Paddling: Kai Opua sets the pace at season-opener

KAILUA-KONA — There was some sunshine, a bit of rain and an overflow of excitement as upwards of 1,000 paddlers and spectators kicked off the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association season at Kailua Bay on Saturday.

“We made sure everyone had a part in this,” Kai Ehitu head coach Richard Kimitete said. “Our members all came out and made sure everything ran smoothly.”

The opening day victory in Division A (15-42 events) went to Kai Opua. The club racked up 28 medal finishes — including 13 gold — amassing 192 points. Defending champion Puna following in second with 161, and Kawaihae in third at 128.

“We were missing some people but that is okay,” Kai Opua club president Bo Campos said. “The competition was great and all canoes did very well.”

Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club coasted to top honors in Division B (1-14 events).

When it comes to the final tally, it is as much a numbers game than anything else. If clubs can compete in more events, there is more opportunity to rack up points. However, Puna proved last year that sentiment doesn’t always hold true, competing in seven less races, but still paddling their way to the title at the Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii Championships.

Again, Puna was the outlier in the top three on Saturday, participating in 37 of the 40 events. However, they were the only club that came close to rivaling Kai Opua’s medal count, with 23. And characteristically, the club made a late run with a boon of experienced paddlers. Of Puna’s nine winning crews, six came from the final eight events.

“I think we did well, but every regatta is totally different,” Puna head coach Afa Tuaolo said. “As we go on, we will see how we progress. We will do well as long as we stick together as a team. This is only the first one.”

Kimitete was also pleased with his Kai Ehitu crews debuted, citing a strong showing from the youth. Three boys crews (Boys 12, 14, 15) captured gold.

“I think we did very well, even with the kid and adult shortage due to graduation,” Kimitete said. “I think all the clubs did very well. I was telling someone the other day, I guarantee all the clubs are pretty strong this year. Everyone is going to get in on the action and that is what happened. It wasn’t just one club dominating.”

That was the case indeed. Exiting the pier, most didn’t know the final results, although the lean went to Kai Opua. It will probably become a theme for the season.

“I think we will stay up there. Kai Ehitu and Puna are tough competition right now but you never know what is going to happen,” Campos said. “During the first meet, you never really know what clubs are missing.”

One thing Kai Opua was not missing was some excitement on the women’s side. Under the leadership of first-year women’s head coach and veteran paddler Melanie Kelekolio, Kai Opua had more than a handful of lady crews at the front of the pack.

”Mel just killed it,” Campos said. “She brought in a lot of girls and they did very well. I am proud of them.”

Kelekolio has decades of paddling experience, and has been the club’s teen girls coach for the last seven years. Her keys to the race: just relax and enjoy the sport.

“Whether we got first, second, third, or last, I saw the women working really hard and concentrating on what we do in practice,” Kelekolio said. “There were no expectations, just everyone enjoying each other.”

The day did welcome some rain around Event 37, causing an exodus from the packed pier. But Kimitete saw it as a sign that Papa Kimitete was keeping an eye from above on the event.

“It was a a really nice day, with a little blessing from my dad there at the end with the rain,” he said with a laugh.

Keauhou Canoe Club will host the next regatta at Kailua Bay on May 28, follow by Kai Opua closing out the action on the west side June 11. Five consecutive regattas in Hilo follow to close out the season.