the six-time defending HCRA state champion, is vying for an eighth consecutive OHCRA title.
Continue reading...
