Keaukaha Canoe Club - Hilo Hawaii Paddling Club on the Big IslandIt was a calm day with two out and back courses of 3 and 5 miles with the proceeds going to the Hawai’i Food Bank. These pre-2022 season races are a great way to get motivated for the upcoming race season. Congratulations to Kyle and Rodrigo for placing on the long course!
There will be another race the Beanie Heen Memorial at Kawaihae on November 27th and if you miss that there’s a race planned on Dec. 4th, the Pa’akai Paddles race at Honokohau Harbor.
There will be a benefit race for the Hawaii Food Bank in Keauhou with both a long course (5 miles) and a short course (3 miles). It’s on the 13th of this month. There will also be a second race on the 27th, but no details are published yet.
This is a fun race to help you start thinking about the 2022 paddling season and a way to get yourself motivated and out of the Covid slump.
Remember you have to register on line and there are limited spaces due to the current Covid restrictions. See you out there!
With Covid shutting down our six man season and one man season starting in a few months, some paddlers started to up their fishing game during the between seasons.
Jeff was out in his V1 fishing for a bite and got more than he expected. While he was paddling along some of the known active spots he turned from Honoli’i towards the light on the breakwall. The swell was slapping the ama and the current was flooding out. The combination made for a pretty easy trolling speed around 4.5 mph.
While nearing the center channel Jeff had a huge hit on his line and it started taking up line. Just as he started to deal with the fish he noticed the tug and tow exiting the bay and heading in his direction. So he started to paddle to clear the channel but the fish had other plans.
Stopping to fight it and reel it in gave the tug plenty of time to get to ramming speed. Jeff waved his paddle in the air with one hand and the rod in his other as the tug kept moving in his general direction. The current was also causing him to drift and the combination of waves and current made it feel like the tug was coming for his fish.
Fortunately the tug captain must have seen the situation and had set his course to slightly to the side Jeff was drifting away from so as he came about 50 feet they passed without incident and Jeff got his first glimpse of a yellow fin through the water!
After some more struggling, he managed to get it under the ‘iako and then barehanded the fish by the tail and pulled it into the V1 where it proceeded to pound out a Tahitian style drum solo on the hull.
Using some rubber straps he managed to tie up the tail and secure it to a ‘iako for the paddle back and used pliers to pry out the hook. But the ahi wanted back in the water and let everyone within earshot of Jeff’s V1 know it.
The hammering continued causing other paddlers on shore came over to see why his V1 was making so much noise.
Everyone is invited to stop by the Hālau on Sunday to wish Jeff a Happy Birthday, go for a paddle and pick up some fish around 12:00 noon. This is not a club event and don’t forget to practice safe distancing and take all the necessary covid precautions.
Denis is selling sold his Scorpius XM. Great shape. No repairs. No leaks. New cables. New leash. Maui built. $3k or make offer.
If you would like his contact information, just contact the club and we will help you get in touch with him. Please mention Scorpius XM or Denis in the message.
Everyone has to register their own crew and pay on-line for this race.
Registration For Kamehameha Canoe Club Hilo’s OC6 long distance race on August 7th is now open. To register your crew please click on the following link:
https://kcchilo.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=657884&item_id=1498629
Scroll down to Personal Information and enter your first and last name. Choose next and then choose the division(s) you are registering crews for. Payment will be collected via the online registration.
The Jr. paddling program will be temporarily suspended for at least 2 weeks starting next week, June 28th, because Keahi will be traveling until approximately mid July. If you were planning on helping or practicing with them just know there will be hiatus next week and we’ll announce when the program will restart.
Da Hui race normally held on north shore of Oahu is coming to Big Island July 4th. Open to just about every type of watercraft from SUP to OC6. If you’re ready to paddle, pick the 5 mile or 10 mile course and go hammer. They usually have great prizes and it should be a fun event. Register and get the details here: http://dahuipaddlerace.dahui.com/news/
The July 3 OC6 scrimmage is open for registration too. It’s fun, it’s free (they accept donations naturally) and a great build up to Queen Liliuokalani Race. https://www.kaiopua.org/race-series-info.asp
Moku has now officially opened long distance racing and this is the current race schedule (this is in addition to the Kai ‘Opua scrimmages and Aloha Unlimited Relays discussed in the previous post).
Still unknown is 9/11 Pailolo Challenge Race, but Molokai Hoe and Na Wahine O Ke Kai are officially cancelled.
Keahi is inviting anyone who wants to do some beginning to intermediate level paddling to join the kids group Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the water. They will start at Palekai (aka. Radio Bay) at 4pm so you can meet them outside of Palekai along the wall around 4, or you can catch up with them when they pass the bayfront halau. While you’re out there, you can help keep an eye on the kids and make sure everyone stays safe, yourself included.
Kai ‘Opua had their 2nd adult scrimmage race on Saturday in the slow roasting Kona sunshine. Crews were broken into 4 heats and they all paddled the same 6 mile course at different times of the day (aka. varying temperature settings?). A big mahalo to Kai ‘Opua for doing it in style. They took no fees, but provided everyone a nice wa’a and they had both a course boat and a safety jet ski for all the heats.
