Following Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i’s excruciating two-point loss two weeks ago in its home waters fronting Maili Beach, the Waianae-based club needed a strong effort on Saturday to end the Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a season on a positive note.
Coach Lisa Ka‘aekuahiwi and her staff helped motivate the club, which “showed up” at the right time. Ka Mo‘i won five of the day’s first eight races and finished with a regatta-high 11 wins as the consistent all-around effort was strong enough to net the club a sixth title in seven years at the Hui Wa‘a Championship Regatta held in the calm waters of Keehi Lagoon.
“The main thing today was to keep putting points on the board, we started hammering and hitting our goals from the start,” said Ka‘aekuahiwi, whose father, Rona, started the club 40 years ago. “We worked on different combinations for different crews because sometimes that’s all it takes. You’ve got to use the best of the best; in order to go to states, we needed to take advantage of these championships.”
Ka Mo‘i amassed 95 points to clinch the AAA division (25-39 crews entered) ahead of Manu O Ke Kai (77 points), Kaneohe (36 points) and Ka Mamalahoe (31 points). The victory was Ka Mo‘i’s sixth overall triumph of the summer regatta campaign; Manu O Ke Kai won the season opener and added two more victories leading up to Saturday’s championship sandwiched between five consecutive wins by Ka Mo‘i.
Manu O Ke Kai won 10 races throughout the day and created some drama late as the orange-and-white clad club won five of the regatta’s final seven races to chip away at the 31-point advantage Ka Mo‘i had built with eight races to go. However, Ka Mo’i hung on to an 18-point lead heading into the final race to wrap up the victory.
“The club came together and got it done. This is our 40th year and getting a championship helps to celebrate it,” Ka‘aekuahiwi said. “Everyone was gunning for us, and the same thing can be said for Manu. They’re a tough competitor so I’m very happy with the results today.”
The dynastic Waianae-based club has supplanted Kaneohe — which won seven consecutive and eight of nine titles during a run that ended in 2011 – as the organization’s top club in the large division.
Paddlers enjoyed clear skies until 1:15 p.m. when the first wave of showers associated with Tropical Storm Darby moved methodically over the south shore. The rain cooled things off for paddlers and spectators, although storm runoff turned the lagoon from its usual murky gray to a light brown tone midway through the afternoon.
More than 1,600 competitors ranging in age from 12-and-under to 65-and-above represented Hui Wa‘a’s 17 active clubs in 42 races spanning a quarter mile to 1.5 miles. Winning crews earned five points toward the team standings, while second-, third- and fourth-place finishers were awarded three, two and one points, respectively.
In addition to battling for championship hardware in individual races, crews used the regatta as a final opportunity to notch spots in the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta scheduled for Aug. 6 at Keehi Lagoon. The top three crews from each Hui Wa‘a event earned automatic berths in the state race based on cumulative point standings, and with so many crews on the bubble of qualifying, Saturday’s competition carried dual importance.
The Waikiki Beach Boys turned in another consistent performance buoyed by seven victories and captured the AA division (13-24 crews entered) championship for the sixth consecutive season. Waikiki logged 56 points and bested I Mua (28 points) in the medium division while also finishing tied for third overall despite entering 23 fewer crews than Ka Mo‘i.
The Beach Boys’ freshmen and sophomore women’s crews completed undefeated seasons Saturday afternoon via convincing victories. Waikiki’s men’s novice A squad appeared to win and clinch an undefeated season, but after studying the video replay, officials ruled that the crew had buried the turn flag, thus earning a disqualification; Ka Mo‘i ended up winning that particular race as a result of the ruling.
Lokahi tallied 26 points to lead the A division (6-12 crews entered) ahead of Windward Kai (22 points) and Kamehameha (16 points).
I Mua’s boys 13 crew also completed an undefeated season with a victory on Saturday, and at the time, broke a string of four consecutive race wins by Ka Mo‘i early in the day.
OHCRA Championships postponed
The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association’s Championship Regatta, scheduled for today at Keehi Lagoon, has been postponed.
The organization convened a meeting of its Executive Board and was awaiting a Saturday evening address by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to determine if Keehi Lagoon — as well as other Oahu parks — would remain open on Sunday.
