By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The tide has turned since Puna started playing with a full deck in the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association.
Once known as the perennial underdog that did more with less, Puna earned its Green Pride nickname over the last two years, taking down rival Kai Opua, the West Hawaii club with more paddlers.
Now, Puna heads to the 12th annual Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championships as a strong favorite, a somewhat stunning transformation.
The two-time reigning champs captured their last two titles in Disney-movie fashion against Kai Opua, the only other club that has seized the island’s top Division A (21-43 events) crown in Moku O Hawaii’s long 60-year-plus history.
Last year, Puna pocketed the Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii title over Kai Opua by one point, 201-200, despite fielding three fewer crews.
Making life hard on itself, Kai Opua had a costly three disqualifications, including the final race, the half-mile mixed men and women.
In 2015, Green Pride pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Moku O Hawaii history, knocking off Big Blue, 233-223 points, paddling uphill all day with seven fewer crews.
That year, Kai Opua held a seemingly healthy 169-152 point lead over Puna after 34 events. Then, coach Afa Tuaolo’s club won six of the last eight races.
Puna’s first championship was in 2007 with just 33 crews to Kai Opua’s 39 races, and it was lopsided in points, 170-148.
This summer, Green Pride has been more dominant than ever.
In the last five regattas at Hilo Bay, Puna has outscored Kai Opua by an average of 218-182 points.
One reason for that point gap is Puna’s solid roster of unbeaten crews: men freshmen, junior, women 60, 50, men 55, and mixed 55. (The men sophomore had a DQ in the last regatta).
That’s a good way to grow a comfortable lead. It also helps to close strong, especially with the last event of the day.
The mixed men and women is usually a full house race, and sometimes, like last year, determine the Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii champion.
Maybe it’s no coincidence that Puna has seized the last event the last three years, which helped the club take home titles the previous two years.
Kai Opua’s only unbeaten crew is the girls 18. The Kai Ehitu boys 13 and Kawaihae boys 14 are the other unbeaten crews, which stand at nine overall.
The top two crews in the final Moku O Hawaii standings earn the island’s two lanes at the 67th annual Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state championships, slated for Saturday, Aug. 5 on Maui.
Races to watch
One of the best races to watch is event 11, the boys 15.
Front-runners Kawaihae and Kai Opua each have 57 points in the Moku O Hawaii standings and have each won four regattas. Both are assured state berths.
What’s interesting is that the Kawaihae boys 14 is unbeaten and several paddle on both crews, which have a chance at double gold.
Coach Manny Veincent’s young guns have pulled double gold three times in the Hilo Bay regattas.
In event 22 women sophomore, Kai Opua is in first place with 41 points, followed by Kamehameha (40) and Keaukaha (39).
Another good one to check out is event 38 mixed 60. Keoua Honaunau leads with 62 points and has locked up a state lane.
The intrigue is between Kai Opua and Kamehameha, tied for second place with 46 points.
Someone is paddling for states. And if crews have no shot at a state spot, at least they can step on the gas pedal for an Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii title.
HCRA grant
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has given HCRA an $8,000 grant.
HCRA president Walter Vierra, who’s from Maui, and race commissioner Uncle Bo Campos, the Kai Opua president, said OHA’s grant makes it possible for the umbrella organization to stage a well-run regatta.