Keaukaha had two crews on the water: Heat 3: “Let’s Go Girls” and Heat 4: “KCC”. Congrats to the 2 crews (and perhaps a few Keaukaha paddlers that slipped into other boats)! Here are the times by heats:
HEAT 1
1. KOP1 49.44
2. KOP mix 50:29
3. Paddling for Hope 50:31
4. Kawailoa 51:55
5. Paddling for Hope Aunties 53:53
6. Keoua 55:35HEAT 2
1. Hammah Jangah Bangahz 49:41
2. Waiulaula 53:04
3. Don’t Know mix 58:44
4. Keauhou 1:00:03
5. Hazmatics 1:00:42
6. That’s Good 1:02:16
7. Keauhou Oldies 1:03:33HEAT 3
1. Oh Snap 58:20
2. Let’s Go Girls 58:40
3. KOP2 1:00:51HEAT 4
1. We Don’t Know What We’re Doing 48:58
2. KCC 51:11
3. KOP2 51:17
4. KOP3 52:42
5. Just Us mix 53:36
6. All Buss 54:44
Kai ‘Opua was very supportive of all the paddlers and they want crews to sign up. If you have trouble getting a spot, contact Cheryl Villegas on their race registration page: https://www.kaiopua.org/race-series-info.asp via her email address.
And start training for the upcoming adult scrimmages:
June 19th, 2021 – Kiholo Bay to Kawaihae Surf Park: Also coming up this month is the 21 mile relay race in unlimited sponsored by Aloha Unlimited. Teams of 18 racing Unlimited Outrigger Canoes from Kiholo to Kawaihae in three legs, which include: men, women, and mixed crews, respectively. There will be at least one open Keaukaha crew competing.
https://www.alohaunlimitedproductions.com/race-series
August 7th, 2021 – Keauhou Bay to Anaeho’omalu Bay: This event entails teams of 24 racing Unlimited Outrigger Canoes from Keauhou Bay to Anaeho’omalu Bay in four legs, which include: men, women, mixed crews, and junior mixed respectively. Men will start in Keauhou and paddle approximately 10 miles to Honokohau Harbor where the women will jump in and hand off at Mahaiula’s (~9 miles). Here the mixed crews will take the helm and paddle to Kiholo Bay (~9 miles), in which the junior crew will change in and finish at Anaeho’omalu Bay (~7 miles).
https://www.alohaunlimitedproductions.com/race-series
Kai ‘Opua is restarting their massive race week starting Thursday, September 2, 2021 through Sunday, September 5, 2021. There’s a reduction in events due to covid restrictions, but the 18 mile race is open for iron and 9 person crews as well as some of the Sunday individual events and double-hull.
Some old business first: OC1 Races
On April 24, 2021 HIPA held the Yamagata Challenge. A long race but this year there was a short course (10) and a long course race (14). We had paddlers in both courses and it was a great finish to the HIPA race series. Good job guys!
Due to Covid and the small launching point, only paddlers invited to do the Keokea run were able to race this 11 mile course which finished at the old Coast Guard Station with paddlers continuing another 3 miles to Kapa’a to haul out in the surf and rocks. This is a race around the northern tip of Big Island were strong currents and wild winds meet. Once you start, you’re committed as there are no places on shore to stop.
Some of the big name paddlers came out to race. Our Keaukaha guys did an awesome job of chasing them down.
This was a unique downwind, heat style race with top winners walking away with $500. (Sorry about the formatting, keep scrolling down past the videos for more OC6 info)
Kohala Coastline is back in 2021. Teams of 18 from Kiholo to Kawaihae in unlimited canoes. Follow their facebook page for updates.
Members have been putting crews together and organizing their canoes and being Corona Virus safe. And just in time for Kai O’pua’s 6-man fun race series. This race series is free (donations accepted) and they provide canoes. The divisions are created by adding up the ages of all your crew members. Total ages are used to divide up results. So grab your 300 year old steersman and go! Did I mention it’s free and they are providing canoes?
Here’s Kai O’pua’s flyer for the event starting tomorrow, May 22 to July 31 and to sign up visit here.
We’ve extended the April Art Show to May 15 because we understand you can’t just turn creativity on. So show us what you’ve got. Here’s a sample of some submissions.
Starting today, May 1, we are having a series of 4 different time trial races. You can pick and choose which course you want to do and when. You can also pick a fake name (or several) and submit as much race results as you can (or delete your slower times as you go).
The main price will be randomly chosen from those completing all 4 courses: A donated hybrid paddle cut to the winner’s desired length from HI. Pressure thanks to Keola and Eric.
Top 5 Men and Top 5 Women also get prices, but you’ve got to complete all 4 courses to qualify! Login and get to racing! (After logging in look for the May Racing link or menu Events->May Racing.)
The courses are all inside the bay and use landmarks so no GPS needed or worries about conditions outside the wall. Just bring a watch and huki!