Cheryl Villegas likes it when there’s a dogfight on the water in a Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta, and the overall winner remains a mystery until the last race. ADVERTISING Cheryl Villegas likes it when there’s a
Cheryl Villegas likes it when there’s a dogfight on the water in a Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta, and the overall winner remains a mystery until the last race.
She’s the longtime Kai Opua women’s coach and also competes in the women open four, the third-to-last race of the day, so Villegas is influential instructing from the sand and paddling in a canoe.
Every point helped and Kai Opua’s depth came into play as the West Hawaii powerhouse held off host Puna, 205 to 201 points, to claim the A Division (15-40 events) title on a scorching Fourth of July Saturday at a congested Hilo Bay.
Kai Opua competed in the full 40 events and Puna fielded 34 crews. The host club was unable to pick up enough points despite remaining undefeated with its women 60, men 50 and mixed 55 crews.
Kai Ehitu (35 events) was third with 161 points, and was followed by Keauhou (36), 142; Kawaihae (40), 112; Keaukaha (40), 104; Kamehameha (27), 102; and Paddlers of Laka (21), 55.
Keoua Honaunau (14 events) took the B Division (1-14 races) with 45 points, and was followed by Waikoloa (14), 44; Waiakea, (6), 25; Hanakahi (6), 19; Milolii (3), 13; and Kailana (7), 3.
Due to computer problems from Hilo Bay, Moku O Hawaii was unable to send race results, which will run in Monday’s edition.
Last week at Keaukaha’s regatta, Puna (33 races) knocked off Kai Opua (40 events), 225 to 221 points, snapping a streak of 42 consecutive race-day victories, dating back to 2010.
“It was really good today,” Villegas said. “We had mean clubs to fight against to stay on top of the dog pile. It took all of us, not one particular group, and that really bonded us. It was awesome that it took all of us to make it happen.”
Villegas pointed out that there’s nothing like a good start, especially being in a race with Puna, which has built a reputation for closing hard at the finish line.
“Typically, we had good starts and Puna is known to have good finishes,” she said. “If we can have a good start, we have a shot to hold them off at the end.”
One reason Kai Opua isn’t running over everyone like in past years is that there’s more competition for points in the youth races, particularly from Kai Ehitu.
Still, like Kai Ehitu, Kai Opua’s strength is its youth program. Uncle Bo Campos is the youth coach, and he has a dog in every race, not so for Puna, which fields no crew for boys 14, 15, 16 and 18, and girls 16 and 18.
“If not for our kids, Puna would have gotten us for sure,” Villegas said. “Kai Ehitu weans on our kids and we’re not pulling in as many points. That’s why it takes the whole club, and that’s what I’m kind of for.”
In fact, Villegas calls 2008 her favorite year. That’s when Kai Opua won the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state Division AAA (13-20 events) title; Keauhou took the AA (7-12) crown; and Kawaihae seized the A (1-6) championship.
It was a historic year for Moku O Hawaii, the first time an association took three of the four state championships. The HCRA introduced the state Division AAAA (21-42) in 2007.
“I like it when our talent is spread out and we can all compete for state titles on the same beach,” Villegas said. “That’s a good thing.”
It was more than just the Puna regatta. The Saturday race fell on the Fourth of July, with fireworks shot into the night sky at 8 p.m. at Hilo Bay and Kailua Bay and an anticipated drive home for the West Hawaii clubs.
There are just two more regattas left before the HCRA state championships, which will be held Aug. 1 at Hilo Bay for the first time since 2009. (Moku O Hawaii will have three lanes in each of the 42 events.)
The John Kekua/Kamehameha regatta will be held on Saturday, and the 10th annual Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championships are slated for July 18 at Hilo Bay.
Unbeaten crews
There are two races left and seven crews are still undefeated: Kawaihae’s mixed 12, Kai Ehitu’s boys 14, Keauhou’s men 40, Kai Opua’s women 65, Puna’s women 60, Puna’s men 50, and Puna’s mixed 55.
