Calvin Kelekolio Long Distance Race – Full Results from 8/20/2011

Race held Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Honaunau Bay

WOMEN’S COURSE (EIGHT MILES)

Finish/Club Name Time Division

1. Kai Opua 1:06:53 First open  2. Keauhou 1:07:30 Second open   3. Kawaihae 1:08:18 Third open  

4. Kai Opua 1:08:28 First 40 2s   5. Kai Opua 1:09:24 Fourth open  6. Puna 1:09:55 Fifth open

7. Keauhou 1:10:18 Second 40 2s  8. Kamehameha 1:10:55 Sixth open 9. Keaukaha 1:12:05 Seventh open  

10. Keauhou 1:12:52 First 50 2s   11. Kawaihae 1:13:10 Eighth open   12. Kona Athletic 1:13:28 First unclassified

 13. Keaukaha 1:13:39 Ninth open  14. Kawaihae 1:14:20 10th open   15. Waikoloa 1:14:40 Second unclassified  

16. Keauhou 1:15:10 Third 40 2s   17. Kai Ehitu 1:15:16 First Koa  18. Keauhou 1:15:40 11th open  

19. Puna 1:15:58 Second 50 2s  20. Kawaihae 1:16:07 Fourth 40 2s 21. Puna 1:16:17 12th open  

22. Kai Ehitu 1:16:20 13th open 23. Keaukaha 1:16:40 14th open  24. Kamehameha 1:16:47 15th open

25. Keauhou 1:16:50 16th open  26. Kai Opua 1:17:22 First 60 2s

27. Kai Ehitu 1:18:29 Fifth 40 2s  28. Kai Opua 1:19:59 Sixth 40 2s 29. Keauhou 1:21:17 Second 60 2

s  30. Keaukaha 1:25:00 Third 60 2s   31. Keoua 1:25:54 Second Koa

MIXED COURSE (EIGHT MILES)

1. Kona Athletic 1:07:29 First unclassified  2. Tui Tonga 1:11:28 First open 3. Kai Ehitu 1:13:07 Second open  

4. Na Wa a Hanakahi 1:15:00 Third open 5. Tui Tonga 1:15:50 Fourth open  6. Mamalahoe 1:16:10 Fifth open

7. Paddlers of Laka 1:17:33 Sixth open  8. Na Wa a Hanakahi 1:17:55 seventh open

9. Keaukaha 1:18:26 First 50 2s   10. Keaukaha 1:19:41 Eighth open  11. Waikoloa 1:26:18 Second 50 2s

MEN’S COURSE (11 MILES)

1. Kai Opua 1:26:02 First open  2. Kai Opua 1:28:10 Second open 3. Puna 1:28:49 Third open

 4. Keauhou 1:30:15 Fourth open 5. Waikoloa 1:30:25 First unclassified  6. Puna 1:31:15 First 40 2s

7. Kamehameha 1:31:28 Fifth open  8. Tui Tonga 1:31:50 Sixth open 9. Keauhou 1:32:17 7th open  

10. Kai Opua 1:32:54 Second 40 2s  11. Kai Opua 1:33:08 First Koa  12. Keauhou 1:33:17 Eighth open

13. Kai Ehitu 1:33:26 Ninth open  14. Kawaihae 1:34:12 10th open 15. Keauhou 1:34:24 11th open  

16. Kai Opua 1:34:32 12th open 17. Tui Tonga 1:34:45 Second Koa  18. Keaukaha 1:35:45 13th open

19. Kai Opua 1:35:50 First 50 2s  20. Kai Ehitu 1:37:16 Third Koa 21. Kawaihae 1:37:22 Third 40 2s  

22. Kamehameha 1:37:55 14th open 23. Kai Opua 1:38:27 15th open  24. Keauhou 1:39:20 First 60 2s

25. Keauhou 1:40:13 Second 50 2s  26. Puna 1:40:36 16th open 27. Keoua 1:41:09 Third 50 2s  

28. Keoua 1:41:42 Fourth Koa 29. Kai Ehitu 1:43:09 17th open  30. Kai Opua 1:45:45 Fourth 50 2s

31. Kai Ehitu 1:46:19 18th open  32. Keaukaha 1:52:12 Second 60 2s 33. Waikoloa 1:53:39 Fourth 40 2s

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John Kekua Jr., Regatta Results from Hilo Bay

