Keanu Sanford refers to his outrigger canoe paddling club ‘Alapa Hoe as the underdog — something competitors may disagree with after seeing the teal-and-white canoe in action.

The humble 19-year-old Moanalua High product has paddled since he was a "baby," and that hard work paid dividends Sunday as Sanford helped propel ‘Alapa Hoe’s boys 18 and mixed 18 crews to victory in Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a’s season-opening Ka Mamalahoe Regatta at Keehi Lagoon.

"We trained hard together, focusing on our technique," said Sanford, who stays in shape during the offseason by training on a one-man canoe. "We also run a lot and work on our cardio."

Sanford was joined by Deon Alaimaleata, Lei Okuda, Miki Okuda, Isaiah Luczak and Tieri Chun in the mixed 18 event, a new half-mile race added to the Hui Wa‘a slate this season. The race allows for clubs with lower enrollment to use their paddlers more efficiently, as competitors may race in up to two events per regatta provided they fall into the appropriate age bracket.

‘Alapa Hoe completed the two-turn course in 4 minutes, 17.63 seconds and bested I Mua (4:24.24) and Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (4:27.55). Jered Tangonan, Jeremy Berano, Luciano Caraang III, Alexander Goetz and Diego Delormier-Guzman joined Sanford in the boys 18 crew, which navigated the mile-long course in 8 minutes, 28.61 seconds and fended off Waikiki Yacht Club (8:29.38) and Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (8:30.51).

"We’ve been working hard and deserve it. Like they say, hard work pays off," Sanford says. "We’re normally the underdog, so (it’s important) to get ‘Alapa Hoe’s name out there and show that we’re still here."

Sanford paddles with ‘Alapa Hoe under the direction of his father, Daniel, the club’s head coach. Daniel and his wife, Sheila, founded the club 23 years ago at Keehi Lagoon, where its members still practice.

"He’s growing into a young adult, and you can see that hard work paying off during competition," said Daniel of his son.

The elder Sanford hopes Keanu will continue to embrace the club’s commitment to building from within — paddlers aren’t recruited to compete with ‘Alapa Hoe — and perpetuating the native Hawaiian culture and values.

"We work with what we have here, and that’s satisfying for me because our paddlers are loyal to the club and take in what I have to teach — they absorb it like sponges," the skipper said.

Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i, winners of four Hui Wa‘a championships in five years, claimed the AAA division (25-42 crews entered) and overall regatta title. Ka Mo‘i amassed 79 points and outpaced Kaneohe (58 points) and Manu O Ke Kai (53).

The Waikiki Beach Boys claimed the AA division (13-24 crews entered) after winning a regatta-high 10 races, including victories in nine of the final 14 events. However, while Waikiki piled up 60 points, Ka Mamalahoe (43 points) took home the trophy after Waikiki allowed an "illegal paddler," in this case someone who had not registered beforehand, to compete.

In spite of Sunday’s setback, Waikiki’s "Beach Girls" women’s program is looking to build on a stellar 2014 campaign, which culminated with the team’s second Na Wahine O Ke Kai Molokai-to-Oahu title in four years. The women got off to a positive start, winning the novice A, freshman, sophomore, senior and open-four events in convincing fashion — the senior crew beat the next closest canoe by 1 minute and 46 seconds.

Haleiwa Outrigger, which recently changed its name from North Shore Canoe Club, notched five race victories and compiled 22 points to claim the A division (6-12 crews entered). Kamehameha and Windward Kai tied for third with 17 points apiece, while ‘Alapa Hoe (12 points) took fourth in the small division.

Hui Wa‘a returns to Keehi Lagoon on Sunday for its Kalihi Kai Regatta. The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association begins its summer racing season June 7 with the 25th annual Clement D. Paiaina Regatta, also at Keehi Lagoon.

Results

Ka Mamalahoe Regatta

At Keehi Lagoon

Specials—1. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club (Auwe Heiser, Sarah Sherwood, Shawn Rivera, Allegra Thompson Jose, Patti Lee, Taliese Vivao), 1:59.32; 2. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 2:11.78; 3. Kai Poha, 2:14.89.

Girls 12—1. Windward Kai (Morgan Hardwick, Katie Vasconcellos, Naomi Silva, Cydnee Anne Ajifu, Kehaulani Ng-Kalama, Kishti Vasconcellos), 2:21.05; 2. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 2:22.01; 3. Kaneohe, 2:33.63.

Boys 12—1. I Mua (Jojo Chung, Kahiau Balbarino, Riley Barretto, Asher Radona, Taiga Ikeda, Kainoa Hernando), 2:17.47; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:27.80; 3. Kalihi Kai, 2:42.85.

Mixed boys and girls 12—1. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club (Kainoa Van De Waal, Precious Bonilla-Padagas, Amaya Dumlao, Kamu Estrada, Kalama Meyer, Gabby Brandley), 2:21.09; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:23.26; 3. I Mua, 2:26.03.

