When Sean Monahan took over the Waikiki Beach Boys women’s program 12 years ago, the coach made an effort to instill a culture based on merit, with the notion that the best paddlers would earn spots with the crew.

The concept motivated the club’s paddlers, as they realized that everyone had a fair shot at making it into the racing canoe — a concept that, while seemingly simple, isn’t always the case at other clubs.

“Everybody paddling with us ended up staying and keeping at it, working hard,” Monahan said. “It took a lot of years of these girls busting their butts to get where they are.”

Under Monahan’s watch, Waikiki has become one of Hawaii’s top women’s programs, as evidenced by the club’s perfect run in 2011, which saw the “Beach Girls” go undefeated through the regatta and long-distance seasons, and culminated with a coveted Na Wahine O Ke Kai crown.

The Beach Boys will take to water in search of a second consecutive title Sunday at the 34th annual Na Wahine O Ke Kai, the 41-mile women’s outrigger canoe paddling championship that stretches from Molokai’s Hale O Lono Harbor to Waikiki’s Duke Kahanamoku Beach. The event is considered the world championship of outrigger canoe paddling, and is expected to feature nearly 80 crews representing Hawaii, California, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.

The Waikiki Beach Boys put an end to Team Bradley’s winning streak last year, and are looking to start a championship run of their own. Waikiki completed the 2011 race in 5 hours, 25 minutes and 2 seconds — nearly 2 minutes ahead of Team Bradley — to cap a stellar season that saw the club sweep the four major women’s state championship races over the summer.  

“Getting there is one thing, but achieving it is a real accomplishment,” said Monahan of his paddlers’ recent triumphs. “Last year, the girls had a perfect season, winning every race they entered. I don’t know if that’s ever happened before, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

Team Bradley — an experienced group of paddlers hailing from Oahu, Maui and Kauai that bears the name of outrigger canoe maker Sonny Bradley — has won six of the last seven Na Wahine O Ke Kai events, including a streak of six straight titles from 2005 to 2010. The team holds the record in the event at 5 hours, 22 minutes and 5 seconds, which it set in 2008, and also wears a bull’s-eye as the field of competing crews aims to upend the race’s perennial favorite.

By winning its sixth straight crown in 2010, Team Bradley tied OffShore Canoe Club of Newport Beach, Calif., for the longest winning streak in the race’s history. OffShore claimed six straight wins from 1986 to 1991, thanks in part to a crew that included Olympic-caliber paddlers. They helped raise the caliber of the event’s competitiveness and overall quality.

“Coming into this season, we knew the challenge would be magnified compared to what it was last year,” said Waikiki paddler and club president Dana Gorecki of striving to defend the title. “With a team like (Team Bradley) that has such continuity within their program, it’s an amazing accomplishment, both for them, and other crews that have come back to repeat as champions. We did it once. Now, it’s on to the next challenge to see if we can do it again.”

Team Bradley won the final long-distance tune-up of the season that solidified its status as a favorite. In the Sept. 9 race, Team Bradley got off to a sluggish start but rallied to pass Hui Nalu and Waikiki.

Hui Nalu has fared well throughout the long-distance campaign, and is among the top Oahu crews to watch as it paddles under the direction of coach Raven Aipa. Hui Nalu-Yellow won the Dad Center Race, a 25-mile trek from Kailua to Waikiki, to open the season on Aug. 26.

“We always want to race against the best crews out there, and it makes it that much more enjoyable when you can beat somebody at their best,” Monahan said. “It’s exciting to see so much good competition, it’ll keep everybody honest. There aren’t going to be any shortcuts on Sunday.”