Category: News

It’s time to start the new OC1 season. The locks and keys for the Hālau will be changed February 1st. You can exchange your old key for a new key on the 1st between 4pm to 6pm at the Hālau. After this you can exchange them at Lani’s Snack Shack with Kaui during business hours:

• Monday: CLOSED
• Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Sunday: CLOSED

If you lost a key and want it replaced:

1. Login and go to menu Hālau->Waitlist
2. Scroll down to Hālau Keys
3. Select “Request Replacement Key“
4. Go to menu Aloha->KCC Billing Summary and you should see the $50 deposit to be paid.
5. Once paid you can pickup your key either on the 1st or at Lani’s Snack Shack

No payments will be processed in person on the 1st, as dues need to be paid online before the 1st. If you wish to turn in a key and request your key deposit back and a check will be issued in your name and either mailed to you or picked up at Lani’s Snack Shack.

HCRA is still developing their covid-safe plans and we are planning to start OC6 training in mid-March after the high school teams finish.

In the meantime, stay fit, get out on the water, and get vaccinated. Vaccinations are becoming more and more of a requirement for sports events like it is for World Sprints.

Due to the uncertain nature of this pandemic, if you are not an OC1 stall holder we ask you wait to join and pay dues until closer to March just in case things change again. We will make more announcements as the time gets closer.

OC1 Schedule from https://hipa.clubexpress.com/

Date	Race	Location
January 15th	Stan Cann Classic	Hilo – Waterfront Park
January 22th	Kaipalaoa	Hilo – Waterfront Park
February 5th	Jackie Reyes Non-Relay	Kona – Keauhou Canoe Club
February 12th	Valentines Relay	Kona – Honokohau Harbor
February 26th	Keōua Kupuna Memorial	Honaunau – Keoua Canoe Club
March 5th	Freddie Berengue Memorial	Kona – Honokohau Harbor
March 12th	Four Seasons	Kona – Four Seasons Resort
March 19th	Kuuipo	Kona – Keauhou Canoe Club
March 26th	Surf Park	Kawaihae – Surf Park
April 9th	East Hawaii Challenge	Hilo – Waterfront Park
April 16th	Keokea Invitational	Kohala – Keokea Park
April 23th	Yamagata Challenge	Kona – Honokohau Harbor
November 12th	Abbott Galaher Seaman	Kona – Keauhou Canoe Club
November 26th	Beanie Memorial	Kawaihae – Surf Park
December tbd	Pa’akai Paddles	Kona – Honokohau Harbor

The OC6 schedule (note LD is long distance and Regattas are the sprint races)

Date	Club/Race	Site	Event	Sponsor
May 14	Kawaihae	Kawaihae	LD	Kawaihae
May 21	Kai Ehitu/Papa Kimetete	Kailua-Kona	Regatta	Kai Ehitu
May 28	Keauhou	Kailua-Kona	Regatta	Keauhou
June 4	Hui Wa’a Waiakea/Ira & Barbara Kekaualua	Hilo Bay	LD	Hui Wa’a
June 11	Kai Opua/King Kamehameha Day	Kailua-Kona	Regatta	Kai Opua
June 18	Kailana	Hilo Bay	Regatta	Kailana
June 25	Keaukaha	Hilo Bay	Regatta	Keaukaha
July 2	Puna	Hilo Bay	Regatta	Puna
July 9	Kamehameha	Hilo Bay	Regatta	Kamehameha
July 16	Paddlers of Laka/Na Wa’a Hanakahi	Hilo Bay	Regatta	Laka/Na Wa’a
July 23	Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii Championship	Hilo Bay	Regatta	TBA
July 30	BYE	BYE	BYE	BYE
Aug. 13	Miloli’i	Miloli’i	LD	Miloli’i
Aug. 20	Keoua/Calvin Kelekolio	Honaunau	LD	Keoua
Aug. 27	Waikoloa/Great Waikoloa Race	Anaeho’omalu Bay	LD	Waikoloa

Note to New and Returning Paddlers:

We will start training soon and there will be an announcement regarding practices and schedules as the coaches work out their times and we share canoes with the high school teams.

Get ready for more OC action as HIPA has published the races for 2022. The first two will be in Hilo, so let’s get in shape!

Date	Race	Location
January 15th	Stan Cann Classic	Hilo – Waterfront Park
January 22th	Kaipalaoa	Hilo – Waterfront Park
February 5th	Jackie Reyes Non-Relay	Kona – Keauhou Canoe Club
February 12th	Valentines Relay	Kona – Honokohau Harbor
February 26th	Uncle Louis Kelekolio	Honaunau – Keoua Canoe Club
March 5th	Freddie Berengue Memorial	Kona – Honokohau Harbor
March 12th	Four Seasons	Kona – Four Seasons Resort
March 19th	Kuuipo	Kona – Keauhou Canoe Club
March 26th	Surf Park	Kawaihae – Surf Park
April 9th	East Hawaii Challenge	Hilo – Waterfront Park
April 16th	Keokea Invitational	Kohala – Keokea Park
April 23th	Yamagata Challenge	Kona – Honokohau Harbor
November 12th	Abbott Galaher Seaman	Kona – Keauhou Canoe Club
November 26th	Beanie Memorial	Kawaihae – Surf Park
December tbd	Pa’akai Paddles	Kona – Honokohau Harbor

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.

• The final stats: 38″ and 23 pounds.

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.

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 Paddle Race

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/

Kai ‘Opua Scrimmage

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).

• 8/07 Kamehameha (Hilo Side)
• 8/14 Keauhou (Keauhou)
• 8/21 Keoua (Honaunau)
• 8/28 Waikoloa (Anaeho’omalu Bay)
• 9/04 Kai Opua/Liliuokalani (Kailua Kona)

Still unknown is 9/11 Pailolo Challenge Race, but Molokai Hoe and Na Wahine O Ke Kai are officially cancelled.

OC1 Practice and help with keiki

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.

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4pm on the water outside Palekai or 5pm on the water outside the main Halau.

Scrimmage Races

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 55:35

HEAT 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 1:03:33

HEAT 3
1. Oh Snap 58:20
2. Let’s Go Girls 58:40
3. KOP2 1:00:51

HEAT 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:

• July 3rd – 8 mile (Registration opens 21st and closes on the 30th)
• June 19th – Cancelled due to Unlimited Relay Race Conflict
• July 17th – 10 mile
• July 31 – 12 mile

There are also Jr. events:

• June 12 – Jr. only
• June 26 – Jr. only
• July 10 – Jr. only
• July 24 – Jr. only

Aloha Unlimited – Unlimited Relay Races

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

Queen Liliu’okalani Race Registration Open

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.

https://www.qlcanoerace.com/ql-event-schedule.asp