It’s "Hammer Time" for Waikiki, and as its stellar women’s paddlers affirmed, opposing crews "Can’t Touch This."

In the final tune-up race prior to the Na Wahine O Ke Kai, the Waikiki Beach Boys leaned on their "hammers" and proved they are in prime shape to contend for the club’s first Molokai-to-Oahu championship since 2011.

The "Beach Girls" claimed the E Lau Hoe Race with a winning mark of 4 hours, 18 minutes and 50.33 seconds. In what served as the penultimate race of the distance season, 35 all-female crews from across the state completed the 32-mile trek that started at Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai and finished in the waters fronting Nanakuli Beach Park. The women now have a week off to prepare for the Na Wahine O Ke Kai — the 41-mile Molokai-to-Oahu championship race slated for Sept. 21.

"I’m stoked and very lucky to steer for these hammers, they’re the ones (to credit)," said Waikiki steerswoman Rachel Bruntsch of her winning crewmates Chelsea Bizik, Dana Gorecki, Eko Lapp, Alexia Lopez, Jennifer Polcer, Jessica Kaawa, Kelsa Gabehart, Lindsey Shank and Alana Bender.

Team Bradley, which crossed the line second in 4:20:57.51, has won eight of the last nine Na Wahine O Ke Kai titles, but Waikiki’s winning the E Lau Hoe could prove fortuitous; when the club won the race three years ago, it went on to claim the prestigious Molokai title, interrupting Bradley’s dynastic run.

"We were battling the whole time," said Bruntsch, who completed her second race as steerswoman. "We went inside the surf at Barbers Point and that’s where we got lucky and made a little ground."

Hui Nalu’s masters crew (4:29:42.78), which competed in an "unlimited" carbon fiber/graphite canoe — which is not yet approved for use in Molokai races but considered the vessel of the future — claimed third place, while Hui Nalu’s "Coconuts" open crew (4:31:59.04) competed in a traditional fiberglass canoe and notched fourth place.

Waikiki has enjoyed success this season behind the efforts of Bruntsch, a veteran waterwoman who was tasked with navigating the canoe after experienced steerswoman Kaui Pelekane took the year off from racing. Bizik is also skilled at steering and provides a viable option when called upon.

Team Bradley — a collection of paddlers from Maui, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai — came up just short of claiming a third consecutive title in this event. Despite finishing second, Bradley still bested last year’s winning time by 17 minutes.

Team Bradley’s crew included Lauren Spalding, Claire Townsend, Noelani Auger, Kristin Foster, Mahealani Botelho, Nicole Pedersen, Dane Ward, Alana Goo, Lori Nakamura and Coral Gonzales. Because the crewmembers hail from various islands, paddlers train for the most part on one-man canoes, and translate their skills to the six-person canoe during rare group practice runs and races.

"We definitely feel like we’re ready for the (Kaiwi) Channel," said Spalding. "We’re not a typical club; we don’t train together five days a week. We paddle together as a group maybe three or four times a year and then we race two or three times. These races are so crucial for us, but the Beach Boys and even Hui Nalu are such hammers."

After a slow start, Waikiki caught up to Team Bradley and eventually took its first lead off Waikiki. Spalding explained that her crew "gambled" by taking an inside route at Ewa Beach, but were "clipped by a couple waves," allowing Waikiki to surge ahead.

Paddlers enjoyed calm ocean conditions and small swells throughout the course — "It wasn’t flat, but it definitely wasn’t raging," Bruntsch said.

The Beach Boys entered the race fresh off a victory at the Queen Liliuokalani Race held in the waters along the Big Island’s Kona coast. Waikiki led the field of 95 female crews, and navigated the 18-mile course in 2:07:11.

Waikiki also won the Dad Center Race on Aug. 24 and completed the 25-mile course spanning from Kailua Beach, around Makapuu and Diamond Head and finishing in the waters fronting Kaimana Beach in 3:10:46.58.

"This really doesn’t matter; Molokai is a different beast," Bruntsch said. "We’ve got to keep practicing, stay in shape and stay healthy."

The distance season consists of four races on Oahu — two men’s and two women’s events — with the Queen Liliuokalani event sandwiched between. The season culminates with the Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe: the women’s and men’s versions of the 41-mile Molokai-to-Oahu race often regarded as the sport’s world championship. In distance races, crews are accompanied by motored escort boats and are allowed to substitute paddlers along the way to provide them with breaks.

In the final event of the season leading into the Molokai races, the men will compete in the Henry Ayau Memorial Race on Sunday, which follows the same course as the E Lau Hoe. Team Primo of Maui is the perennial favorite to take home the hardware, but crews from Kailua, Lanikai, Hui Lanakila and Outrigger have also shown promise in recent years.