PADDLING
Lanikai makes return to states
After sitting out a year thanks to an inadvertent violation, the club is back in the HCRA
By Brandon Lee
Special to the Star-Bulletin
Lanikai Canoe Club will get its chance to compete in the 54th annual Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta this year, and that's all its paddlers and coaches really want.
Paddling
What: 54th annual State Championship Regatta
When: Tomorrow, with races beginning at 8:30 a.m. and finishing around 5 p.m.
Where: Keehi Lagoon
Who: Paddlers 12-younger to 55-older from 62 clubs from the six different associations across the state
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It's what they wanted -- but didn't get -- last year as well, when a rules violation involving the composition of their koa canoes kept them out of states for the first time in the club's history.
Lanikai returns to states as the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association champion tomorrow at Keehi Lagoon.
The Windward Oahu club will be trying to take down five-time defending state champion Hawaiian Canoe Club of Maui and the rest of the best from the six associations across the state.
Lanikai was the last to win the state title before Hawaiian's current run.
"We're excited to be back," Lanikai head coach Kalani Irvine said. "You race against the best from all the islands. It's important to the club to participate ... (for the members) to paddle their best race in the states."
Lanikai ran into trouble last year when it was discovered that the manu and gunnels (upper edges of the canoe's ends and sides) of their koa canoes were partially made with fiberglass -- a violation of HCRA's rules but not OHCRA's.
Though Lanikai eventually received a waiver from HCRA to compete in the state regatta, many of its paddlers had made other plans by that time and the club decided to withdraw.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Women's 40 Masters crew (Lisa Sauer, Ann Dewey, Cindi Chess and Malia Maldonado) paddled off Lanikai Beach at Tuesday's practice.
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To avoid any conflicts this year, Lanikai had one of its koa canoes fixed to comply with HCRA standards.
"I'm a little nervous because you don't know what to expect," said Kaai Bruhn, a member of Lanikai's top open men's crews. "I'm (still) wondering where we're at, because after a year off a lot of (other) crews can make big jumps or big drops.
"I was actually (at states) with my family last year. It wasn't painful, but it was frustrating. Almost like playing every game, making it to the Super Bowl, and then not playing."
Added open women's paddler Ann Dewey: "It feels good to be able to see (the season) through. There was no finale last year."
Nearly 8,000 paddlers from 62 clubs across the state are registered for the 37-race regatta (though not all will compete).
Lanikai has about 450 paddlers this summer and crews in 30 of these races, second only to Hawaiian's 33.
Lanikai and Hawaiian will compete in the AAA division, for clubs with 18 crews or more. The other clubs in AAA are all from Oahu: Hui Nalu (28 crews), Kailua (27) and Outrigger (25).
Others will compete in the AA (nine to 17 crews) and A (eight or fewer) divisions. Big Island champion Puna and Na Ohana O Na Hui Waa champ Kaneohe are among the AA clubs.
Traditionally led by its dominant men's and kids' programs over the years, Lanikai's men are in a period of transition, with some newer paddlers in the mix this season.
The women have stepped up to contribute, and its youth paddlers are still among the strongest in the state, led by a boys 18 crew that has lost just once so far this year.
"We're ready to bring it and represent Lanikai," boys 18 crewmember Kirk Mueller said.
With crews -- and, thus, points -- guaranteed in at least three races more than its closest competitor, Hawaiian already has a built-in advantage for yet another state crown.
Yet, Lanikai still has a chance.
A chance to compete. Which, of course, brings a chance to win.
Hawaiian's advantage "is huge, but it's smaller than in years past," Irvine said. "Our goal is for everyone to paddle their best race -- what wins is consistency. If the club paddles to the best of our ability, we'll accept whatever we get. If we happen to take down Hawaiian, great."