Saturday at Hilo Bay   A division   Kai Opua Canoe Club 223   Keauhou Canoe Club 189   Keaukaha Canoe Club 144 Kawaihae Canoe Club 136   Puna Canoe Club 136   Kamehameha C.C. 96   Kai ‘Ehitu 72

B division    Paddlers of Laka 52    Tui Tonga 47  Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 35   Waikoloa Canoe Club 27   Keoua Canoe Club 25

Na Wa’a Hanakahi 14   Kona Athletic Club 14   Kailana Canoe Club 9

Girls 12   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 2:09.23

(Eleashia Kealoha, Danielle Gramlich, Aaliyah Butler, Taimane Kamaka, Nala Mrozinski-Foti, Ka’iulani Pelekane)

2. Keaukaha Canoe Club 2:17.96  3. Kawaihae Canoe Club 2:21.89

4. Kai ‘Ehitu 2:22.24  5. Kamehameha C.C. 2:23.47  6. Puna Canoe Club 2:24.19

7. Keauhou Canoe Club 2:30.28  8. Keoua Canoe Club 2:37.93  9. Waikoloa Canoe Club 3:08.13

Boys 12      1. Puna Canoe Club 2:04.20

(Kanaiela DeCoito, Manu Sevao, Chris Eblacas, Brennen Cachola, Trenton Kuamo’o, Nainoa Reis)

2. Kai Opua Canoe Club 2:05.11

3. Kai ‘Ehitu 2:08.62  4. Kailana Canoe Club 2:19.19  5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 2:24.40

6. Waikoloa Canoe Club 2:38.23  SCR Kawaihae Canoe Club  SCRKeauhou Canoe Club

Mixed Boys and Girls 12    1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 2:09.21

(Eleashia Kealoha, Danielle Gramlich, Tyler Alani, Taimane Kamaka, Raymond Rowe, Keao Nitta)

2. Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 2:14.16   3. Waikoloa Canoe Club 2:15.53

4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 2:17.05  5. Keauhou Canoe Club 2:23.57  6. Kai ‘Ehitu 2:24.21

7. Keaukaha Canoe Club 2:25.28  9. Kailana Canoe Club 2:51.17   DQ Paddlers of Laka 2:39.80

SCR Puna Canoe Club   SCR Keoua Canoe Club   SCR Kamehameha C.C.

Girls 13    1. Paddlers of Laka 2:01.07

(Pua Wong, Shai Kaniho, Taylor Uratani, Cameron Cabrera, Samantha Simmons, Harley Woolsey)

2. Kawaihae Canoe Club 2:04.01  3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 2:04.60  4. Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 2:12.13

5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 2:12.18  6. Kamehameha C.C. 2:12.95  7. Keoua Canoe Club 2:19.93

8. Puna Canoe Club 2:24.01  9. Kai ‘Ehitu 2:30.80  10. Keauhou Canoe Club 2:36.04

Boys 13     1. Keaukaha Canoe Club 1:50.94

(Keahi Denne-Kimi, Ulu Bueltmann, Kualono Kaupu, Kaimi Iaukea-Ronquillio, Kumulipo Alapai, No’eau Nunes)

2. Puna Canoe Club 1:55.03

3. Kai ‘Ehitu 1:59.34  4. Kai Opua Canoe Club 2:00.58  5. Kawaihae Canoe Club 2:04.82

6. Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 2:11.55  7. Kailana Canoe Club 2:14.60   8. Keauhou Canoe Club 2:26.74

Women Novice B  1. Kawaihae Canoe Club 1:56.60

(Kauihana Archer, Victoria Brooke, Bernice Davis-Lim, Erin Foley, Christi Jean Bell, Mahea Leialoha)

2. Kai Opua Canoe Club 2:01.43   3. Puna Canoe Club 2:01.66

4. Keauhou Canoe Club 2:04.34   5. Kai ‘Ehitu 2:08.52   6. Paddlers of Laka 2:10.01

7. Kamehameha C.C. 2:15.74  8. Tui Tonga 2:18.89  9. Keaukaha Canoe Club 2:19.29

Girls 14    1. Paddlers of Laka 2:01.72

(Taylor Uratani, Samantha Simmons, Peek A Boo Picanco, Shai Kaniho, Pua Wong, Harley Woolsey)