Three-time defending champion Hui Nalu is aiming to supplement its successful run while perennial powers Kailua, Lanikai and Outrigger also vie for the prestigious title.
RESULTS
Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a Hui Wa’a Championship
At Ke’ehi Lagoon
Saturday
Team
AAA
1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 95. 2, Manu O Ke Kai, 77. 3, Kaneohe 46. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 41. AA 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 56. 2, I Mua 28. 3, Kumulokahi-Elks 9. 4, ‘Alapa Hoe 8. A
1, Lokahi 26. 2, Windward Kai 22. 3, Kamehameha 16. 4, Hale’iwa Outrigger 12. 5, Olelo O Keola 10. 6, Kalihi Kai 7. 7, Kai Poha 5. 8, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 2.
1⁄4 mile
Specials: 1, Kaneohe 2:07.2 (Kira Wasson, Nai Kahale, Paka Robles, Kawena Esperas, Kai Ea Morton, Jonathan Aranton). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 2:18.3. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:29.5. 4, Kai Poha 2:52.3. 5, Hale’iwa Outrigger 3:08.5. 6, Windward Kai 3:35.0. Girls 12: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:31.2 (Brookie Pusins-Kaaekuahiwi, Sasa Judd, Nalia Newman, Keossie Paris Bailey, Hailey Higa, Catie Muraoka). 2, Windward Kai 2:34.7. 3, I Mua 2:37.1. 4, Hale’iwa Outrigger 2:41.4. 5, Kalihi Kai 2:50.0. 6, Kaneohe 3:09.6. 7, Kumulokahi-Elks 3:14.0. Boys 12: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:18.5 (Pono Reyes, Tama Nakoa, Riley Williams, Hau Gilman, Big Boy Manaku Jr., Jestic Rose). 2, Hale’iwa Outrigger 2:23.2. 3, I Mua 2:24.9. 4, Windward Kai 2:35.1. 5, Kalihi Kai 2:36.3. 6, Manu O Ke Kai 2:39.8. 7, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 2:46.1. 8, Kumulokahi-Elks 2:52.5. Mixed 12: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:25.3 (Daisey Kaauwai, Brookie Pusins-Kaaekuahiwi, Jestic Rose, Tama Nakoa, Jes Rose, Big Boy Manaku Jr.). 2, I Mua 2:32.8. 3, Hale’iwa Outrigger 2:42.9. 4, Windward Kai 2:52.8. 5, Kumulokahi-Elks 3:30.2. 6, Kalihi Kai 3:48.6. Girls 13: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:18.2 (Casie Muraoka, Shyshy Silva, Briani Rosa-Sinclair, Kale`a Nelson, Grace Daguro, Alina Mauai). 2, Windward Kai 2:22.6. 3, Kaneohe 2:23.7. 4, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 2:36.2. 5, Kumulokahi-Elks 2:41.8. 6, Pukana O Ke Kai 3:04.7. Boys 13: 1, I Mua 2:14.9 (Kainoa Hernando, Riley Barretto, Austin Cadina, Noah Yamane, Aaron Thomas, Kahiau Balbarino). 2, Kumulokahi-Elks 2:21.9. 3, Kalihi Kai 2:23.7. 4, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 2:24.1. 5, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:26.5. 6, Windward Kai 2:37.0. 7, Kaneohe 2:41.4. 8, Hale’iwa Outrigger 2:43.0. Girls 14: 1, Kamehameha 2:16.4 (Madelyn Weaver, Arianna Radona, Abcedy Lemalu, Kailee Jackson, Shannah Mau, Arabella Dolores). 2, I Mua 2:20.7. 3, Windward Kai 2:23.8. 4, Manu O Ke Kai 2:27.5. 5, Kai Poha 2:28.8. 6, Kaneohe 2:30.3. 7, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:36.2. 8, Kumulokahi-Elks 2:41.1. Boys 14: 1, I Mua 2:03.2 (Kahiau Balbarino, Kenny Ireland, Caleb Himuro, Riley Barretto, Noah Yamane, Daniel Domai). 