Hawaiian Canoe Club 4-Peats the Maui Club Beats the Big Island’S Kai Opua by 35 Points for Another State Title
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Sunday, August 8, 2004 [ PADDLING ] CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / [email protected] Members the Hawaiian Canoe Club's women's masters 50 crew celebrated yesterday as the club headed to victory. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4-peats The Maui club beats the Big Island’s Kai Opua by 35 points for another state title By Brandon Lee Special to the Star-Bulletin Another year, another regatta season, and the ending to the recent script still hasn't changed. For the fourth year in a row, Hawaiian Canoe Club of Maui won the overall title at the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta. More than 50 clubs and approximately 3,000 paddlers participated yesterday at the 37-race event at Keehi Lagoon. But Kahului-based Hawaiian again proved to be the best, racking up 365 total points and a regatta-high-tying five race wins. The Maui club finished well ahead of second-place Kai Opua (330, and one) of the Big Island. "I'm just really proud as a coach," said Hawaiian assistant coach Paul Luuwai, who is in charge of the club's youth paddlers. "Like a heavyweight fight, round after round -- 37 rounds later -- here we are, 4-peat champions." "We just got on a roll, winning five kids races in a row," he added. "It was just like a disease, and we caught on fire. The kids were beyond my expectations." Hawaiian's youth paddlers -- a traditional source of strength for the club -- performed better than they ever have in a state regatta. They dominated the early races by picking up all five of the club's wins and four additional runner-up finishes in the 13 youth events. Thanks in large part to their young paddlers, Hawaiian built a 59-point advantage, 224-165, over Kai Opua through the first 20 races. "I was pretty surprised that we won," said Kaikaika Nance, a member of Hawaiian's winning boys 15-under crew. "Coming here, you're so nervous, but when you start paddling, it all goes away." CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / [email protected] Lanikai's men's senior crew won its event yesterday at the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta. Though Kai Opua had entered a record 37 crews -- one in each event -- and its strong adult paddlers managed to close the gap some later, Hawaiian -- with 35 -- never surrendered its lead. In fact, yesterday marked the first time during its current championship run that Hawaiian didn't enter states with the highest number of crews, and therefore couldn't be said to have had a statistical advantage. Matching Oahu club Healani's four consecutive state championships in 1971-74, there is now only one streak longer than Hawaiian's: the nine won by Outrigger of Oahu from 1984 to 1992. "We did what we had to do to cover our bases," Hawaiian head coach Diane Ho said. "We were glad that we didn't (have the most entries this year), because you still have to go out there and race. ... It's not just because you have the most, you win." "We have enough strength right now throughout our club, but unfortunately Hawaiian has got a bit more," said Kai Opua head coach Mike Atwood, whose club finished runner-up to Hawaiian for the second time in three years. "Hawaiian is just a very good club, all the way across. ... But we've got a good drawing board." Rounding out the top five spots in the AAA division (18-plus crews entered) were Oahu's Kailua (328), Lanikai (261) and Hui Lanakila (241). Kailua had the most crews among these clubs, with 34, and won four races. Like Hawaiian, Lanikai and Hui Lanakila won five races each but didn't have enough crews (28 and 26, respectively) to make a real run at the championship. At states, clubs receive points for every crew that competes -- excluding disqualifications -- with a high of 15 points for first place and a low of one for last (a maximum of 14 crews per event). Winning a tight battle in the AA (9-17), Kihei of Maui just edged Kaneohe -- last year's division champion -- 139-138. Lokahi of Oahu finished a distant third, with 96 points. With 79 points, Wailea of Maui made it a sweep for Valley Isle clubs by taking the A (1-8), followed by Healani (77), and Waikiki Beach Boys (73). Wailea nearly did not win the division, initially being disqualified in the senior