KAILUA-KONA — The summer is nearly here, so it’s ready, set, go time for the regatta season.
Kai Ehitu’s Papa Kimitete Memorial Regatta kicks off the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association schedule Saturday at Kailua Bay.
“You always want to start the year out on the right foot and set the tone for the season,” Kai Ehitu head coach Richard Kimitete said. “It’s a big responsibility, but we have been doing this so many years. There’s not a lot of stress. Mom and dad taught us so well when we were growing up.”
It’s the 34th edition of the race named after Bernard Pierre “Papa” Kimitete, and celebrates the life of the Kai Ehitu founder. He passed on Oct. 5, 2002.
“That’s a big thing for us — respecting and representing him,” said his son Richard Kimitete. “We always try to honor him the best we can. He’s the one that started this and we want to keep it going.”
It will be the first of three regattas in Kona waters. Keauhou will host next week, followed by Kai Opua on June 11. Five consecutive weeks in Hilo follow, including the Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii Championships closing out the paddling action on the Big Island.
The state championships are Aug. 6 on Oahu.
This early in the season, there is still a lot of uncertainty and clubs are still figuring out exactly what they have. The transition from the school year, among other things, supplies a trickling stream of new and returning paddlers.
“It always feels like a rebuilding year,” Kimitete said with a laugh. “It’s just about finding a flow with returnees and new paddlers.”
There is little uncertainty that Kai Ehitu will have a strong presence in the youth races. The club has been dominant in many of the events, medaling in four (Boys 12, silver; Boys 13, bronze; Girls 14, silver; Boys 14, silver) at the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association State Championships in Hilo last year.
“Papa was all about the youth. He always told us to take care of the young paddlers,” Richard Kimitete said. “I think we have been able to do that.”
Kai Ehitu finished third in Division AAA (13-20 events) at the state championships, with Puna taking first and Keauhou following with silver. The 1-2-3 finish spoke volumes to the strength of competition during the Moku season, which saw some parity surface last season when Puna snapped Kai Opua’s seven-year Division A (21-42 events) title reign. At states, Kai Opua competed in AAAA — the highest division — keeping the club from competing against their Moku brethren.
A lot of eyes on opening day will be on Kai Opua — which can usually boast the largest volume of paddlers during the season, competing consistently in nearly all the events.
“I expect us to maintain, but we like to see all the clubs grow. It’s good for the sport. We are competitors on the water, but friends away from it,” Kai Opua club president Bo Campos said. “We had some hardships, but all we can do right now is pick up our paddles and get at it.”
Kai Opua will be looking to find that familiar feeling of winning on the water, but there will be some changes. Mel Kelekolio is debuting as the women’s coach and has the full confidence of Campos.
“How we are going to do? I don’t know yet, but I’d love to see our women do well,” Campos said. “I think Mel is going to do a great job for us. If they could break some records or have some undefeated crews, it would be incredible.”
So with uncertainty the theme for the first week, sitting back and enjoying the sights is probably the best tactic.
“It’s so visual. You can see everyone on the pier, yelling and screaming for their clubs,” Campos said. “It’s just a beautiful sport.”