2. Kawaihae Canoe Club 2:01.81  3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 2:02.58  4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 2:05.09

5. Kai ‘Ehitu 2:05.87  6. Keauhou Canoe Club 2:21.74  SCR Kamehameha C.C.

Boys 14    1. Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 1:45.08

(Suwaiter Poch, Wyatt Dudoit, Jordan Dodd, Chris Kekaualua-Tuiaana, Alex Tacuban, Sumo Kekaualua-Tuiaana)

2. Keaukaha Canoe Club 1:48.13

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 1:50.07  4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 1:51.26  5. Puna Canoe Club 1:58.80

6. Keoua Canoe Club 2:04.79  7. Kamehameha C.C. 2:16.11  SCR Keauhou Canoe Club

Mixed Novice B    1. Keauhou Canoe Club 1:45.20

(Neil Loyola, Nicole Friedley, Tina Flower, Jason Gabriel, Florian Alokoa, Tanya Ho)

2. Kawaihae Canoe Club 1:45.72  3. Tui Tonga 1:46.46  4. Paddlers of Laka 1:46.71

5. Kai Opua Canoe Club 1:47.89  6. Kai ‘Ehitu 1:49.70  7. Keaukaha Canoe Club 1:53.86

8. Kamehameha C.C. 1:53.88  DQ Puna Canoe Club 1:49.88  SCR Kailana Canoe Club

Girls 15   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:34.97

(Nora Frank, Ashley DeMello, Justyce Torres, Joelle Kahalewai, Janelle Quinn, Gabriele Lovell)

2. Kamehameha C.C. 4:37.22   3. Kai ‘Ehitu 4:37.53

4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:49.86  5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:51.80  SCR Keauhou Canoe Club

Boys 15   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:45.52

(Devin Vandervoort, Isaiah Hauanio, Nalu East, Keanu Gonzalez, Ka’u Kin In, Kepa Kalima-Padillio)

2. Kawaihae Canoe Club 3:52.52  3. Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 3:52.86  4. Puna Canoe Club 3:53.85

5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:01.16  6. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:21.90  7. Kamehameha C.C. 4:38.19

Men Novice B   1. Keauhou Canoe Club 3:48.83

(Nick Imonti, Jason Gabriel, Mark Silva, Neil Loyola, Rick Meldrum, Stewart Solmonson)

2. Tui Tonga 3:49.60

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:50.30  4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 3:52.27  5. Kai ‘Ehitu 3:58.40

6. Puna Canoe Club 4:05.07  7. Kamehameha C.C. 4:27.74  8. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:34.44

Girls 16 & Under   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:29.10

(Malamalama Ellis-Noa, Manaia Genovia, Lorelei Nakagawa, Lita Taumoefolau, Janelle Quinn, Tania Plato)

2. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:34.32   3. Paddlers of Laka 4:37.93

4. Kamehameha C.C. 4:38.54  5. Keauhou Canoe Club 5:08.25  6. Keaukaha Canoe Club 5:08.69

Boys 16 & Under    1. Puna Canoe Club 3:46.62

(Kalae Ke III, Keola Sumera-Lee, Lono Leasure-Lucas, Colby Nicolas, Ian Terpstra, Chance Agpoon)

2. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:53.35  3. Keauhou Canoe Club 3:53.75  4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:09.58

5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:10.15  6. Kamehameha C.C. 4:15.46  7. Kai ‘Ehitu 4:16.06

Girls 18 & Under   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:33.25

(Ashley Gross, Alohi Nakachi, Bethany Llanes, Kilinahe Amone, Kayla Hew Len, Sara Ingram)

2. Keoua Canoe Club 4:47.43   3. Kamehameha C.C. 4:47.57   4. Paddlers of Laka 4:50.14

5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:58.88   SCR Kawaihae Canoe Club  SCRKeauhou Canoe Club

Boys 18 & Under    1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 7:51.27

(RJ DeMello-Crampton, Kaniela Hauanio, Noelan Kaaihue, Keahi Mamac, Chiyo Brown, Conner Costales)

