HILO — The fifth long-distance race of the Big Island HCRA paddling season was held Saturday on the east side of the island for the first time in 2025.
Puna Canoe Club won the 10-mile race of the day in Hilo Bay, as the club’s iron male open squad of Mike Abraham, Jonah Kalima, Daniel Petner, Neemia Pola, Kekoa Sumera-Lee and J.B. Weitz raced in 48:08 to clinch victory out of the 23 competing crews. It was the first 10-mile race Puna won this season.
Kamehameha Canoe Club’s unlimited men’s divisional squad of Nick Ahyo II, Kanahe Akau, Martin Free, Mark Grant, Bill Lee and Marco Roldan placed second in the same race, narrowly finishing behind Puna with a time of 49:09.
Coming in third was Keaukaha Canoe Club’s unlimited male open crew of Brawn Albino, Alec Fierman, Tyler Makaiwi, Casey Morris, Tyron Nicolas and Robert Whitney Jr. finished in 49:50.
Hui Wa‘a‘ ‘O Waiakea’s men’s crew of Hunter O’dean Anderson, Bruce Johnston Ayau, Steve Blyth, Christopher Laude, David Old and Troy Parker-Bailey placed fourth in the race with a time of 50:35.
Rounding out the top five of the big race was Keaukaha’s crew of Eric Baicy, Chad Cabral, Dave Hafele, Axel Kratel, Rick Myers and Kalani Spain, who finished in 51:11.
In the eight-mile race, Puna’s unlimited women’s crew of Alana Cabatu, Ellen Cordeiro, Krystal Del Rosario, Pulama Downing, Kalei Kalili-Burdman and Mary-Beth Young won with a time of 1:02:52. Kawaihae’s women’s squad of Kanoe Ah Lo, Rascha Jelks, U’i Macabio, Leilani Olson, Brandie Oye and Lora Schroder Sakai placed second with a time of 1:03:10.
Hui Wa‘a‘ ‘O Waiakea’s Koa mixed crew of Mark Bandsma, Alison Dodson, Kalani Kaili, Daniel Legler, Kylie Legler and Kimberly Pratt placed third in the race with a time of 1:06:46. Placing fourth was Kamehameha Canoe Club – Hilo’s unlimited women’s open squad of Lehua Grant, Hiwa Kaapuni, Rachel Saquing, Jolyn Takeya-Whitney, Autumn Talbott and Hi‘ilani Viluan raced in 1:07:42.
Capping off the top five in the eight-mile race was Puna’s women’s crew of Kahoane Aiona, Dani Dougherty, Anna Golden Ka‘au‘a, Sarah Graves, Michele Padayao and Lisa Shizuma raced in 1:07:20.
Over in the keiki races, Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team’s 16-year-old boys squad of Kailikea Girbisi-Pasamonte, Tauarii Hing, Brodie Learned, Kale Parker, Kuhao Puhi and Gavin Schwartzkopf won the three-mile race with a time of 26:25. Finishing behind the west-side club was Kawaihae Canoe Club’s 16-year-old boys crew of Zaion Carpio-Napoleon, Kalaʻe Dayton-Smith, Shazen Monell-Lagaret, Kamana’o Takushi, Waika Takushi and Onipa‘a Villanueva-Matsuda with a time of 26:57.
Finishing third in the race was Kai ‘Ehitu’s 18-year-old boys crew of Lanakila Brown, Jaidev Gamagag, Vaea Hing, Kamaka Santos, Kaimi Santos and Mason Torcato, who raced in 27:18.
In the two-mile keiki race with 32 different crews, Kai ‘Ehitu’s boys age-13 squad of Ka‘e‘a‘e‘a Akau, Kendell Kahahane-Takaki, Nahana Kam, Buddy Kawaauhau III, Brodie Learned and Kainoa Moku Andersen won the field with a time of 16:49.
Kawaihae’s girls age-13 team of Riah Akima, Zoe Carpio-Napoleon, Kuili Livingston, Tehane Livingston, Lau’ae Silva and Bella Sugse placed second with a time of 18:20. Placing third was Hui Wa‘a‘ ‘O Waiakea’s 13-year-old boys team of Zephyr Aki, Bentley Dehmer, Jacob Ka‘apa, Teva Ledward, Allaiyenz Maneafaiga and Tamateo Po‘oloa, finishing in 18:33.
Kawaihae finished with the most divisional gold-medal wins with nine, followed by Kai ‘Ehitu and Hui Wa‘a‘ ‘O Waiakea with five each. See HCRA’s website for the full slate of results.
The season resumes this upcoming Saturday in Kailua Bay for the King Kamehameha Day Long Distance Races.