Girls 13—1. I Mua (Kailee Chun, Chloe Anzai, Tatyana Chung, Carly Yamada, Jasmin Uahinui, Karysa Inafuku), 2:14.85; 2. Windward Kai, 2:19.43; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:30.05.

Boys 13—1. Windward Kai (Si Borgess, Van Sterenberg, Makoa Leialoha, Cam Komae, Zane Chai, Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui), 2:06.15; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:11.69; 3. Olelo O Keola, 3:19.61.

Girls 14—1. Hale’iwa Outrigger (Maddy Walsh, Taylor Olson, Viviana Barcina, Kayla Grigsby, Lilyanne Amantiad-Rubuca, Raleigh Tabora), 2:20.84; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:21.56; 3. I Mua, 2:31.97.

Boys 14—1. Kaneohe (Jonathan Aranton, Matthew Risso, Akamu Campbell II, Troy Anderson, Diesel Pakele, Paka Robles), 2:03.21; 2. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 2:26.12; 3. Kumulokahi-Elks, 2:35.14.

Girls 15—1. Hale’iwa Outrigger (Grace Rittenhouse, Kayla Grigsby, Viviana Barcina, Alyssa Yamada-Barretto, Maddy Walsh, Taylor Olson), 4:43.00; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 4:44.95; 3. Kamehameha, 4:49.98.

Boys 15—1. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club (Michael Caravalho, Ama Kikila-Debibar, Keola Job, Everett Wilmarth, Romio Saena, Makana Spencer), 4:12.37; 2. Kaneohe, 4:21.23; 3. Kumulokahi-Elks, 4:22.33.

Girls 16—1. Kamehameha (Ai Yokogawa, Emily Walker, Kimberly Carroll, Angela Pacheco, Kama Mertyris, Tate-Marie Shishido), 4:42.40; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 4:53.39; 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 4:56.07.

Boys 16—1. I Mua (Eric Burton, William Chan, Oliver Coyle, Chase Yamada, Skyler Nishiyama, Seth Kiefer), 4:06.27; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 4:08.33; 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 4:14.02.

Girls 18—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Kilia Chillingworth, Jasmin Piena, Moanalani Quintanilla, Kady Pascual, Victoria Ann Avilla-Dabin, Shazary Sinclair), 4:38.05; 2. Kamehameha, 4:51.72; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 4:54.82.

Boys 18—1. Alapa Hoe (Jeremy Berano, Keanu Sanford, Jared Tangonan, Luciano Caraang III, Alexander Goetz, Diego Delormier-Guzman), 8:28.61; 2. Waikiki Yacht Club, 8:29.38; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 8:30.51.

Mixed boys and girls 18—1. Alapa Hoe (Keanu Sanford, Deon Alaimaleata, Lei Okuda, Miki Okuda, Isaiah Luczak, Tieri Chun), 4:17.63; 2. I Mua, 4:24.24; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 4:27.55.

Women novice A—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Karen Royer, T Alana, Alyssa Gundersen, Rebecca Charlton, Alison Andrews, Natalie Wallsgrove), 4:36.48; 2. Kaneohe, 4:47.05; 3. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 4:59.64.

Men novice A—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i (Hoku Mayural, Molonai Navarro, Brandon Apela, Peter Fano, Rich Stevenson, Lloyd Canionero), 8:02.41; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys, 8:18.61; 3. Kamehameha, 8:19.33.

Women novice B—1. Hale’iwa Outrigger (Jamie Byarlay, Sarah Kendrick, Tatiana Caballero DeLaFuente, Nancy Felz, Molly Stemmler, Erika Wood), 2:16.34; 2. Lokahi, 2:18.84; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:32.76.

Men novice B—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i (Lloyd Canionero, Robert Agbayani Jr., Rich Stevenson, Von Gardner, Larry Sakamoto, Sam Pa`e), 4:14.45; 2. Kaneohe, 4:20.08; 3. Lokahi, 4:26.10.

Mixed novice B—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Max Dieckmann, Sean Quigley, Tim Clark, Danielle Moschella, Michelle Rocca, Andreia Queima), 2:01.89; 2. Lokahi, 2:02.22; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:04.49.

Women freshmen—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Carissa Rosenbohm, Kelly Godwin, Jackie Mueller, Lauren McDowell, Jessica Kaawa, Chelsea Bizik), 8:34.31; 2. Manu O Ke Kai, 9:56.75; 3. I Mua, 10:09.29.

Men freshmen—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Jaymar Bucasas, Elton Dubois, Carl Bayaca, Shane McCann, Joe Giovannini, Thomas Aukai), 7:56.91; 2. Manu O Ke Kai, 8:16.09; 3. I Mua, 8:22.52.

Women sophomore—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Maria Alexandratos, Alanna Bender, Miyoko Sawai, Sandra Vajcs, Kelsa Gabehart, Erin Gerwig), 8:41.13; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 9:57.29.

