Paddlers had to take on less-than-ideal weather conditions for the first time this season at Kamehameha Canoe Club’s John Kekua Jr. regatta on Saturday in Hilo Bay.
The scene at the bayfront was different than it has been for most of this summer’s paddling season, with firecracker shells strewn across the ground and rainclouds obscuring the horizon.
Puna Canoe Club led in overall points (265) — as it has at every regatta this year — but this time, just barely. Keaukaha CC finished in an extremely close second place, grossing 256 points and leading the standings for most of the regatta.
Puna collected 12 gold, nine silver and eight bronze medals while Keaukaha won 11 gold, seven silver and one bronze.
The pair led the pack by a considerable distance. Kai ‘Ehitu grossed the third-most points, 192. The host club grossed the seventh-most points, 127.
Puna’s boys 14 crew has dominated the ‘fastest quarter-mile’ category for much of the season, but on Saturday, Puna’s Mixed Novice B crew — Hokulani Gates, Makoa Freitas, Amber Loeffler, Gabby Rodenhurst, Julius Gutierrez and Elijah Hail — led the category with a time of 1:48.20.
Kai Ehitu’s Men Open Four crew — Ian Hamar, Nick Shand, Malosi Stegehuis and Jeffrey Seward — recorded a state-leading half-mile, clocking in at 0:40.02.
Keauhou’s Men Junior crew — Kua Nolan, Trey Cox III, Aaron Nahina, Jose Lizardi, Makoa Becerra and Toa Bertaina — notched the fastest mile for the fifth consecutive time, 7:15.80.
Division B saw intense competition for its leaderboard, with the top three clubs finishing within one point of each other. Keoua Hoenaunau led with 85 points, followed by Hui Wa‘a ‘O Waiakea with 84 and Paddlers of Laka with 83.
Just one regular season regatta remains, Paddlers of Laka and Na Wa‘a Hanakahi’s regatta this weekend at Hilo Bay.
On July 22, Kamehameha CC will host the Moku ‘O Hawai‘i Championship in Hilo Bay.
There will be a week of downtime for clubs to prepare for the State Championship, which will also take place in Hilo Bay on Aug. 5.
Correction from last week’s article: In last week’s article about the Puna Regatta, it was stated that Waikoloa Canoe Club’s Women 65 crew held a state leading time, which was notched at the Kailana Regatta.
This was correct, but one of the crew members was not mentioned — Emily Claspell.