2. Puna Canoe Club 7:51.96  3. Keauhou Canoe Club 8:21.66  4. Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 8:40.71

5. Kamehameha C.C. 8:43.52  6. Kawaihae Canoe Club 9:23.85   DQ Keaukaha Canoe Club 8:14.36

Women Novice A    1. Puna Canoe Club 4:23.72

(Frankie Martin-Howe, Kelli Tomota, Kahili Hahn, Winona Leialoha, Trevella Williams, Alison Yoneoka)

2. Kona Athletic Club 4:24.71   3. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:29.70

4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:35.20  5. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:36.02   6. Kai ‘Ehitu 4:40.10

7. Waikoloa Canoe Club 4:42.09   8. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:43.91  9. Na Wa’a Hanakahi 4:53.22

Men Novice A   1. Keaukaha Canoe Club 7:32.80

(Adam Veloria, Seth Jones, Ashferd Kelson, Christopher Olayon, Marty Orlando, Eldridge Shay)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 7:35.59   3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 7:53.55   4. Paddlers of Laka 8:08.85

5. Puna Canoe Club 8:11.74   6. Kawaihae Canoe Club 8:21.76   DQ Kai ‘Ehitu 8:01.47

Women Freshmen   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 8:31.87

(Melanie Kelekolio, Nicola Fernandez, Darcy Daniel, Tiapepe Ulufaleilupe, Leann Alani, Jenna Quinn)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 8:40.15   3. Kawaihae Canoe Club 8:57.93  

4. Puna Canoe Club 9:11.97   5. Kai ‘Ehitu 10:19.84  SCR Keaukaha Canoe Club

Men Freshmen    1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 7:14.87

(Luka Dayton Smith, Miles Cannon, Ina Ynigues Jr, Nue Youderian, Eddie Hayward, Theron Ogata)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 7:15.06   3. Puna Canoe Club 7:25.27   4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 8:00.42

5. Tui Tonga 8:08.96   6. Kawaihae Canoe Club 8:35.00  7. Kamehameha C.C. 8:37.15

8. Kai ‘Ehitu 8:48.63   9. Paddlers of Laka 9:02.31   SCR Na Wa’a Hanakahi

Women Sophomore   1. Keauhou Canoe Club 8:41.37

(Cheryl Villegas, Alexis Ching, Leah Winkler, Melissa John, Mara Masuda, Gina Torres)

2. Puna Canoe Club 8:54.88   3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 8:55.92

4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 9:01.90  5. Kamehameha C.C. 9:30.85  6. Kawaihae Canoe Club 9:39.93

Men Sophomore   1. Keauhou Canoe Club 7:28.01

(Nathan Loyola, Robert Olson, Justin Warren, Frano Quirk, Chase VonNordheim, Peter Olson)

2. Tui Tonga 7:29.27  3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 7:38.70

4. Kamehameha C.C. 7:45.26  5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 7:50.28  6. Kai ‘Ehitu 8:08.24

7. Puna Canoe Club 8:24.93  8. Kawaihae Canoe Club 8:47.60  9. Paddlers of Laka 9:34.44

Women Junior   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 8:39.19

(Melanie Kelekolio, Tiapepe Ulufaleilupe, Dani Ho, Rebekah Lussia’a, Amy Young, Dondi Dawson)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 8:45.77  3. Puna Canoe Club 9:12.39

4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 9:32.32  SCR Keaukaha Canoe Club  SCR Kamehameha C.C.

Men Junior   1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 7:27.70

(Nathan Grocholski, Kai Robson, Kekaulike Tomich, Ivan Mcivor, Ian Foo, Kawika Leicher)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 7:30.35

3. Tui Tonga 7:38.27  4. Kamehameha C.C. 8:05.70  5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 8:13.18

6. Puna Canoe Club 8:35.80   7. Kai ‘Ehitu 8:50.39  SCR Kawaihae Canoe Club

Women Masters (40)  1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 8:54.62

(Kathleen Leahy, Kainoa Lavea, Angela Rey, Darcy Daniel, Dani Ho, Dondi Dawson)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 9:16.59  3. Kamehameha C.C. 9:23.68

