WAILUA — The Hanalei Canoe Club program swept the 25th Annual Walter Smith Regatta at the Wailua River, Saturday. Hanalei captured the adult races, finishing with 276 points after taking Na ‘Opio division with 117 points in the race that
WAILUA — The Hanalei Canoe Club program swept the 25th Annual Walter Smith Regatta at the Wailua River, Saturday.
Hanalei captured the adult races, finishing with 276 points after taking Na ‘Opio division with 117 points in the race that opened the Garden Island Canoe Racing Association Regatta season.
Puanani Carvalho of the Kawaikini Canoe Club, host for the season-opening regatta, said a pule, or prayer, was offered for everyone’s safety, health and enjoyment opened the protocol portion before the races started under blue skies and an atmosphere charged with excitement.
Puamohala Delair of the Kawaikini Canoe Club offered a welcoming oli and a ho‘okupu of inamona, grounded and season kukui nut, wrapped in ti leaf was presented to each of the presidents of participating canoe clubs.
Following the opening protocol, Na ‘Opio, or children’s division, took to the water and Hanalei Canoe Club setting the stage for the day by taking the opening race, Girls 10 Under, with a convincing 2:34.69 paddle down the 1/4-mile course.
Pu‘uwai (2:52.71) and Kaiola (2:59.13) followed in that race.
Hanalei continued its yellow-shirted control over the field as its unofficial team topped the Boys 10 Under race on a 3:00.12 paddle followed by the Hanalei team crossing at 3:05.75 followed by Pu‘uwai at 3:20.35.
Kilohana Canoe Club, paddling out of the Waimea River, captured second in Na ‘Opio division following a strong showing in the 2008 season where the Waimea young paddlers showed a strong prescense at the regattas.
Kilohana’s opened its scorebooks with a first finish in the Mixed 10 Under race on a 2:37.58 paddle, squeaking past Hanalei (2:40.58) and an unofficial Pu‘uwai crew (3:19.13).
The club paddling in the purple canoe followed that up with another first finish in the Girls 13 Under division on another strong 2:06.48 showing over Hanalei (2:31.89) and an unofficial Pu‘uwai crew (3:54.86).
The yellow shirts continued to grab first finishes in the Girls 12, Boys 12, Girls 14 where Hanalei crews controlled the top two berths, the Women Novice B, the Men Novice B after the Pu‘uwai crew DQ’ed, Girls 16, Girls 18, and Boys 18.
Kaiola, finishing third in Na ‘Opio with 47 points, opened its books in the Boys 13 race with a 1:56.40 first finish over Hanalei’s 2:28.68. The green canoe paddlers added another first in the Boys 14 with a first finish of 1:56.40 over Hanalei’s 2:47.17 showing.
Hanalei Freshmen Men opened its adult division scorebooks on a 3:31.76 run over the mile course after its Women Freshmen finished second, third overall, on a 4:13.48 paddle below Niumalu’s 3:57.27 run. Kaiola, finished second overall at 4:00.95, was disqualified.
Hanalei also picked up top finishes in the Women Sophomore, Women Senior where the yellow shirts eked out a 3:55.85 paddle over Niumalu’s 3:56.63 paddle over a 1 1/2-mile course.
In the Mens Senior, Hanalei dropped to Kailoa by a .61 second margin, crossing at 3:35.83 to Kaiola’s 3:35.21.
Hanalei also topped the Golden Women Masters, Senior Women Masters (50+), Mixed Golden Masters (55+), and Mixed Open races.
Kaiola Canoe Club finished the adult races with 139 points for second place followed by Kilohana at 104 points.
The next races will be held at Kalapaki Beach as the Niumalu Canoe Club hosts the regatta.
On Sunday, races move to the Hanama‘ulu Beach Park when Kaiola Canoe Club hosts its annual Business Canoe Race as a fundraiser.
