For the first time in 2024, summer paddling returned to the Kona proper.
The Moko O Hawai‘i Outrigger Canoe Racing Association hosted its third regatta of the season this past Saturday in Kailua Bay. Fifty-eight crews and 335 total paddlers of all ages competed in the long-distance windward course that was sponsored by the Keauhou Canoe Club. One-hundred and fifty-five of the competitors were keiki.
Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger team took home the most medals in the event with 13 — seven of them being gold. The team’s seven victories were in the traditional iron male open (48:48), the traditional iron male novice (43:36), the traditional iron male age-13 division (14:17), the traditional iron male age-15 division (19:31), the unlimited iron male open (42:27), the traditional iron female novice (53:17) and the unlimited iron female open (48:42).
Kai Opua, another West Hawaii club, posted a second-place overall team finish with nine medals cumulatively. Six of the organization’s medals were gold — the traditional iron male age-12 division (17:01), traditional iron male age-70-or-over (53:36) division, traditional iron female age-12 division (16:10), traditional iron female age-15 division (24:25), traditional iron female age-70-or-over division (57:22) and the traditional iron mixed age-18 division (20:13).
Keauhou, the event’s host, posted the third-most medals with five total — three of them being gold. The team won the traditional iron female age-14 race (13:53), the traditional iron female age-16 race (22:14) and the traditional iron mixed age-12 race (15:34).
The day’s fastest time came from Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club, in which the team’s age-14 male division of River Candiente, Justice Charity, Kalawai Ciacci, Zeryth Jongert, Leo Lenta and Gavin Schwartzkopf raced in 12 minutes and 50 seconds. The time lapped the second-fastest finish of the event by nearly a minute.
For a better perspective on the regatta’s age range, Mac Amos of Hoemana was the oldest paddler at the event at 80 years old, while Makua Kriss of Kai Opua was the youngest at 10 years old.
Moku O Hawai‘i’s next race will be this upcoming Saturday in Hilo Bay for a second straight long-distance paddling event of 2024. Hui Wa‘a ‘O Waiakea will be the week’s sponsor.
