Waikiki’s ‘Beach Girls’ dominate

 

Since the skipper took over and implemented his program 13 years ago, the Beach Boys have morphed into one of the sport’s most efficient clubs, thanks in large part to its successful "Beach Girls" women’s faction. Monahan’s ideology has proven simple yet effective: Paddlers earn seats in canoes based on merit and performance through practice and training, meaning that all participants have a fair shot at earning a racing position within a crew — something that isn’t always the case at other clubs.

 

After winning the Na Wahine O Ke Kai — a grueling 41-mile race from Molokai to Oahu that serves as the sport’s world championship — in 2011, Waikiki finished second last year to Team Bradley by two-and-a-half minutes. The Beach Boys could take some consolation in the fact that Team Bradley has now won seven of the past eight Na Wahine O Ke Kai events, but the Waikiki women’s program is gearing up for another run at the ultimate prize.

 

The 2011 campaign serves as a perfect model from which the Beach Boys hope to draw parallels, as the club went undefeated through all the senior women’s events during regatta season and swept the slate of long-distance races that year as well.

 

Waikiki claimed its third consecutive victory of 2013 in the AA Division (13-24 crews entered) at the Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa’a Lokahi Hoe regatta Sunday at Keehi Lagoon. Paddlers were treated to clear skies and steady tradewinds, which made for favorable conditions on the smooth water.

 

The Beach Boys amassed 62 points en route to a third-place overall standing and won a regatta-high 11 races, including 10 of the first 13 events they entered. As proof of the female program’s dominance, Waikiki’s novice B, novice A, freshman, sophomore and senior crews all won their races to continue undefeated seasons. The Beach Boys also won the women’s 40, mixed novice B and open six men’s novice B, freshman and senior events.

 

In the 11⁄2-mile senior women’s race, Waikiki’s crew of Frances Lichowski, Dana Gorecki, Traci Bush, Jen Polcer, Lindsey Shank and Kaui Pelekane cruised to victory in 12 minutes, 54.98 seconds, besting Kalihi Kai (13:42.23) and North Shore (14:41.43).

 

The significance of the program’s sustained success is magnified by the fact the club is actually missing a handful of experienced paddlers, including some who have moved out of state.

 

"The numbers that we have going into this year have actually gone down, especially compared to 2011, when we walked in with a solid core," said Gorecki, veteran paddler and club president of Waikiki. "But from the perspective of the program, there’s still that same desire and drive of wanting to continue (building the club). This year, one of our focuses is rearing paddlers from within by developing our novices."

 

Some of the "Beach Girls" will spend this week paddling in the Olamau race, a three-day, 100-mile race spanning from Laupahoehoe on the Big Island’s northeast coast to Kamakahonu on the island’s Kona coast. The "iron man" event serves as an early tune-up for the long-distance season, which begins after the regatta campaign culminates with the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta, Aug. 3 at Hanalei Bay, Kauai.

 

"We’re participating in fun races like the Olamau, so the training isn’t always so stressful," said Pelekane, a veteran Beach Boys 

 

steerswoman. "We still train hard like we did in 2011, but we’re also trying to enjoy paddling more. Hopefully we can get everything together in time (for Molokai) and see what happens.

 

"It’s always great to do well as a Hui Wa’a crew and represent our association. Sometimes we’re looked down upon because we’re a smaller organization. We take pride in being competitive as a small club."

 

Na Keiki O Ka Mo’i claimed the AAA Division (25-39 crews entered) and overall regatta title with 71 points, and bested Manu O Ke Kai (68 points), which won eight races, and Kaneohe (61 points). The victory was Ka Mo’i’s second of the season and came on the heels of four race wins.  

 

Kamehameha, which won three races early in the regatta, took the A Division (6-12 crews entered) with 29 points. North Shore (17 points), Lokahi (16 points) and Kalihi Kai (12 points) rounded out the small-club division.