Friday, July 20, 2001

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Peter Caldwell, left, and Nappy Napoleon, right, led Anuenue
Canoe Club's Golden Masters crew, out of the water during
practice at Duke Kahanamoku Beach Park yesterday. The
crew will compete in the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing
Association championships this weekend.

Paddling knows
no age barrier

Hui Wa'a and OHCRA crews
compete this weekend for berths
in the state championships

---

By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.com

After five decades of racing, Nappy Napoleon doesn't have to think hard about the reason why he still paddles.

It's simple.

"I like this sport and I still enjoy it," Napoleon said.

It isn't hard to understand why as the sun sets over clear blue waters at Duke Kahanamoku Beach. Napoleon, 60, has just finished practice with his crew. The steersman trains every other day and competes on the weekends.

When he first started racing at the age of 9, Napoleon used to be among the youngest paddlers but now he's one of the oldest.

Napoleon has raced in every Molokai Hoe since 1958. He founded the Anuenue Canoe Club 18 years ago, the club he still paddles with.

"I used to be the kid that when we went to the races,'' said Napoleon. "Back then, the smallest kids had to go in the trunk because the car was so full. But now I'm old.''

And still in the back, as the steersman.

Napoleon will be racing Sunday at the OHCRA championships at Keehi Lagoon. His men's golden masters crew -- with an average age of 57 -- will attempt to be the fourth team from the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association to qualify for the state championships Aug. 4 on Kauai.

It hasn't been the best season for Napoleon and the other crew members who are currently tied for fourth place with 11 points with the Hui Nalu Canoe Club. But after 50 years of paddling, the steersman isn't even thinking about hanging up his paddle.

"Paddling has been good to me," Napoleon said.

"I don't think I should quit it just because of one season."

Fellow crew member Babe Bell, who has raced since he was 16 years old, echoes the sentiments.

"It's just a great sport," Bell said. "Once you get all your friends here that you paddle with, it's kind of hard to leave the sport.

"It's really a team sport and yet an individual sport. You don't want to let the next guy down."

Canoe championships Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a At Keehi Lagoon Saturday, 8 a.m. 36 races Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association At Keehi Lagoon Sunday, 8 a.m. 36 races