HILO — For the third straight week, Kawaihae Canoe Club dominated.
Kawaihae amassed 235 points in Saturday’s regatta in Hilo Bay, edging second-place Kai ‘Ehitu Canoe Club by four points. It was the third consecutive regatta that Kawaihae cumulated the most points overall and in the Division AAA slate, which is 31-44 events per regatta. Kawaihae averaged 6.2 points per race.
Nearly 1,300 paddlers and over 330 crews competed in the event, with Kawaihae having the most experienced paddler — 81-year-old Mac Amos Jr. The youngest paddler was 8-year-old Ulu Tomich of Kai Opua Canoe Club.
The fastest quarter-mile sprint of the day came from Kamehameha Canoe Club – Hilo’s men’s novice team of Lampton Kamali‘i, Taichiro Nakata, Erik Oien, Joseph Lueckin, Robert Wertheim and Andrew Curley — who raced in a blitzing 1:52.61.
The fastest half-mile race of the event was paddled by Brawn Albino, Kama Leeloy, Spencer Kamauoha-Smith, Ali‘i Youderian, Jose Lizardi and Robert Whitney Jr. of the men’s freshmen division from Keaukaha Canoe Club. The crew finished in 3:23.71.
The fastest mile time also came from Keaukaha, as Albino, Leeloy, Kamauoha-Smith, Lizardi, Whitney Jr. and Tyler Makaiwi of men’s junior division — finishing in 7:12.57.
In the divisional races, Kawaihae finished with six gold medal wins, 11 silver and four bronze — tying Keaukaha with 21 medals. The club won the following divisional races — the boys 12 crew of Anaiah Akau, Aukanai‘i Akau, Makana Dela Cruz, Paul Griffin Jr, Nathan Ibrahim and Kayden Kauahi in the quarter-mile sprint (2:30.94); the mixed 12 crew of Kauahi, Pili Dayton-Smith, Lehiwa Lindsey, Tamryn Lorenzo-Akamu, Hana Maielua and Kaleb Takushi Jr. in the quarter-mile race (2:38.41); girls 13 quarter-mile crew of Riah Akima, Zoe Carpio-Napoleon, Kuili Livingston, Tehane Livingston, Lau‘ae Silva and Bella Sugse (2:27.36); girls 14 quarter-mile team of Hulili Ah Lo, Hali‘a Drummundo, Kaimahie Hooper, Maile Revilla, Lau’ae Silva and Sayuri Yamamoto (2:08.50); men’s novice crew of Chuck Clifford, Edison Dela Cruz, Keahi Esquerra, Jordon Lagaret, Josh Lai and Kukila Lincoln in the half-mile sprint (3:45.60); mixed masters 55 crew of Harold Alcoran, Tricia Bell, Ute Bouchez, Kehau Lincoln, Alton Oye and Jonathan Salvador in the half-mile bout (4:13.06).
Once again, Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club won the Division AA (15-30 events) field, collecting 116 total points with 4.1 points per race. The club won one gold medal — the mixed masters 40 half-mile race in 3:48.26. The crew members were Brittany Caporrimo, Trey Green, Jene’ Green, Bugz Luta, Chris Runnells and Des Seave.
The winning team from Division A (1-14 events) was Na Wa‘a Hanakahi, who amassed 50 points.
Kai ‘Ehitu collected the most divisional wins from the day with 12 — the girls 12 quarter mile (2:27.28); boys 13 quarter mile (2:09.47); boys 14 quarter mile (1:56.65); boys 15 half mile (4:05.92); boys 16-and-under half mile (3:48.62); boys 18-and-under half mile (3:37.86); men’s sophomore half mile (3:31.78); men’s masters 40 half mile (3:31.82); men’s masters 60 half mile (3:50.45); men’s 55 golden masters half mile (3:48.87); senior men’s masters 50 half mile (3:45.88); mixed half mile (3:47.99).
See HCRA’s website for the full slate of individual results. The team point totals can be found below.
The regatta season continues this upcoming Saturday in Hilo Bay with the Auntie Maile/Moko ‘O Hawaii Championship.
Team results
Division AAA (31-44 events)
1. Kawaihae Canoe Club, 235
2. Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team, 231
3. Puna Canoe Club, 208
4. Keaukaha Canoe Club, 201
5. Kai Opua Canoe Club, 192
Division AA (15-30 events)
1. Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club, 116
2. Kamehameha Canoe Club – Hilo, 106
3. Hui Wa‘a ‘O Waiakea, 88
4. Keauhou Canoe Club, 85
Division A (1-14 events)
1. Na Wa‘a Hanakahi, 50
T2. Waikoloa Canoe Club, 29
T2. Paddlers of Laka, 29
4. Hoemana, 25
5. Kailana Canoe Club, 10
6. Miloli‘i Canoe Club, 0
