It was a late start but a predictable finish at the BIIF canoe paddling championships.
The starter’s boat showed up an hour late on Saturday at Hilo Bay, leaving many on the beach confused and wondering what was going on and if the race would be canceled.
When order was restored, the Keaau girls (Jonray Enriques, Kyla Fabiani, Lori “Boi” Aiu, Liana Prudholm, Lexie Prudholm, Cother McKeague La’a) took away the day’s suspense early: Would a school sweep all three races for the first time?
The Cougars were too fast in the half-mile race for the young Ka Makani and won 4:26.55 to 4:29.39.
“They were in close competition all year,” Keaau coach Grant Kaaua said. “So they weren’t thinking that we going to run away with it. In the heat of the battle of it, they were ready.
“We prevented the sweep. HPA was right on our tails with the girls, and they won the boys and mixed. They were really solid. It was good competition.”
There were no surprises in the boys and mixed races. HPA won both to repeat as BIIF champs.
The HPA boys got a good challenge from Hilo but won anyway in 3:41.13 to 3:52.80. The top three crews qualify for states. It’s Hilo’s first appearance since 2015.
The Vikings (Kalo’i Badon-Dellomes, Ezekil Sarimento-Labiano, Nainoa Gomes, Saire Iseri, Pohai Kealoha, Phillip Vierra) have usually finished fourth. Saturday was their best race, and they almost earned a BIIF title. Hilo won the boys and mixed titles in 2009.
Gomes, Vierra and Iseri are seniors. Gomes and Vierra are four-year starters and also got their start in paddling under the late Aunty Maile Mauhili’s club team Kailana.
“It’s been a long haul,” Hilo coach Aloha Mauhili said. “All of them wanted it. It’s an upset. But it’s simple. They did it.”
It was a proud moment for Mauhili that two of her paddlers, who started under her mom, saw all their hard work pay off. Aunty Maile passed away Oct. 19 at age 85.
Gomes had up-and-down feelings about the day. He was overjoyed that the Viks came close to a BIIF title and got a state berth, but dismayed with the late start.
“It’s good to make states for the first time,” he said. “It was frustrating, but it came out good. We needed a little time to shake it off, but at the end it was a good day.”
One shocking surprise was that the Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino boys pulled out of the race in protest.
Ehunui coach Eddie Hayward was not happy how canoe paddling has been treated compared to other sports.
“They made a decision to not race today to send a strong message. This high school sport has been going on since 2002, and 18 years later it’s still being treated as if it’s the first year out. From here on out, let’s take care of this sport. That people are checking their emails and responding in a timely matter and always putting kids first.”
Hayward said he sent out emails to league officials asking about the water conditions (being clean and healthy) but got no response back.
Kealakehe athletic director Alan Vogt is in charge of canoe paddling, taking over from Waiakea AD Tom Correa.
Prior to last week, Vogt tried to get clarification on the water conditions from the state water branch officials.
He asked when the water was last checked and was told last month, and that the state wasn’t planning to do another water check for a few more weeks. Vogt said there is no clear data that the Hilo Bay water is dangerous.
However, there is still driftwood on the beach.
As far as the late start, Vogt called it a miscommunication.
“There was a miscommunication for who was responsible for lining up the officials boat,” he said. “In the past for the East side, I’ve never had to help arrange it. Somebody had always made it happen. Bottom line, there was miscommunication. In the regulations, it’s not clearly defined who is responsible for getting the boats.
“Luckily, Parker school had a contact and we got a boat, and we were able to have the event.”
Out of the turn, the HPA boys (Ford Stallsmith, Bennett Varney, Kama Liu, Sua Tufaga, Tain Lawson, Carter Macy) pulled away from Keaau and needed a strong late kick to prevail against Hilo.
One key for Ka Makani is their depth and ability to win the heats to grab first choices in lane selection. Last year, they lost three starters and after this season they’ll graduate three in Stallsmith, Tufaga, and Macy.
Ka Makani girls will be strong as ever next season. There’s only one senior starter in Paloma Field.
Sooner or later, the sweep will happen. For the second straight year, HPA missed with the girls. Still, Ka Makani are getting so close.
“I would have loved to see that happen, for us or Keaau,” HPA coach Mesepa Tanoai said. “We had veterans and the addition synchronized but the girls were the newest one. We had a lot of new kids. I wasn’t sure how they would do, but they got better and better. It all worked out and we’re happy we’ve got a couple of banners to hang in our gym.”
Paddling result
Varsity girls
1. Keaau (Jonray Enriques, Kyla Fabiani, Lori “Boi” Aiu, Liana Prudholm, Lexie Prudholm, Cother-McKeague La’a), 4:26.55; 2. HPA, 4:29.39; 3. Kealakehe, 4:39.19; 4. Kamehameha, 4:51.74
Varsity boys
1. HPA (Ford Stallsmith, Bennett Varney, Kama Liu, Sua Tufaga, Tain Lawson, Carter Macy), 3:51.13; 2. Hilo, 3:52.80; 3. Keaau, 3:55.08; 4. Kamehameha, 3:59.31; 5. Kealakehe, 4:06.04; 6. Waiakea, 4:25.07; 7. Parker, DQ, 4:28.39
Varsity mixed
1. HPA (Ford Stallsmith, Bennett Varney, Paloma Field, Te’a Kanha, Tain Lawson, Ollie Hope), 4:00, 87; 2. Keaau, 4:04.63; 3. Kealakehe, 4:13.87; 4. Kamehameha, 4:14.87; 5. Waiakea, 4:21.66; 6. Hilo, 4:25.08; 7. Pahoa, 4:27.85