4. Puna Canoe Club 9:35.00  5. Kawaihae Canoe Club 9:40.47  6. Keaukaha Canoe Club 10:14.74

Men Masters (40)   1. Keaukaha Canoe Club 7:45.55

(Ryan Tanner, Ray Laub, Terry Andrade, Steve Blyth, Creighton Litton, Ira Kekaualua)

2. Puna Canoe Club 7:52.39  3. Keauhou Canoe Club 7:52.49  4. Kai Opua Canoe Club 8:08.85

5. Kai ‘Ehitu 8:24.50  6. Kamehameha C.C. 8:33.15  DQ Kawaihae Canoe Club 8:40.62

Woman Masters (60 yrs)   1. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:38.12

(Sammie Stanbro, Marianne Starr, Beve Schorr, Gladi Hoagland, Sherri Carney, Penny Merryman)

2. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:45.37  SCR Keaukaha Canoe Club  SCR Kawaihae Canoe Club

Men Masters (60 yrs)  1. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:04.48

(Bruce Clifford, Gary Capri, Mana Manasas, Moke Hauanio, Lorrin Ching, Peter Lasich)

2. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:12.53  3. Na Wa’a Hanakahi 4:21.35

4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:22.03  5. Kamehameha C.C. 4:32.57  SCR Kai Opua Canoe Club

Women Golden Masters (55)  1. Puna Canoe Club 4:32.02

(Susan O’Shaughnessy, Bev Tuaolo, Debbie Noland, Nora Cesareblanco, Patricia Jaworski, Nalani Viveiros)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:33.50  3. Kamehameha C.C. 4:48.79

4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 5:07.38  5. Kawaihae Canoe Club 5:07.79  SCR Kai Opua Canoe Club

Men Golden Masters (55)  1. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:01.30

(Robert Vatter, Lorrin Ching, Moke Hauanio, Bruce Clifford, George Abood, Richard Everett)

2. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:14.42  3. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:16.98  4. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:20.82

5. Na Wa’a Hanakahi 4:38.32  6. Waikoloa Canoe Club 4:43.18  SCR Keoua Canoe Club

Senior Women Masters (50)  1. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:32.39

(Joreen Knox, Sherri Carney, Teri Fong, Jacque Wikum, Carol Carroll, Leila Duim)

2. Puna Canoe Club 4:39.03  3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:49.95

4. Kamehameha C.C. 4:56.92  5. Keaukaha Canoe Club 5:02.34  6. Kawaihae Canoe Club 5:08.08

Senior Men Masters (50)  1. Puna Canoe Club 3:45.67

(Joe Kalima Jr., Willie Viveiros, Chuck Santiago, Brian Peterson, Afa Tuaolo, Steve Backman)

2. Keaukaha Canoe Club 3:46.16

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:48.16  4. Keauhou Canoe Club 3:49.49 SCR Kawaihae Canoe Club

Mixed Masters (60)  1. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:09.29

(Richard Everett, Egon Horcajo, Gladi Hoagland, Mana Manasas, Marianne Starr, Penny Merryman)

2. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:36.70

3. Kamehameha C.C. 4:37.94  4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:49.77  DQ Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:25.63

Mixed Masters (55)   1. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:11.44

(Kathy Kaai, Kim Schneider, Peter Lasich, Robert Vatter, Ned Burns, Sammie Stanbro)

2. Kamehameha C.C. 4:21.81  3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:24.65  4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:35.93

5. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:36.67  SCR Keoua Canoe Club  SCR Puna Canoe Club

Mixed Masters (40)    1. Keaukaha Canoe Club 3:58.74

(Roberta Martinez, Loke Andrade, Cindy Van Guilder, Nate Kaluhiwa, Creighton Litton, Steve Blyth)

2. Keauhou Canoe Club 4:00.39  3. Kamehameha C.C. 4:10.99

4. Puna Canoe Club 4:11.95  5. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:12.03  6. Kai ‘Ehitu 4:32.05

7. Waikoloa Canoe Club 4:45.90  DQ Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:11.57  DQ Na Wa’a Hanakahi 5:33.82

Women Open Four  1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:40.56

(Tatiana Tan, Malia Kipapa, Lelia Kanuha, Kim Rowe)  2. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:45.18  3. Keaukaha Canoe Club 4:54.35

