Kai ‘Ehitu dominates World Sprints
With the 2024 IVF World Sprints ending in Hilo over the weekend, Tahiti finished with the most gold medals with 40, followed by Team Hawai‘i in the No. 2 spot with 21. New Zealand came in third with 14.
But to no one’s surprise, Kai ‘Ehitu, who has been the Big Island’s most dominant club team in 2024 with an island and state title, dominated the sprints as the top finisher from all of the Hawai‘i clubs competing — tallying 111 points in the overall club standings. The team had a gold-medal win in the World Club Championship — the Master 60 Men – V12 500 in 2:07.61. Brian Ku, Bruce Ayau, Dave Okita, Glen Baldado, Hunter Anderson, Jun Balanga Jr., Louis Mendonca, Michael Andrade, Patrick Wong, Paul Malama, Steve Blyth and Troy Parker-Bailey all raced for Kai ‘Ehitu in the prestigious victory.
Kai ‘Ehitu also won silver in the Junior 19 Men – V6 1000 (5:03.97), Master 40 Men – V6 1000 (4:58.42), Master 50 Men – V12 500 (2:04.46), Master 50 Men – V6 1000 (5:05.06), Master 50 Men – V6 500 (2:03.82) and Master 60 Men – V6 500 (2:10.37).
The red and white club also placed third in the following divisions: the Master 40 Women – V12 500 (2:14.53), Open Men – V12 500 (1:52.87), Open Men – V6 1500 (7:30.16) and Open Men – V6 500 (1:53.93).
“We painted the Island of Hawai‘i red, the entire state red and now we’re painting the world red,” head coach Richard Kimitete told West Hawaii Today regarding Kai ‘Ehitu’s historic 2024 season. “We really did it.”
Long distance regular season wraps up
Hawai‘i Canoe Racing Association (HCRA) wrapped up its long distance regular season Saturday in Anaeho‘omalu Bay. The event was sponsored by Waikoloa Canoe Club. Over 300 paddlers competed, ranging from ages 9 to 75.
Kawaihae Canoe Club finished as the top team with 11 total medals — six of them gold. The team’s six wins were in the the Iron Female age-50 division (1:33.07), the Unlimited Iron Female Open (1:10:51), the Traditional Iron Mixed Open (1:22.03), the Traditional Iron Mixed age-50 division (1:30:00), the Traditional Iron Female age-14 division (36:42) and the Traditional Iron Mixed age-18 division (34:26).
Hoemana tied for second overall with four gold medals — in the Koa Iron Female Open (1:31.23), the Traditional Iron Mixed age-60 division (1:27:01), the Traditional Iron Mixed age-65 division (1:33:53) and the Traditional Iron Female age-18 division (40:36).
Kai ‘Ehitu tied Hoemana with four golds — in the Traditional Iron Mixed Novice (1:16:03), the Traditional Iron Male age-14 division (33:12), the Traditional Iron Male age-18 division (32:17) and the Traditional Iron Mixed age-14 division (42:44).
Ehunui earns first win
The Ehunui Io, a revamped varsity girls volleyball program in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF), notched their first win since the 2018 season over Kanu o ka ‘Aina on Monday in Old Airport’s gymnasium.
The Io won in four sets — 25-22, 20-25, 25-22 and 25-21.
Ehunui’s (1-1) next game will be Sept. 4 at Old Airport against Kohala. Kanu (0-2) will host Honoka‘a on Sept. 7 in Waimea.
West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune-Herald could not obtain the final score for Monday’s Kea‘au vs. Pahoa girls volleyball matchup by Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 27.