LIHU‘E — Saturday marked the Prince Kuhio Long Distance Canoe Race, organized by The Garden Island Canoe Racing Association.
Paddlers in seven different divisions took to the water, with the women and mixed divisions following a course from Kalapaki Beach to Hanama‘ulu and back. The men paddled from Poipu to Palama buoy to Makahuena and finished back at Poipu Beach.
In the Open Women’s division, the Niumalu team captured first place with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, 31 seconds. The Niumalu club team was made up of Shannan Brunner, Rachel Lim, Beth Kauwe, Rebecca Snowden, Leigh Drautnan and Keala Wann.
Kukuiula took second place at 1:08:12, while Namolokama finished third, 1:09:38.
The Women 50s division was also won by the Niumalu club team of Nancy Graff, Mary Pixler, Joanne Woltman, Margaret Steinhandt, Maureen Murphy and Joy Chow, finishing with a time of 1:22:18.
Hanalei finished a close second at 1:23:40.
Kaiola took the Women 40s division, as the team of Katy Otsuji, Margie Goodno, Annie McEveety-Allen, Malu Wilson, Doneen Stokes and Franny Acoba completed the course in 1:11:39.
The Mixed division was won by Na Kai Ewalu, a Maui club, made up of Colin Lindeman, Mira Cotter, Danielle Kuck, Christina Yorkey, Brock Johnson and Richad Palakiko with a blazing time of 1:03:39.
Kaiola had teams finish second and third, with times of 1:06:29 and 1:09:04, respectively.
Namolokama took home the Open Men’s championship, finishing in a time of 1:14:29. Mark Frazier, AJ Irons, Brian Carter, Brian Market, Mike Mons and Steve Baker combined for the winning effort.
Kukuiula took second with a 1:15:23 paddle, while Na Kai Ewalu was right on its tail, in third with a 1:15:30 time.
Kukuiula moved up to a first-place finish in the Men 40s division, as the team of Mac McDonald, Tony Zina, Mark Jacobsen, J.P. Parrish, J.E. Hoopi‘i and Tim Cotchay finished well ahead of the field with a 1:17:44 paddle.
Pu‘uwai finished in 1:22:34 for second place, while Kaiola took third with a 1:35:21.
The Men 50s division was won by Namolokama with a time of 1:22:54. The team of Jim Ciletti, Marston Christian, Gene Lopez, Mark Daniels, Richard Smith and Kawika Goodale worked together on the first-place trek.
Second place also went to Namolokama with a 1:28:03, with Kaiola grabbing third in 1:30:11.