women's event for a false start. However, the club's protest was ruled valid, allowing Wailea to keep the nine points for finishing sixth; otherwise, the Maui club would have finished third in the division. In the prestigious senior men's race, Lanikai continued its stranglehold on the state trophy despite a hard fight from the competition, winning for the 12th time in the last 13 years. Crew members this year included Kai Bartlett, Peter Binney, Kekoa Bruhn, Jim Foti, John Foti and George Leslie. Lanikai crossed the 1 1/2-mile course in 10 minutes, 57.81 seconds, just about a half-boat in front of second-place Hui Lanakila (10:59.82). Kailua (11:02.25) completed an Oahu sweep of the top three spots, while Wailea (11:07.22) took fourth. "It's a big burden," said Bruhn, of Lanikai's long run of success in this event. "Especially for guys like me and George -- some of the younger guys. But it's also a real big honor." In the 1 1/2-mile senior women's race, Outrigger won for the second straight year, finishing in 12:47.65 and convincingly beating runner-up Hui Lanakila (12.58.52) and the rest of the field. Winning crew members included: Tracy Phillips, Mahea Batlik, Megan Clark, Jennifer Thayer, Malia Kamisugi and Kisi Haine. PADDLING HCRA State Championships At Keehi Lagoon Team standings AAA Division (18-36 crews)--1. Hawaiian, 365; 2. Kai Opua, 330; 3. Kailua, 328; 4. Lanikai, 261; 5. Hui Lanakila, 241; t6. Outrigger, Hui Nalu, 193. AA Division (9-17 crews)--1. Kihei, 139; 2. Kaneohe, 138; 3. Lokahi, 96; 4. Puna, 91; 5. Manu O Ke Kai, 79; t6. Kawaihae, Koa Kai, 76; 8. Kahana, 75; 9. Hanalei, 55. A Division (1-8 crews)--1. Wailea, 79; 2. Healani, 77; 3. Waikiki Beachboys, 73; 4. Keahiakahoe, 61; 5. Wa'akapaemua, 58; 6. Waikiki Surf, 56; 7. Keauhou, 52; 8. Keaukaha, 45; 9. Anuenue, 39; 10. New Hope, 37; 11. Waikiki Yacht Club, 36; 12. Lae'ula O Kai, 35; 13. Hawaiian Outrigger, 33; 14. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, 31; 15. Alapa Hoe, 30; 16. Kailana, 29; 17. Kukui O Moloka'i, 28; 18. Mana'e, 27; 19. Kamehameha, 24; 20. Leeward Kai, 23; 21. Ka Mamalahoe, 22; t22. Waimanalo, North Shore, 21; 24. Puuwai, 18; 25. Windward Kai, 17; t26. Niumalu, Na Molokama O Hanalei, 16; t28. Keoua, Na Kai Ewalu, 15; 30. Kai E Hitu, 13; t31. Kumulokahi Elks, Molokai, Napili, 11; t34. Hana, Kai Poha, 10; 36. Kaiola, 8; t37. Kalihi Kai, I Mua, 7; 39. Kamehameha-Hilo, 5; 40. Kilohana, 2. boys 12-and-under--1. Kailua (Travis Wilhoite, Joshua Dudoit, Kupono Kanehailua, Kainoa Chang, Chas Bautista, Kawai Makuakane), 2:02.38; 2. Hawaiian, 2:08.79; 3. Kailana, 2:09.44; 4. Kai Opua, 2:09.85; 5. Keahiakahoe, 2:10.56; 6. Lanikai, 2:11.33; 7. Waikiki Surf, 2:14.90; 8. Kihei, 2:17.32. 13--1. Lanikai (Jason Campbell, Ryan Dolan, Kyle Landers, Chris Lau, Caton Smith, Taylor Vitale), 1:59.10; 2. Kailua, 1:59.48; 3. Kai Opua, 2:00.12; 4. Kaneohe, 2:00.48; 5. Kailana, 2:00.95; 6. Hui Nalu, 2:03.37; 7. Wa'akapaemua, 2:04.22; 8. Alapa Hoe, 2:08.57. 14--1. Hawaiian (Ka'apuni Aiwohi, Samuel Kaneakua-Alana, Solomon Hill-Burke, Chance Valle, Matthew Kapono Nae'ole, Kaimiloao Kealoha), 1:50.31; 2. Lanikai, 1:52.69; 3. Wailea, 1:54.78; 4. Alapa Hoe, 1:57.34; 5. Kailua, 1:57.85; 6. Hui Nalu, 1:58.35; 7. Keahiakahoe, 1:58.61; 8. Kailana, 1:58.89. 15--1. Hawaiian (Michael Kaikaika Nance, Page Nakooka, Konapiliahi Porras-Ragsdale, Roland Mahi, Bobby Kaiwi, Woodridge Brown), 3:48.41; 2. Lanikai, 3:52.77; 3. Puna, 3:55.60; 4. Kai Opua, 6:56.07; 5. Kaneohe, 3:57.98; 6. Napili, 3:58.53; 7. Outrigger, 4:01.58; 8. Mana'e, 4:01.98. 16--1. Puna (William Kenui Viveiros, Gordon Lacy, Serrell Kanuha, Kekoa Sumera-Lee, Bryson Sanchez, Jonah Kalima), 3:48.08; 2. Kailua, 3:49.32; 3. Keahiakahoe, 3:49.63; 4. Hawaiian, 3:50.15; 5. Lanikai, 3:50.71; 6. Manu O Ke Kai, 3:52.90; 7. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, 3:53.36; 8. Waikiki Surf, 3:53.87. 18--1. Lanikai (Keith Beers, Zane Chess, Matt Crowley, Jonny Kono, Ian Smith, Matthew Sullivan), 7:50.30; 2. Hawaiian, 8:06.50; 3. Outrigger, 8:09.13; 4. Kailua, 8:14.24; 5. Kaneohe, 8:16.50; 6. Hui Nalu, 8:18.34; 7. Hawaiian Outrigger, 8:26.46; 8. Puna, 8:29.95. girls 12-and-under--1. Kaneohe (Cathy Sherman, Brandi Kaluhiwa, Courtnie Lelepali, Kree Espinda, Keani Wong, Kahea Anderson), 2:16.98; 2. Kai E Hitu, 2:17.90; 3. Hawaiian, 2:18.18; 4. Waikiki Surf, 2:20.43; 5. Kukui O Molokai, 2:23.15; 6. Niumalu, 2:25.33; 7. Anuenue, 2:25.99; 8.