KAILUA-KONA — Depth was the name of the game at the first all schools BIIF paddling regatta at Kailua Bay on Saturday.
Kealakehe had just enough to pull away for two wins in the three varsity races, capturing gold in the mixed and girls races. The three-time defending BIIF boys champion Keaau continued its reign in the half-mile race.
“Big improvement from last weekend,” Kealakehe co-head coach Bo Campos said. “We have got a good bunch of kids this year and it was good to see all the teams out.”
The regatta featured heats for the boys and mixed races, but not the girls, making it a one-shot deal for the Lady Waveriders crew of Kawehi Pelekane, Olivia McClure, Trinity Ballesteros, Paula Wigzell, Natalie Binham and Able Tan. Their time of 4 minutes and 34 seconds pushed them past the finish line just a second ahead of Kamehameha. Parker finished third at 4:39.
In the boys race, the Cougar crew of Kenny Simons, Jim Hisaiah, Ceres Lester, Michael Tenario, Calvin Carlos and Solan Martines-Oda used a time of 3:54 for its second win of the young season.
While some teams opted to switch paddlers out, Kealakehe stuck with the same crew, finishing second at 3:58. Waiakea (4:01) was third.
The Waveriders used a different strategy in the mixed race, sprinkling in some of its JV paddlers in the first heat to help alleviate the exhaustion — a game plan made up on the spot.
Hanalei Akazawa, Kawehi Pelekane, Hiram Anakalea, Anthony Vierra, Trinity Ballesteros, Abcde Tan paddled to a comfortable win with a time of 4:08. Kamehameha (4:13) finished second, follow by Waiakea (4:15).
“I wasn’t expecting it, but the kids pulled it off,” Campos said. “Some schools have depth, some don’t but it is something we have to prepare for.”
Kamehameha (Leicha White, Charity Kahai, Jukio Ishii, Jeff Watanabe, Jaden Hisashima, Kukui Haumea) won the non-scoring varsity race, Keaau (Skyden Fukunaga, Zach Dorn, Joseph MacDonald, Richard DeAguiar, John Dacusan, Jacob Lott) pulled out the JV boys race and Waiakea (Kaleki Pakani-Flores, Lanihuli Kanahele, Alana Pederson-Kamaka, Chelyn Fontes-Pai, Tia Kualii, Kaui Pakani-Tsukiyama) came out on top in the girls JV competition.
Although there is room for improvement, Kealakehe’s performance was no cause for concern for Campos. However, the numbers on the water were. The JV boys race featured just two boats, and the turnout overall left much to be desired. Campos — who is also the Kai Opua club president — hopes in the coming years that will start trending a different direction, not only for high school, but also the Moku O Hawaii season.
“This sport is part of our culture and the kids are the only way we are going to preserve it,” he said. “The more we get kids involved, the more we can perpetuate it.”
The next BIIF meet is at Hilo Bay after the New Year on Jan. 9.
