The annual King Kamehameha Long Distance Canoe Race sponsored by Kai Opua Canoe Club was held this past weekend on the sky-blue waters off of Kailua Pier. There were two adult and two keiki races, which were held along the holiday festivities offshore in Kona town.
Eighty-two different crews and nearly 500 paddlers competed, ranging from ages nine to 80.
The longest race of the day, the 10-mile trek to La‘aloa Beach and back, was won by Keaukaha’s men’s team of Eha Kiyuna, Casey Morris, Niau Paulos, Cyrus Veloria, Ali’i Youderian and Isaac Ysaguirre — who finished in 1:04:44. Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team had two crews place second and third: its men’s open team of Toa Bertaina, Eddie Hayward, Jason Herbert, Kua Nolan, Ikie Sanchis and Isaac Vincent raced in 1:05:26, while the men’s age-50 squad of Hunter O’dean Anderson, Bruce Johnston Ayau, Jun Balanga Jr., Gary Kamauoha, David Old and Troy Parker-Bailey finished in 1:05:32.
Kai Opua Canoe Club’s men’s unlimited team of Mark Axelson, Kyle Curran, RJ DeMello-Crampton, Mackenzie Files, Kaho‘okahi Kanuha and Deano Maruyama placed fourth in 1:05:46. Kai ‘Ehitu had another crew round out the top-five finishers, as its squad of Paka Davis, Nathan Grocholski, Aaron Nahina, Joel Noa, Kula Stone and Ina Ynigues Jr. paddled in 1:05:52.
The eight-mile course of 28 different crews was won by Kai Opua’s women’s team of Liana Carson, Lia-Lucine Cary, Sydney Kramer, Kalei Pasciuta, Cheryl Villegas and Leah Winkler. The crew finished in 57 minutes, 23 seconds.
Kawaihae Canoe Club’s women’s age-50 team of Ute Bouchez, Dana Cecil, Jill Henderson, Brandie Oye, Mary Smithson and Kahai Tate finished the course in 58 minutes, 10 seconds — placing second overall.
Keaukaha’s women’s team of Kawai Kauahi, Rena Kiyuna, Lisa Lucia, Kauilani Marquez, Corrina Publico and Lisa Spain placed third in the competition with a finishing time of 58 minutes, 40 seconds.
Over in the keiki races, the four-and-a-half mile course, paddled by nine different crews, was won by Kai ‘Ehitu’s boys age-15 team of Ka‘e‘a‘e‘a Akau, Kamanawaiolani Herbert, Buddy Kawaauhau III, Brodie Learned, Kainoa Moku Andersen and Mason Torcato finished in 34 minutes, 17 seconds.
Placing second in the keiki long course was Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club’s boys 16 team of River Cadiente, Rowan Cadiente, Elliot Coleman, Zeryth Jongert, Nathan Kolii III and Vladimir Vondrak — paddling in 35 minutes, 37 seconds.
The age-16 boys crew on Keauhou — Kyzeah Bento, CJ Felipe, Ezra Green, Colton Kahulamu, Kaohu Lagunte and Jackson Rathje — finished third in 35 minutes, 37 seconds. Kai Opua’s girls age-16 team of Kaili Cranwell, Lilia De Guair, Jahziah Gamagag, Tuivaeauote Isaia, Hilina‘i Morimoto and Luukia Spencer-Da Silva finished fourth in 37 minutes, 18 seconds.
Rounding out the top five of the race was Miloli‘i Canoe Club’s boys 15 team of Zachary Garber, Riley Gomes, Kaeden Johnson-Matthews, Colt Kaiwi, Cyrus Kaupu and Damian Magana-Villanueva, who raced in 37 minutes, 59 seconds.
The short course, also known as the two-mile race, was raced by 20 different keiki crews. Winning the field was Kai ‘Ehitu’s boys 13 team of Ka‘e‘a‘e‘a Akau, Nahana Kam, Buddy Kawaauhau III, Brodie Learned, Kainoa Moku Andersen and Sebastian Shoemaker-Hassey — who won by over a minute with a time of 20 minutes, five seconds.
Hui Wa‘a ‘O Waiakea had two crews place second and third in the course — the boys age-13 crew of Kaimana Ah Nee, Wayson Au, Bentley Dehmer, Jacob Ka’apa, Allaiyenz Maneafaiga and Derek Sielicki Jr. (21:15) and the girls age-14 squad of Zayla Aki, Mary Au, Rose Au, Ruthann Ka’apa, Ku‘u Kaaihue and Kilolani Smith (21:41).
Kai Opua rounded out the rest of the top five in the race, as its girls age-14 team of Nahealani Henriques, Kailey Ibanez Bondaug, Ilikea Kakalia, Kaya Kamoku, Jaxton Lindsey and Alena Lukeala placed fourth with a time of 22 minutes flat. The club’s girls age-12 team of Farrah Adkinson, Teighya Frias, Khloe Lorenzo, Leiannah-Rose Pukahi, Allizay Rubio and Laney Weza finished right behind in fifth in 22 minutes, eight seconds.
Kai ‘Ehitu once again finished with the most gold-medal divisional wins with 11 between the adults and keiki, followed by Kai Opua with seven and Keoua Honaunau with six. To read more results of each race, see today’s scoreboard.
The long distance season will take a hiatus until early August, with the regatta portion of the 2025 schedule set to begin this upcoming Saturday in Hilo Bay. See the paper early next week to read the results.
