The Kamehameha Canoe Club’s girls 18 crew all know each other quite well, hanging out together at Waiakea High and paddling for Mahea Stanley, who coaches them in school and during the summer.
The Kamehameha Canoe Club’s girls 18 crew all know each other quite well, hanging out together at Waiakea High and paddling for Mahea Stanley, who coaches them in school and during the summer.
It’s a connection that bonds them, a strong chemistry in the canoe, and foundation for a lasting friendship.
The crew of Malia Fontes-Pai, Brooke Gomes, Brianna-Marie Smith-Varios, Brandi-Lee Kuheana-Callahan, Jolyn Takeya-Whitney and Chelyn Fontes-Pai finished third in the half-mile race at the John Kekua Jr./Kamehameha regatta on Saturday at Hilo Bay.
Kai Opua placed first in 4 minutes, 41.90 seconds, and was trailed by Keaukaha, 4:46.45; and Kamehameha, 4:48.14. Kawaihae and Kai Ehitu both scratched.
The second-to-last Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta was held under humid and windy conditions, which didn’t bother Division A (15-40 events) winner Kai Opua.
The West Hawaii powerhouse piled up 217 points, and was followed by Puna, 207; Kai Ehitu, 173; Kawaihae, 143; Keauhou, 138; Keaukaha, 119; Kamehameha, 27; and Paddlers of Laka, 65.
Keoua Honaunau won its second straight Division B (1-14 events) title with 55 points, and was followed by Waikoloa, 42; Waiakea, 24; Milolii, 16; Hanakahi, 14; and Kailana, 5.
The 10th annual Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championships will be held Saturday. It’s the last chance to score points and qualify for the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state championships, slated Aug. 1 at Hilo Bay.
Kai Opua will be gunning for its eighth consecutive Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii title. Old nemesis Puna interrupted the run in 2007.
Kamehameha has just three crews in second or third place in the Moku O Hawaii standings: the girls 18 (third place), women 60 (second), and women 50 (third). There are none in first place.
Only the girls 18 won a race, the Kailana regatta on June 20. But all three are candidates to claim one of association’s three lanes at the HCRA state championships.
Kamehameha entered 27 races, but may qualify just three crews for states. That’s the harsh reality of having states here. All the clubs want to qualify as much crews as possible because there’s no airfare and hotel expenses to worry about.
“We’re doing all right. We’re not a big club, and never were,” Kamehameha head coach Stan Cann said. “We’re competitive in some divisions and gaining experience in others. Clubs are putting their best paddlers in races, and stepping up to qualify. We’re definitely doing the best we can.”
There has always been a strong connection between the Kamehameha club and Waiakea High. Kekua, who passed away in September 2010, was the Warriors coach, a position now held by Stanley.
Malia Fontes-Pai, Smith-Varios, Kuheana-Callahan will be seniors at Waiakea, while Gomes will be a junior. They’re all on the school’s paddling team. Malia’s sister Chelyn will be a Waiakea freshman.
Takeya-Whitney is a 2014 Waiakea graduate and is attending UH-Hilo. She didn’t paddle last summer, but has been with the club the longest, starting as a 10-year-old.
Fontes-Pai is next most tenured, now in her seventh year with Kamehameha. She joined Kamehameha because her sister, Bernice Pai, paddles for the women freshmen crew.
Malia Fontes-Pai, Smith-Varios, and Kuheana-Callahan were on the girls 15 crew that won a Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii title last year and went to states.
Kuheana-Callahan pointed out that it’s a familiar feeling paddling at Kamehameha because her crewmates are all classmates, and her coach provides the same instruction.
“It’s my second year paddling, and it’s the same because it’s a half-mile (in both BIIF and Moku O Hawaii),” Kuheana-Callahan said. “Coach Mahea is friendly and nice and helps us a lot. She pushes us because she knows how much we can give.”
Last year at the HCRA state championships at Keehi Lagoon on Oahu, Kamehameha competed in Division A (1-6 events) and finished ninth with six crews.
The last time states was held at Hilo Bay in 2009, Kamehameha raced in Division AA (7-12 events) and placed eighth or second-to-last with 11 crews.
All of the girls 18 paddlers mentioned that they enjoy the family atmosphere at Kamehameha. It holds true for the Fontes-Pai sisters.
But Takeya-Whitney, who also paddles for the women junior, noted that there’s something more precious than a state medal.
It wasn’t that long ago Takeya-Whitney was a 10-year-old learning to paddle under the wing of John Kekua. Now, she’s taking liberal arts at UH-Hilo and thinking of a career as a physical therapist or going into sports medicine.
“It’s good watching everyone grow up,” she said.
Kekua koa race
On Sunday, Aug. 2, the day after the HCRA state championships, the inaugural John Kekua Koa Wa‘a Long Distance Race will be held at Hilo Bay.
The men’s and women’s event is hosted by the Puakea Foundation and Kekua’s Kamehameha Canoe Club. (Bobby Puakea is Kekua’s cousin.)
For more information, visit puakea.org or contact Noelani Puniwai at 808-284-2844 or waamau@puakea.org.