There’s an old football axiom that applies to the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association: The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
Puna and Kai Opua, a rivalry that’s as good as it gets for any sport, are the obvious favorites for the 13th annual Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championships.
Green Pride has won the last three championships, each title exciting in its own way to send Big Blue driving home to West Hawaii in bewilderment.
Last summer, Puna had its strongest club in history with a full field (43 crews) to match Kai Opua, which has the best Moku O Hawaii depth, at the championships.
At Hilo Bay, Green Pride was undefeated, not only during the regular season but also at the championships, which featured the same storyline.
Puna rallied from a 21-point, halfway point deficit to three-peat for the Division A (21-43 events) title.
This summer has been different. It’s been a season of scratches (no shows) and DQs (disqualifications) for both powerhouse clubs.
In the five regattas at Hilo Bay, Puna has had 16 scratches and seven DQs; Kai Opua has had 12 scratches and seven DQs.
Kai Opua has won three regattas at Hilo Bay, including last week’s one, a narrow 189-point win over Puna’s 185 points.
Big Blue was on it with precision. They had no DQs. They had two scratches. It’s understood among the coaching staff that sometimes paddlers can’t make the two-hour trip to Hilo, especially for six straight weeks.
Puna had four scratches and one DQ at the last regatta.
It doesn’t help that Green Pride already starts with a disadvantage; they have no crews for men novice B (rookies) or men 65.
Over the years, the two clubs have been relatively close at the end of the day at the Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii championships.
The difference won’t likely be who has the faster paddlers. It’ll be who has the better attendance and races cleaner or follows that football axiom.
Every year, it’s the same game plan for Kai Opua chief statistician Mike Atwood, who knows no big lead is safe from Green Pride’s traditional late comebacks.
At the same time, the Atwood and president Uncle Bo Campos don’t get concerned about other clubs swiping gold, silver, or bronze medals. They worry only about themselves.
Still, there are thorns in the water.
Kai Ehitu gives hard rubs to Big Blue and Green Pride. The Kimitete Red Engine is traditionally the third-best point scorer.
Maybe it’s important to note that the Red Engine is third in event 43, the mixed men and women, in the Moku O Hawaii standings.
That’s the last race of the day. Puna (84 points) is in first, Kamehameha (79) second, Kai Ehitu (68) third, and Kai Opua (52) fourth.
Moku O Hawaii has three lanes for each race at the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association championships on Aug. 4 at Oahu’s Keehi Lagoon.
For event 43, Kai Ehitu has a state spot; Kai Opua doesn’t but maybe has a shot to turn the championship standings upside down.
In Moku O Hawaii’s long 60-year-plus history, Puna and Kai Opua are the only clubs to win the Division A (21-43 races) crown.
Puna’s first Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii title was in 2007, but the second in 2015 was one of the greatest upsets.
That summer, Big Blue had healthy 169-152 point cushion over Green Pride after 34 races. Then coach Afa Tuaolo’s club won six of the last eight races with seven fewer clubs to add to the underdog achievement.
Maybe the best championship in the association’s history was in 2016 when Green Pride pocketed the title by a point, 201-200.
What was the difference?
Big Blue had three point wipeouts (three DQs), including an agonizing DQ on the last race, to Puna’s two point wipeouts (scratch and DQ).
However, Alana Cabatu, Kim Kimi, Colby Nicolas, Jeremy Padayao, Breeani Sumera-Lee, Kekoa Sumera-Lee finished first in the mixed men and women.
If they didn’t, Kai Opua would have taken home the title. Still, Green Pride had no chance unless Big Blue got tagged with a DQ.
Laka’s Group of Five
The next biggest question, after the Puna-Kai Opua slugfest, is can the Paddlers of Laka’s first five crews cap their unprecedented runs with championships.
The girls 12 crew has won five regattas in a row, the boys 12 the last four, and the mixed 12 in still undefeated.
The girls 13 and boys 13 have captured five straight, and none of the races have been significantly close.
Unbeatens
The Paddlers of Laka 12 mixed crew, event 3, is undefeated. The other perfect crews are:
• Waikoloa mixed novice B, event 9.
• Kai Opua boys 16, event 14.
• Kai Opua boys 18, event 16.
• Kawaihae women freshmen, event 20.
• Keaukaha men 60, event 33.
• Puna women 50, event 36.
• Puna men 50, event.
State spot battles
Winning an Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii title for a race isn’t a guarantee for a lane for the state championships.
Only the top three in the Moku O Hawaii standings earn berths. That said, here are the close races to watch:
• Event 7, girls 14: Kai Opua (68 points), Keoua Honaunau (56), Kawaihae (55), and Puna 52.
In the last regatta, Puna earned gold and nine points. Kawaihae was seventh and got three points.
• Event 11, boys 15: Keoua Honaunau (49), Kawaihae (36), Kai Ehitu (31), and Paddlers of Laka (30).
In the last race, Paddlers of Laka had a DQ and no points. Kai Ehitu was third and got three points.
• Event 15, girls 18: Keauhou (34), Paddlers of Laka (30), Keaukaha (20), and Puna (18).
In the last two races, Puna placed third and Keaukaha fourth, but Green Pride only added two points.
• Event 18, women novice A: Puna (45), Keoua Honaunau (29), Kai Opua (26), and Kai Ehitu (25).
In the last three races, Kai Opua has defeated Kai Ehitu.
• Event 20, women freshmen: Kawaihae (41), Puna (33), Kamehameha (19), and Kai Opua (18).
In the last four regattas, Kamehameha has sprinted past Kai Opua.
• Event 22, women sophomore: Kai Opua (44), Keoua Honaunau (41), Puna (28), and Kai Ehitu (27).
In the last three races, Red Engine has scored zero points: scratch, scratch, and scratch.
• Event 23, men sophomore: Puna (60), Kai Opua (45), Keaukaha (42), and Kai Ehitu (41).
In the last three regattas, Kai Ehitu has defeated Keaukaha by a score of 20-14 points.
• Event 28, women 40: Puna (47), Keauhou (46), Keoua Honaunau (23), Kai Opua (22), and Kamehameha (22).
It’s a huge race for Big Blue, trying to score points and get a state berth.
• Event 32, women 60: Puna (43), Waikoloa (31), Kamehameha (31), and Kai Opua (29).
It’s another two-goal deal for Kai Opua: win a title and earn a state spot.