Sixty-nine teams of women from around the world turned out for the 41-mile outrigger canoe race from Moloka‘i to O‘ahu on Sept. 24.
Marking the 28th Na Wahine o Ke Kai crossing of the Kaiwi Channel, the race is the pinnacle of the paddling season, representing the “world championship” of canoe races.
The concept for a women’s channel crossing was born in 1954, two years following the first men’s Moloka‘i-to-O‘ahu Race. A Waikiki Surf Club’s women’s crew proposed the idea, but coaches and officials insisted that women could not handle the perilous channel.
Decades of persistence and commitment led to the realization of a women’s canoe race. In October 1975, the first unofficial crossing was made by two crews of 18 women each, proving women could paddle the Kaiwi Channel.
The first race was officially founded in February 1979, and Kaua‘i’s Puna Dawson christened the event “Na Wahine o Ke Kai,” or “The Women of the Sea.” On Oct. 15, 1979, the first women paddled in the Moloka‘i-to-O‘ahu race.
Over the years, the canoe race has flourished and grown under director Hannie Anderson’s dedication to the sport, lifestyle and culture of canoe paddling. The level of competition attracts crews from around the world.
Working with each other through the paddling season, some paddlers assemble elite, competitive teams by season’s end, while others paddle the channel with a crew from their respective canoe clubs.
Regardless of the combination, it is the channel crossing and team spirit that pervades the event and drives the paddlers. The road that gets the women paddlers to the season’s culminating race is a passage many traverse with patience and fortitude.
Crossing the finish line makes the whole trip and season significant for the wahine paddlers.
Five Kaua‘i canoe clubs sent crews to compete in this year’s Na Wahine event — Na Molokama, Niumalu, Kaiola, Hanalei and Pu‘uwai.
Of these, Niumalu finished 10th in the Open division, 11th overall; Na Molokama ended 13th in the Open division and 14th overall. Kaiola finished 14th in the Open division and 15th overall; Hanalei Canoe Club ended the race 28th in the Open division, 30th overall.
Pu‘uwai sent two crews — a Master 40s that finished third in its division, 40th overall, and Master 50s crossing fourth in its division, 57th overall.