2, Kaneohe 2:09.7. 3, Kumulokahi-Elks 2:11.5. 4, Kai Poha 2:19.6. 5, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 2:25.1. 6, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:55.6. Women Novice B: 1, Windward Kai 2:10.4 (Vanessa Dempsey, Darnell Silva, Jenna Folks, Janine Nagle, Tiffany Garcia, Elizabeth Turner). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 2:13.2. 3, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 2:13.6. 4, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:14.0. 5, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 2:17.4. 6, Hale’iwa Outrigger 2:21.3. Mixed Novice B: 1, Lokahi 2:02.3 (Lynn Asaoka, Anton Yang, Sarah Tajima-Ueki, Hannah Gaerlan, Matthew DeKneef, Will Post). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 2:03.0. 3, Olelo O Keola 2:03.7. 4, Kaneohe 2:04.8. 5, Windward Kai 2:10.8. 6, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 2:19.2. 7, I Mua 2:19.6. 1⁄2 mile
Girls 15: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:28.4 (Keahi Mayural, River Kealoha, Michaela Daguro, Briani Rosa-Sinclair, Hailey Williams, Chaella Limary). 2, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:36.1. 3, Windward Kai 4:36.9. 4, Kamehameha 4:39.1. 5, I Mua 4:58.8. 6, Kumulokahi-Elks 5:06.5. 7, Kaneohe 5:24.2. Boys 15: 1, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 3:57.5 (Noah Souki, Keola Job, Romio Saena, Michael Carvalho, Andrew Dunn, Ama Kikila-Debibar). 2, Windward Kai 4:06.0. 3, Kaneohe 4:11.8. 4, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:31.2. 5, Manu O Ke Kai 4:32.0. Girls 16: 1, Kamehameha 4:29.5 (Madelyn Weaver, Tawnie Tran, Kacie Kaneshiro, Kimberly Carroll, Angela Pacheco, Judithanne Young). 2, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:33.6. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:38.3. 4, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:53.6. 5, Kaneohe 5:04.4. Boys 16: 1, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 3:55.2 (Ama Kikila-Debibar, Romio Saena, Keola Job, Andrew Nishimura, Michael Carvalho, Jonathan Roig). 2, Kumulokahi-Elks 4:01.2. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:11.3. 4, I Mua 4:13.9. 5, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:23.6. Girls 18: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:21.9 (Keahi Mayural, Kekai Kaaekuahiwi, Michaela Daguro, Hailey Williams, Helena Bakutis, Maddy Crump). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:27.1. 3, Kamehameha 4:29.0. 4, I Mua 4:32.5. 5, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:33.8. 6, ‘Alapa Hoe 4:49.8. 7, Kalihi Kai 5:28.0. Mixed 18: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 4:04.5 (Kekai Kaaekuahiwi, Kalei Aweau, Jonathan Hubbard, Maddy Crump, Helena Bakutis, Kuhio Kaaekuahiwi). 2, Kaneohe 4:48.5. 3, Windward Kai 4:10.6. 4, I Mua 4:17.2. 5, ‘Alapa Hoe 4:23.9. 6, Manu O Ke Kai 4:24.9. 7, Kamehameha 4:25.7. 8, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 4:26.9. 9, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:51.5.
