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Kawaihae wahine conquer Alenuihaha Channel
By Wayne Joseph
Tribune-Herald Correspondent
Canoe paddling can be physically demanding and requires a powerful upper body and strong legs, but veteran Kawaihae Canoe Club paddling coach Manny Veincent believes a positive attitude is even more valuable.
A wahine crew from Kawaihae recently made its third crossing of the Alenuihaha Channel since 2004. That's no easy task for any gender to conquer.
The ocean between Kawaihae and Maui, known as the Alenuihaha Channel, sometimes receives wind gusts with up to five times more velocity than the surrounding waters, making it one of the most dangerous channel crossings in the Pacific.
Veincent recalls hearing stories from kapuna of how Kohala residents sometimes crossed the Alenuihaha Channel to attend parties or family gatherings on Maui.
"It is a very rough crossing and women crews have never done it," he said. "It goes against the grain."
Veincent's dream of putting together an all-female crew came true in 2004 when they made the journey to Nu'u on Maui.
"On our first all-women crossing I chose Nu'u, an old Hawaiian fishing village, because it was a straight shot from Kohala to Maui," Veincent said. "On the second crossing I wanted to learn about angles, so we went to Makenna, which was further away than Nu'u and trickier to get there."
The third all-women's crew crossing to Hana, Maui, came Oct. 17. It left from Keokea Beach Park at 6:55 a.m., after waiting an hour for the winds to die down.
"The crossing to Hana had always been on my mind. I sailed there in an outrigger canoe, but always wanted to do it with an all women's crew," Veincent said. "I handpicked all the ladies, and I don't necessarily pick them for their athletic ability. I prefer women with good attitudes."
One of those handpicked paddlers was Izzy Calaau-Catrett, who was making her third crossing with Veincent.
"The morning was totally awesome with swells at 4 to 5 feet," Calaau-Catrett said. "When we got closer to Maui the current was coming in and the swells got to be 8 to 10 feet. It was pretty scary at times."
Two escort boats were used. On board were 13 relief paddlers, four deck hands, a video photographer and Veincent.
Paddlers in seats 1 through 5 were rotated out of the canoe every 45 minutes and the steersperson, Kim Kimi, was relieved after 4 hours with Veincent's daughter, Kahea Veincent, taking over steering duties.
After six hours of paddling and with land in sight, the channel waters became more difficult as the currents began pushing the canoe south, away from land.
"The Hawaiian community of Hana met us on the beach with blowing of the conch shell, water and refreshments," paddler Kim Takata said. "They helped us bring the canoe on shore, wash it and prepare to ship it home on the barge. We offered puolos as gifts of thanks."
The cost of the adventure was around $10,000, which included two escort boats and the three sets of crews. Veincent received a grant from Parker Ranch, which paid for a portion of the third all-women's crew voyage and the women fund-raised to get the rest of the money.
"It took us about a year to prepare for this crossing and we had to train steady three to four times a week," Veincent said. "It takes a tough mental attitude to do this and for me it was very spiritual.
Veincent takes pride in connecting to his Hawaiian heritage through canoe paddling.
"This crossing was a rediscovery of who we are and where we're going," he said.
Wahine crew
Kawaihae club's Alenuihaha Channel paddlers: Rachel Gillis, Ginger Tennant, Eunice Veincent, Lisa Ebrahimi, Kim Takata and Kim Kimi.
Relief paddlers: Eva Conway, Nicki Ludwig, Nadine Dochin, KC Stallsmith, Carol Laau-Silva, Louise Muskat, Gloria Simon, Faelyn Jardine, Ava Williams, Katherine Groves, Trisha Tom, and Kalaau-Catrett with relief steersperson Kahea Veincent.
A wahine crew from Kawaihae recently made its third crossing of the Alenuihaha Channel since 2004. That's no easy task for any gender to conquer.
The ocean between Kawaihae and Maui, known as the Alenuihaha Channel, sometimes receives wind gusts with up to five times more velocity than the surrounding waters, making it one of the most dangerous channel crossings in the Pacific.
"It is a very rough crossing and women crews have never done it," he said. "It goes against the grain."
Veincent's dream of putting together an all-female crew came true in 2004 when they made the journey to Nu'u on Maui.
"On our first all-women crossing I chose Nu'u, an old Hawaiian fishing village, because it was a straight shot from Kohala to Maui," Veincent said. "On the second crossing I wanted to learn about angles, so we went to Makenna, which was further away than Nu'u and trickier to get there."
The third all-women's crew crossing to Hana, Maui, came Oct. 17. It left from Keokea Beach Park at 6:55 a.m., after waiting an hour for the winds to die down.
"The crossing to Hana had always been on my mind. I sailed there in an outrigger canoe, but always wanted to do it with an all women's crew," Veincent said. "I handpicked all the ladies, and I don't necessarily pick them for their athletic ability. I prefer women with good attitudes."
One of those handpicked paddlers was Izzy Calaau-Catrett, who was making her third crossing with Veincent.
"The morning was totally awesome with swells at 4 to 5 feet," Calaau-Catrett said. "When we got closer to Maui the current was coming in and the swells got to be 8 to 10 feet. It was pretty scary at times."
Two escort boats were used. On board were 13 relief paddlers, four deck hands, a video photographer and Veincent.
Paddlers in seats 1 through 5 were rotated out of the canoe every 45 minutes and the steersperson, Kim Kimi, was relieved after 4 hours with Veincent's daughter, Kahea Veincent, taking over steering duties.
After six hours of paddling and with land in sight, the channel waters became more difficult as the currents began pushing the canoe south, away from land.
"The Hawaiian community of Hana met us on the beach with blowing of the conch shell, water and refreshments," paddler Kim Takata said. "They helped us bring the canoe on shore, wash it and prepare to ship it home on the barge. We offered puolos as gifts of thanks."
The cost of the adventure was around $10,000, which included two escort boats and the three sets of crews. Veincent received a grant from Parker Ranch, which paid for a portion of the third all-women's crew voyage and the women fund-raised to get the rest of the money.
"It took us about a year to prepare for this crossing and we had to train steady three to four times a week," Veincent said. "It takes a tough mental attitude to do this and for me it was very spiritual.
Veincent takes pride in connecting to his Hawaiian heritage through canoe paddling.
"This crossing was a rediscovery of who we are and where we're going," he said.
Wahine crew
Kawaihae club's Alenuihaha Channel paddlers: Rachel Gillis, Ginger Tennant, Eunice Veincent, Lisa Ebrahimi, Kim Takata and Kim Kimi.
Relief paddlers: Eva Conway, Nicki Ludwig, Nadine Dochin, KC Stallsmith, Carol Laau-Silva, Louise Muskat, Gloria Simon, Faelyn Jardine, Ava Williams, Katherine Groves, Trisha Tom, and Kalaau-Catrett with relief steersperson Kahea Veincent.
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