4. Waikoloa Canoe Club 5:16.66  5. Keauhou Canoe Club 5:17.86  6. Kona Athletic Club 5:25.64

7. Kamehameha C.C. 5:38.74  8. Paddlers of Laka 5:38.74  9. Keoua Canoe Club 5:51.58

10. Kai ‘Ehitu 6:27.73  DQ Puna Canoe Club 5:08.36  SCR Tui Tonga

Men Open Four

1. Keauhou Canoe Club 3:47.31  (Kua Nolan, Daniel Chun, Robert Olson, barmer Hauanio)

2. Puna Canoe Club 3:48.86  3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:49.51  4. Keaukaha Canoe Club 3:54.02

5. Kamehameha C.C. 4:03.77  6. Tui Tonga 4:06.53  7. Keoua Canoe Club 4:15.60

8. Na Wa’a Hanakahi 4:27.19  9. Kawaihae Canoe Club 4:29.45  10. Paddlers of Laka 4:33.85

11. Kailana Canoe Club 4:37.23  12. Waikoloa Canoe Club 4:37.61  DQ Kai ‘Ehitu 4:13.08

Mixed Men and Women

1. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:47.82  (Nue Youderian, Luka Dayton Smith, Kekaulike Tomich, Jenna Quinn, Hi’ilei Aldridge, Oilipua Atkinson)

2. Keaukaha Canoe Club 3:54.91  3. Kai ‘Ehitu 3:55.83

4. Keauhou Canoe Club 3:55.90  5. Kawaihae Canoe Club 3:56.45  6. Puna Canoe Club 3:56.53

7. Kamehameha C.C. 3:58.80  8. Tui Tonga 4:14.32  9. Paddlers of Laka 4:16.90

10. Keoua Canoe Club 4:21.65  11. Na Wa’a Hanakahi 4:35.00  12. Waikoloa Canoe Club 4:58.74

Moku O Hawaii Crews claim state titles

Keauhou Novice women do well - photo by Baron Sekiya

Big Island paddling crews were battling for state titles this past Saturday as the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association brought the show to Hilo Bay for the first time since 2002.

    Moku O Hawaii clubs did not disappoint the large home crowd as early on in the 39 race schedule the Puna Boys 16 captured the state championship paddling in lane 10 of the 14 lane competition.

   The six member crew made up of Hapa Aki, Keola Sumera-Lee, Kalae Ke III, Aimoku Johansen and brothers Luke and Lono Leasure-Lucas pulled in the first state title of the day for Puna Canoe Club crews.

    “It feels amazing to have won the state title,” Johansen said.  “You could feel everyone in the canoe pulling together and we all gave just a little extra today.”

Puna boys 14 placed 3rd at state

Sumera-Lee was sitting in seat two behind the stroker, Aki, and believed that it was the power seats that helped lead the crew to victory.  “We have to keep up with the stroker and we were switching sides every 15 stokes.  The power boys really came through,” Sumera-Lee said.

   “We worked pretty hard during the season and four of us have been together for four years.  It is a perfect blend for us,” Ke III said.

    The four members of the state champion Puna 16 crew that Ke III was talking about – Aki, Sumera-Lee, Ke III and Lono Leasure-Lucas – were members of the boys 13 crew that won the state championship last year.

   The Puna women, Novice A, also came up big in winning their first state title.  Stroker, Michele Gunderson, set the pace and allowed the power women behind her to make the canoe fly.

Puna women, “backbone of team”

“The last few races we just kept doing the same thing and we peaked at the right time, just like our coaches said would happen,” Gunderson said.

   “We really jelled as a crew and we talked before the race and got each other pumped up.  From the beginning our coaches told us we could win states.  We felt that we really had a chance and it came through,” she said.

   Gunderson was supported by power paddlers Kanani Yockman, Shannon Johnson, Aimee Kama, Rose Calumag, and steersman Cherie Kauahi.

   “It’s not how you start a season, but how you finish the season that matters,” Gunderson said.

    Defending Moku O Hawaii team champions, Kai Opua, grabbed state titles in the girls 16 and boys’ 15 division.

    Matelita Taumoefolau was ecstatic about her girls’ team title.  “I’ve been paddling every summer for the past four years,” she said.

   “Today we won with a totally different crew.  This was the first time we put this crew together, but we all knew we could bring the power,” Taumoefolau said.

