It was a perfect day for canoe paddling with flat water and practically no wind at Hilo Bay, but not everyone showed up, a clear sign the Big Island is still dealing with COVID-19.
On Monday, the BIIF will allow a limited amount of fans at sporting events despite the steady rise of COVID-19 cases, following the lead of the OIA.
The absence of a Keaau girls crew and several boys paddlers, due to COVID-19, according to coach Anna Golden Kaaua, and no heats said it all — that the pandemic is not slowing down.
The Cougar girls are one of the most dominant crews. They won BIIF titles in 2018 and 2014. The Keaau boys captured the BIIF championship in 2020.
Still, there was nothing that could spoil such a beautiful day for the first BIIF half-mile competition at Hilo Bay since 2020, after COVID-19 wiped out the 2021 season.
“It’s a nice, beautiful day at Hilo Bay. The water is nice and flat. It’s an even playing field,” Kaaua said. “We’re just trying to make the best of it given our current situation. The COVID affects us, and I feel it affects all the schools.”
Hawaii Prep almost made a clean sweep. Ka Makani captured the girls and mixed BIIF meets. Kealakehe prevented the sweep with the boys crown.
Ka Makani was the most powerful crew in 2020 with BIIF championships for the girls and mixed crews.
In the boys race, Kealakehe (Taylor Balanga, Maliki Farrell, Koa Berringer, Kainoa Plato, Duke DeGuair, Kai Gonzales-White) grabbed first place in 3 minutes, 46.10 seconds, followed by Hilo, 3:49.61; Keaau, 4:01.56; Parker, 4:21.52; and HPA, 4:23.92. Waiakea was disqualified.
“We had a good week of practice, got hit by a little bit of COVID but not nearly as bad as some of the other schools,” Kealakehe coach Mike Atwood said. “We’re happy with our progress and know we’ve still got two more races. We’re building for that BIIF championship and see who we can take to states. I’m really happy with the boys race. Rex Honl has been working with them, and we’ve got some good combinations but don’t have a lot of depth. We’ve been fortunate that we haven’t had heats yet, so we can set up good crews.”
The Waveriders caught the Vikings about two football fields away from the finish line and powered to an impressive win.
“The boys have been working really hard, and they’ve been showing up to practice,” Waverider assistant Honl said. “They have a good drive. We have a nice bunch of seven (six form a crew) of them that we can rotate, and they paid their dues at practice, and that effort is showing up here. Hilo is strong. They’re a team to be reckoned with. Next week will be a whole new race, so we have to work hard again.”
Despite the tough loss, the Vikings were just glad to be back on the water.
“It was nice and flat. All these kids are so happy to be in the water,” Hilo coach Aloha Mauhili said. “That’s the team to watch, Kealakehe. We didn’t race last week (at Kailua Pier) because of the safety of the kids. I know how the pier is arm to arm, so we stayed home.”
In the girls race, HPA (Naomi Brooke, Te’a Kanuha, Olivia Rose, Bella Stephens, Ollie Hope, Tess Kelly) seized first place in 4:30.77, followed by Kealakehe, 4:35.85; Waiakea, 4:48.89; Parker, 4:52.37; and Kamehameha, 5:07.69.
HPA coach Mesepa Tanoai took a measured observation of his clubs and the side effects of racing with no heats, which are dependent on the amount of crews in each race.
“We’re still moving girls around trying for the fastest team,” he said. “The boys are a whole new team, so we’re moving things around to see what we can do for the mixed. You can’t make mistakes (with no heats). It’s a one-shot deal. You’re vulnerable if you have three or four heats. I’m glad to see all the schools participating with all the hoops we have to jump though. I’m glad it’s happening.”
In the mixed race, HPA (Tain Lawson, Nathan Roberts, Luke Hendricks, Te’a Kanuha, Della Stallsmith, Ollie Hope) took home the last event of the day in 4:07.19, followed by Keaau, 4:13.64; Kealakehe, 4:18.92; Hilo, 4:20.82; Kamehameha, 4:26.83; Parker, 4:32.82; and Waiakea, 4:34.35.
“We’re moving around a lot of paddlers to be strong in that event. It didn’t help us in the boys race, but it sure helped us there,” Tanoai said. “We have two more weeks to figure it out to get points and seeded well (at states). It’s been difficult with COVID. We only got to practice one day this week. No one is set in their way as far as where they’re sitting. They had to manage their paddles for us to finish as well as we did.”
Perhaps Parker coach Eric Mitchell had the best take on the day. The Bulls won the BIIF mixed title, their first league championship, back in 2013. But they’re young this season and just had a pleasant day.
“Our varsity crews are made up of JV players because we’re just short of seniors,” he said. “I’m just very appreciative that the association decided to hold races this year. Overall, it’s good for everybody to come out here and participate and get home and still enjoy their weekend.”
The next BIIF regatta is 9 a.m. at Hilo Bay. Then the BIIF championships will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 12 at Hilo Bay.
Moku O Hawaii
The Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association has submitted its COVID-19 guidelines to the county for approval, said Pua Kalaniopio of Paddlers of Laka.
The Moku O Hawaii season normally starts on May 1 with the Kamehameha/Nathaniel (keiki) long distance race at Hilo Bay. The first regatta is the Kai Ehitu/Papa Kimitete in mid May at Kailua-Kona.
Most of the BIIF coaches, who are also Moku O Hawaii members, anticipate a season without regattas at Kailua Pier, where an overwhelming number of paddlers would be gathered.
“It would be compact at Kailua Pier,” said Atwood, of Kai Opua. “It depends on what the county sees and what the state sees. It has to be safety first. Everybody wants to hold their regattas, but it’s a safety factor, and we have to look at that first.”
Last season and the 2020 season were canceled due to the pandemic.