Women Novice A: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:16.9 (Rebecca Charlton, Alison Andrews, Brie Schwing, Rachel James, Erin Bainbridge, Andreia Monteiro Queima). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:34.0. 3, Lokahi 4:35.4. 4, I Mua 4:38.5. 5, Kaneohe 5:03.0. 6, ‘Alapa Hoe 5:12.5. Men Novice B: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 3:50.0 (Dave Bandy, Josh Jackson, Matt Barberi, Steven Bugenske, Maika Iha, James Face). 2, Lokahi 3:58.5. 3, Olelo O Keola 3:59.8. 4, Kaneohe 4:01.6. 5, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:27.3. Mixed 40: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 4:05.2 (Berta Guzman, Doug Osborn, Darryl Ah Mau, Nikki Roy, Alexia Lopez, Moku Sanborn). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:06.5. 3, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:06.9. 4, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:12.5. 5, ‘Alapa How 4:16.3. 6, Kaneohe 4:29.1. 7, Kai Poha 4:35.0. 8, I Mua 4:37.6. Mixed 45: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 4:10.4 (Mahina Chillingworth, Leleo Kinimaka, Greg Pavao, Tanja Robinson, John Hoogsteden, Barbara Souki). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:15.3. 3, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:16.5. 4, Kumulokahi-Elks 4:18.3. 5, Kaneohe 4:19.7. 6, Kai Poha 4:24.6. 7, ‘Alapa Hoe 4:31.4. 8, Kamehameha 4:44.9. 9, Olelo O Keola 4:46.7. 10, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 4:49.0. 11, I Mua 4:49.9. Women 50: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:22.3 (Al Momoa, Margaret D’Entremont, Tammy Teixeira, Ipo Kaeo, Dee/Deedee Kila, Julia Tuinei). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:27.8. 3, Kaneohe 4:31.2. 4, Hale’iwa Outrigger 4:35.9. Men 50: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 3:43.4 (Edward Kama, Leleo Kinimaka, Darryl Ah Mau, Greg Pavao, Derek Leeloy, Thomas Schlotman). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 3:58.7. 3, Lokahi 3:59.9. 4, Olelo O Keola 4:02.6. 5, I Mua 4:18.5. 6, ‘Alapa Hoe 4:31.3. Women 55: 1, Hale’iwa Outrigger 4:37.1 (Chana L. Dimmitt, Deidre M. Erickson, Isabelle Yao, Folly Murdock, Gina Letourneur, Annette Smith). 2, Kaneohe 4:42.9. 3, ‘Alapa Hoe 4:49.1. 4, Manu O Ke Kai 4:53.9. Men 55: 1, Lokahi 4:04.3 (Allan Nagamine, Wendell Balai, Ivan Shigaki, Walter Oshiro, Mark Inouye, Patrick Aweau). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:10.4. 3, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:21.5. Mixed 55: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 4:16.2 (Edward Kama, Faith Craycroft, Jane Thomsen-Hayes, Thomas Schlotman, Derek Leeloy, Cindy Broc). 2, Kaneohe 4:29.7. 3, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:30.7. 4, ‘Alapa Hoe 4:31.4. 5, Kamehameha 4:42.1. 6, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:47.4. Women 60: 1, Kaneohe 4:44.7 (Kuuipo Mcfadden-Shimizu, Renee Smith, Annette Myers, Lyn Dubbs, Harriette Davidson, KC Kaaihue). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:48.8. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 5:12.6. 4, Kai Poha 5:19.6. Men 60: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 04:02.7 (Kuuipo Mcfadden-Shimizu, Renee Smith, Annette Myers, Lyn Dubbs, Harriette Davidson, KC Kaaihue). 2, Lokahi 4:05.8. 3, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:22.5. Mixed 60: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:27.6 (Terrie Kaleohano, Mapu Auwae, Maralyn Kurshals, Steve Auwae, Eric Soo, Bruce DeSoto Sr). 2, Kaneohe 4:33.9. 3, Olelo O Keola 4:39.7. 4, Kai Poha 4:58.5. 5, ‘Alapa Hoe 5:04.5. Women 65: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 5:13.5 (Carol Hetland, Dawn Peerson, Linda Cox, Jeanne Dilcher, Lyndy Gasior, Susan Luehrs). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 5:48.1. Men 65: 1, Lokahi 4:10.4 (Ronnie Ayau, Michael Cushnie, Ka’ai Fernandez, Larry Sakagawa, Marshall Giddens, Lee Buhre). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:15.2. Women Open Four: 1, Kalihi Kai 4:31.9 (Ama Keama, Bernie Suafoa-Tyrell, JoJo White, Jessica Robins). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:48.8. 3, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:49.0. 4, Kaneohe 4:55.0. 5, I Mua 5:00.4. 