Men sophomore—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Franco Arango, Lale Turcan, Kendal Tanigawa, Kulani Ryan, Euan Beer, Kazuhiro Maruko), 7:52.18; 2. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 8:03.94; 3. Kamaha’o Canoe Club, 8:47.62.

Women senior—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Jessica Kaawa, Kelsa Gabehart, Alanna Bender, Dana Gorecki, Lauren McDowell, Chelsea Bizik), 12:27.51; 2. Manu O Ke Kai, 14:13.34; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 14:17.46.

Men senior—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Joe Giovannini, Elton Dubois, Charles Meyer, Kulani Ryan, Kendal Tanigawa, Franco Arango), 11:54.85; 2. Manu O Ke Kai, 12:10.63; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 12:45.67.

Women 40—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Mahina Chillingworth, Jenn Corley, Heather O’Malley, Gordean Kaluahine, Pattie Wright, Makana Clarke), 4:30.63; 2. Kaneohe, 4:34.49; 3. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 4:38.73.

Men 40—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i (Robert Mandich, Harts Afong, Eulogio Mangasar Jr., Al Cambra, Peter Fano, Harry Reyes), 7:58.30; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys, 8:00.87; 3. Lokahi, 8:25.30.

Mixed men and women 40—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Twain Newhart, Simina Van Clief, Todd Finlayson, Dana Gorecki, Rob McOwen, Alyssa Gundersen), 4:01.05; 2. Manu O Ke Kai, 4:08.66; 3. Kaneohe, 4:11.33.

Mixed Men and women 45—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Tanja Robinson, Wende Lee, Leleo Kinimaka, Sam Alama, Betsy Hatter, DJ Oga), 4:07.05; 2. Kai Poha, 4:17.80; 3. Kaneohe, 4:29.85.

Women 50—1. Hale’iwa Outrigger (Folly Murdock, Kimberly Walsh, Chana L. Dimmitt, Deidre M. Erickson, Nancy Budd, Bridget Bourdeau), 4:30.44; 2. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 4:31.72; 3. Kaneohe, 4:36.67.

Men 50—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Greg Pavao, Leleo Kinimaka, Sam Alama, Thomas Schlotman, DJ Oga, Derek Leeloy), 3:42.52; 2. Lokahi, 4:03.98; 3. I Mua, 4:10.15.

Women 55—1. Hale’iwa Outrigger (Kimberly Walsh, Chana L. Dimmitt, Jennifer Smith, Deidre M. Erickson, Isabelle Yao, Gina Letourneur), 4:46.71; 2. Kaneohe, 4:49.11; 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 5:10.00.

Men 55—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i (Andrew Gilman, Dennis Herbel, Manny DeSoto, Steve Auwae, Eric Soo, Ken Williams), 4:08.33; 2. Lokahi, 4:12.11; 3. Kaneohe, 4:22.99.

Mixed men and women 55—1. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club (Barry Whitfield, Randy Chun, Donna Moore, Julie Wheeler, Monica Liederbach, Ken Montpas), 4:29.87; 2. Kaneohe, 4:38.74; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 4:42.66.

Women 60—1. Kaneohe (Lois Lake, KC Kaaihue, Harriette Davidson, Renee Smith, Annette Myers, Lyn Dubbs), 2:10.68; 2. Manu O Ke Kai, 2:21.44; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:29.46.

Men 60—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i (Manny DeSoto, Andrew Gilman, Tommy Kealiinohomoku, Tim Mauchly, Bruce DeSoto Sr, Eric Soo), 1:48.84; 2. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 1:52.56; 3. Kaneohe, 1:53.83.

Mixed men and women 60—1. Kaneohe (John Russo, Cynthia Hopkins, Renee Smith, Lois Lake, Kimo Lake Jr, Ben Smith), 2:02.29; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:07.21; 3. Olelo O Keola, 2:10.03.

Women 65—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i (Loke Angeles, Big Guns Kurshals, Carol Ryan, Luwella Leonardi, Georgia Campbell, Bea Anderson), 2:39.63; 2. Manu O Ke Kai, 2:42.32; 3. Kai Poha, 2:53.55.

Men 65—1. Lokahi (Marshall Giddens, Burt Shimoda, Randy Fernandez, Lee Buhre, Larry Sakagawa, Mort Watson), 1:57.86; 2. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club, 2:00.32; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i, 2:01.75.

Women open four—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Sue Brown, Napualani Lealaimatafao, Amber Fischer, Sunshine Smith), 4:46.43; 2. Kaneohe, 4:57.35; 3. Kamaha’o Canoe Club, 4:59.41.

Men open four—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Tim Vierra, Thomas Rubel, Michael Kauakahi, Glenn Williams), 4:07.09; 2. Kamehameha, 4:14.73; 3. Kaneohe. 4:26.86.

Mixed men and women—1. Kaneohe (Keoni Anderson, Kiana Parrilla, Nai Kahale, Diana McClain, Nae Mcfadden, Precious Vincent), 3:55.85; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys, 3:58.85; 3. Alapa Hoe, 4:05.76.