   The Kai Opua girls won in the center of the field, lane 8, and Taumoefolau believes that the brisk wind changed the currents to help the outside lanes.

   Sitting in seat number five, Mia Mardikian, felt confident going into the race.  “We knew we were strong and could bring it on.  Our coaches really know us and they believed in us.  Today was about natural chemistry,” she said.

   Taumoefolau and Mardikian were aided by Zara Nicholson, Kamella Dowells, Kiinahe Amone and Ashley Gross.

   The winning Kai Opua boys 15 crew consisted of Marshall Castillon, Kainoa and Micah Tanoai, Conner Costales, Kaiwi Canda Alvarez and steersman Chase Vonnorheim.

   Tui Tonga pulled in a big win during the men’s Novice A, 1-mile race, when their crew of Jerome Slade, Joe Meheula, Earl Cox III, Daniel Chun, Daniel Demello and Andreas Gaeta took home the gold medal.

    “We got more heart than anyone else here,” said steersman, Gaeta, after the race.  “It comes down to heart and who wants it the most.  Today we raced against the best and we are the best.”

    Tui Tonga’s crew raced in lane 6 and Gaeta believes that the middle lanes were running perfectly.

   “We got lucky as we pulled it together at the half mile portion of the race.  The inside lanes were sticky at the turn, but we kicked it in really hard with a quarter mile to go,” Gaeta said.

   Keauhou also scored big wins in both the mixed and men’s Novice B (first year paddlers) Divisions.

   For the mixed winning crew the combination of Aaron Brown, Annet Rodriguez, Bobby Friedman, Paul Masci, Wrayra Fairchild and Kolina Chao finished the season on a high note.

     “The best part of paddling is being part of a team,” steersman, Rodriguez said.  “It’s stressful being the steersman because I don’t want to let anyone down.  I didn’t expect to win today, but we did it for one of our team members who is stricken with cancer, Delta Thompson.”

   “The entire team is behind him and his fight with cancer and we are all motivated to do well for him,” she said.

    Keauhou’s Novice B men also pulled out a state medal using Bart Blosser, Dan Chilton, Jeff Silva, Josh Holt, Justing Warren and Hana Cook.

   Silva, who steered the canoe, believed in the old adage of hard work.  “The harder your work the more it pays off in the end,” he said.

“I feel very comfortable in the water and used my knowledge of surfing to help steer the canoe in the changing currents.  Our crew was confident going into the race and they trusted me,” Silva said.

   “Today all our training and hard work paid off.  We were undefeated during the entire season if you don’t count the first race when we were disqualified,” Silva said with a grin.

   Keaukaha was not to be denied a state medal as they used their Girls 18 under crew to claim top honors.

    Three of their girls were part of the Pahoa High girls winning crew that made big news earlier in the year when they won a Big Island Interscholastic Federation title.

   Dagger girls Loke Picanco, Shayna Lynn Bertilacci and Beautiful Wilson combined with Kamehameha School paddlers Kiani Matsumoto, Kao Sutton and Shelby Picanco to capture a HCRA state title with Keaukaha Canoe Club.

   “There are so many good teams out here that we didn’t know how we were going to do coming into today. We were in lane 11 during the race and it felt smooth,” stroker Loke Picanco said.

    “We finished second to Kai Opua during the Moku championships and during the two weeks since we have been working very hard.  All the hard work paid off,” she said.

Canoe Paddling Championships Today

Puna Canoe Club will challenge for title today

Big Island Canoe Paddling Championships Today

     The Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association’s Aunty Maile Big Island Championships are being held today, Saturday, at Hilo Bay.

     This morning kicks off with an 8 a.m. blessing followed by a special race for the youth alternate paddlers.

     The daylong event will feature 15 canoe clubs featured in 40 races which officially start with the girls 12 event.

The state championships will be held at Hilo Bay on August 1^st.

    Defending team champion, Kai Opua, under head coach Eddie Hayward is the heavy favorite going into today’s championship.

    Kai Opua is expected to fight off strong challenges from Keauhou and Puna in what should be an exciting 15-club title race.

    Puna Canoe Club’s head coach, Afa Tuaolo, showcases a boys 14 crew which is undefeated on the regular season.