6, Manu O Ke Kai 5:11.3. 7, Lokahi 5:12.8. 8, Pukana O Ke Kai 5:25.8. 9, ‘Alapa Hoe 5:41.4. Men Open Four: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 3:54.3 (Ben Wilkinson, Harry Cummings, Paki Lagunte, Jamie Mitchell). 2, Kaneohe 3:58.0. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:05.9. 4, I Mua 4:07.3. 5, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 4:10.0. 6, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:20.6. 7, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 4:29.7. 8, Kalihi Kai 4:34.6. Mixed Men and Women: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 3:56.8 (April Nakayama, Max Dieckmann, Lale Turcan, Allegra Thompson Jose, Stefanie Grammer, Tim Clark). 2, Kaneohe 3:58.2. 3, ‘Alapa Hoe 4:01.5. 4, Lokahi 4:08.6. 5, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:09.1. 6, Manu O Ke Kai 4:14.8. 7, Kai Poha 4:18.8. 8, Hale’iwa Outrigger 4:23.0. 9, Olelo O Keola 4:24.1. 10, I Mua 4:24.4. 11, Pukana O Ke Kai 4:39.9. 1 mile
Boys 18: 1, Kaneohe 8:06.2 (Jonathan Aranton, Kekai Kiaaina, Branden Frey, Isaiah Nache, Kawena Esperas, Matthew Risso). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 8:17.2. 3, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 8:25.4. 4, I Mua 8:33.4. 5, Kalihi Kai 8:58.6. 6, Manu O Ke Kai 9:01.5. Women 40: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 8:54.7 (Jenn Corley, Makana Clarke, Carmen Van Kralingen, Heather O’Malley, Barbara Souki, Gordean Kaluahine). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:55.8. 3, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 9:12.1. 4, Kaneohe 9:21.9. 5, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 9:32.1. Men 40: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 7:59.9 (Johnny Agoo, Moku Sanborn, Daniel Aitchison, Derf Ibrao, Jay Griffin, Richard Kamikawa). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 8:13.8. 3, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:16.8. 4, Kaneohe 8:25.8. 5, Lokahi 8:37.5. 6, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 8:59.8. Men Novice A: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 8:11.0 (Glin Nelson, Rich Stevenson, Lloyd Canionero, Craig Sinclair JR, Darrell Manlapit, Bubba Stevenson). 2, Kaneohe 8:13.9. 3, Olelo O Keola 8:18.8. 4, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 8:38.8. 5, Lokahi 8:54.3. Women Freshmen: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:36.4 (Jen Polcer, Chelsea Bizik, Sandra Vajcs, Lauren McDowell, Aulani Hall, Dana Gorecki). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 9:23.6. 3, I Mua 9:38.4. 4, Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club 10:15.3. 5, Kaneohe 10:52.4. Men Freshmen: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 7:49.0 (Thomas Rubel, Glenn Williams, Brian Amantiad, Tim Vierra, Tavita Maea, David Fuga). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 7:52.5. 3, ‘Alapa Hoe 8:08.4. Women Sophomore: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:58.6 (Alison Andrews, Aulani Hall, Brie Schwing, Andreia Monteiro Queima, Eko Lapp, Rebecca Charlton). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 9:29.2. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 10:01.9. 4, Kamaha’o Canoe Club 10:14.0.
Men Sophomore: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:04.0 (Eric Ichinose, Steve Gerwig, Thomas Murtaugh, Franco Arango, Kazuhiro Maruko, Joe Giovannini). 2, Kamehameha 8:14.0. 3, Kai Poha 8:33.8. 4, Olelo O Keola 8:34.8. 5, Windward Kai 9:13.0. 11⁄2 mile Women Senior: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 13:11.0 (Eko Lapp, Chelsea Bizik, Sandra Vajcs, Lauren McDowell, Dana Gorecki, Jen Polcer). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 14:12.8. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 14:32.8. 4, Kaneohe 14:52.2. 5, I Mua 15:00.1. 6, Kai Poha 15:16.5. Men Senior: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 11:30.2 (Daniel Aitchison, Glenn Williams, Paki Lagunte, Tim Vierra, Tavita Maea, Ben Wilkinson). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 11:49.2. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 12:35.3. 4, ‘Alapa Hoe 12:40.8. 5, lokahi 12:57.6. 6, Kamehameha 13:06.4. 7, I Mua 13:10.4. 8, Kaneohe 13:12.6. 9, Kumulokahi-Elks 13:30.1.