PO‘IPU — The sports angle of canoe racing was the catalyst for numerous questions from visitors inquiring about the arrival time of the first canoes Sunday. Although displays and representatives from the Kukui‘ula Canoe Club, host of the 2009 Ocean
PO‘IPU — The sports angle of canoe racing was the catalyst for numerous questions from visitors inquiring about the arrival time of the first canoes Sunday.
Although displays and representatives from the Kukui‘ula Canoe Club, host of the 2009 Ocean Fest, were set up outside the main pavilion at Po‘ipu Beach Park, the single most popular question was “What time are the canoes going to get in?”
“In today’s time, outrigger canoe paddling is pretty much only seen as a sport,” said Dana Miyake, president of Kukui‘ula Canoe Club, in a release from Koloa Plantation Days. “It has grown in popularity internationally with canoe clubs developing all around the world.”
To help pass the time, a short course launch from Po‘ipu Beach Park to the Kukui‘ula Small Boat Harbor appeased some of the fans as race officials decided just minutes before the launch to have a beach start.
The sprint course covered 2.5 miles and featured stand-up and prone paddleboards with most of the field finishing within 30 minutes.
“I like the wind,” said Eugene Ancheta, the sole prone paddleboarder. “It’s blowing from the east so we should be flying on the course. We might beat some of the officials who will be taking a car to the end.”
Laola Lake Aea topped the Women Stand-up Stock class with Frank Henderson and Jensen Badanguio taking the Men Stand-up Open and Men Stand-up Stock classes, respectively.
“This is a great opportunity for our elite paddlers, local residents and visitors to gather together to enjoy a day on the beach and on the water,” Lake Aea said in the release.
Just a few minutes passed since the launch of the short course when the escort boat showed itself from around the point that was shrouded from the big water hitting the South Shore.
Just a bit back, Wes DeSilva aboard a Jet Ski was the first overall paddler, making the finish line crossing at one hour, 16 minutes, 11 seconds.
That set the pace for the field that saw Kalani Vierra of the Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau cross first in the 12-mile stand-up surf class. He was followed by Chris Pico and Scott Iverson.
Josh Comstock was first on the 12-mile prone paddleboard followed by Micah Scott and Matt Snowden.
Mark Frazier, good friend of DeSilva, was close behind the surf ski, crossing first in the OC-1 Men category. He was followed by Aaron Labguen and A.J. Irons.
Jane McKee topped the Women OC-1 followed by Beth Kauwe and Suzy Olsen.
Mixed into the landing, Beth and Brian Carter topped the OC-2 class.
The crossing of the OC-6 canoes did not disappoint spectators as Niumalu edged out Kukui‘ula and Na Molokama for top spot in the Men’s race.
Kaiola and Kukui‘ula were near each other at the end of the OC-6 Women’s race, and Kaiola’s mixed team topped the OC-6 Mixed.
“For those of us of Hawaiian heritage, canoe paddling is more than a sport,” Miyake said. “It’s a connection to our past and our ancestors. When I paddle, it’s with all my heart and soul because I’m remembering and honoring my ancestors by doing the same thing they did hundreds of years ago. By sharing paddling with other cultures, we are able to educate more people about us Hawaiians while preserving our heritage.”
Tim Chotchay, the Kukui‘ula assistant coach, said the outrigger canoe is the most significant, singular artifact to have survived Hawaiian people’s turbulent past.
“Nowhere else can the lessons of our ancestors be made clearer than working, playing and living through the use of an outrigger canoe,” Chotchay said.
This Sunday, more water action will combine with action on land as the Pu‘uwai Canoe Club hosts the third of its triennial triathlons to wrap up the week-long Koloa Plantation Days celebration.
New to this year’s event is the addition of a 5K Fun Run/Walk to allow more of the community to be involved, said Brian Curll of the Pu‘uwai Canoe Club.
The format is a Sprint Distance Triathlon covering a swim of 500-750 meters based on ocean conditions, a 14-mile bike ride, and a 5K run.
Registration is currently being accepted at www.trikauai.com and the officials area opens at the Po‘ipu Beach Park at 5:30 a.m. with the triathlon starting at 6:30 a.m. The Fun Run/Walk starts at 7:30 a.m.
Entry fees are $90 for a triathlon team and $25 for the Fun Run/Walk.
For more information, contact Curll at 635-6311, or Brian Carter at 645-0491.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
