If an Oahu canoe club plans on unseating paddling juggernaut Hawaiian Canoe Club of Maui, history indicates that Keehi Lagoon is the place to do it.

Months of practice, weekends spent racing at regattas and hours upon hours of conditioning and cross training have led to Saturday’s culmination of the summer regatta season. Nearly 3,500 paddlers representing 50 clubs from five islands and six outrigger canoe paddling organizations compete in 41 events that make up the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta at Keehi Lagoon.

Hawaiian qualified 40 crews for the state competition—the highest mark among all teams—and is the favorite to claim a second consecutive title and 10th state crown in 13 years.

If Saturday’s results follow a recent trend, Oahu clubs will fare better in the home waters of Keehi Lagoon. Lanikai won outright at Keehi in 2008 and 2010 and shared the title with Kailua in 2012.

Hawaiian won in Hilo Bay in 2009, at Hanakoo Beach Park in Lahaina in 2011 and at Hanalei Bay on Kauai in 2013.

"I don’t think it plays any different than it does for anyone else; we’ve raced there for many, many years," said Hawaiian coach Diane Ho when asked if paddling in Keehi Lagoon presents her squad with a disadvantage. "A race is a race. Each course has its own challenges, but we know what to expect in Kauai, we know what to expect on the Big Island and we know what to expect on Oahu—the Oahu teams will be tough because their people are there."

Two-time defending Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association champion Hui Nalu qualified 35 crews for Saturday’s competition, while OHCRA rivals Lanikai (35 crews), Kailua (34 crews) and Outrigger (33 crews) attempt to stack up with Hawaiian in the AAAA Division (21-40 crews entered).

Lanikai coach Scott Freitas compared his club’s last state co-championship in 2012 to achieving checkmate, with the regular season serving as a grueling chess match in which paddlers are utilized to qualify as many crews possible in anticipation of the state races.

Hui Nalu coach Denise Darval-Chang also made it a point to stress the importance of bringing home a state title to match the club’s OHCRA crown. It has been more than two decades since the Hawaii Kai-based club has won both in the same season.

OHCRA member Keahiakahoe (17 crews) looks to repeat as AAA Division (13-20 crews entered) champion, but will be tested by Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (20 crews), which just completed its second undefeated Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a regular season in three years. Hanalei (20 crews) from Kauai and Keauhou (17 crews) of the Big Island’s Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association are also contenders.

The AA Division (7-12 crews) is headlined by Hui Wa‘a rivals Waikiki Beach Boys, Manu O Ke Kai and Kaneohe (12 crews apiece), which enter a combined eight undefeated crews.

The A Division (1-6 crews) is wide open among 28 competing clubs.