Monday, June 8, 1998

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin

The Outrigger Canoe Club finished second in the junior
men's division during the Clem Paiaina Regatta.

Off and Paddling

Lanikai wins the AA crown
and Healani and Waikiki Surf
share the A title in
the opener

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

Not since his grandfather passed away on Easter Sunday in 1991 had Kealii Paiaina won a canoe race.

Clem Paiaina was Healani Canoe Club's president, guiding spirit and head cheerleader. He watched his grandson's crews dominate the boys' age-group divisions, going undefeated for three straight seasons in boys' 13 through 16 from 1988-90.

It was very fitting that yesterday, at the Clem Paiaina Memorial Regatta, grandson Kealii won again -- in the men's freshman race. When grandson Steven Paiaina's mixed adult crew won its race, it clinched a share of the A Division (15 crews-under) championship for Healani in the opening regatta of the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association at Keehi Lagoon.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
The Healani Canoe Club paddles its way to the championship
in the women's freshman division in the Clem Paiaina Regatta.

"We won so much as kids," Kealii Paiaina said after stroking his freshmen crew to an eight-second victory over Lanikai in the one-mile event. "I'm so happy for us and the club. Our women are strong and our men are getting there. It's a nice way to start the season."

Healani, under new head coach Irwin Keliipuleole, won five of the 11 events it entered for 26 points. Waikiki Surf Club won the day's first event -- mixed 12s -- but only one other -- women's open-4 -- to share the title.

"I was pretty surprised by the wins," said Keliipuleole, a former Healani paddler who had coached Koa Kai for a number of years. "You don't know until you get out on the water how you'll do against competition. The crews have worked hard."

In the AA division (16-plus crews), Kailua took a strong lead early, winning four of the day's first nine races. But following the lead of their novice B men's crew in Race 10, Lanikai began to blow away the competition.

The novice B men won by 312 seconds, the boys' 16s by 10 seconds, and Lanikai won nine of the last 23 events -- finishing second in seven others -- for 91 points.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
The Outrigger Canoe Club finished third in
the senior women's division.

Outrigger and next week's regatta host Kailua shared third with 58 points.

"From a head coach's position, opening the season like this is good in some ways and not good in others," Lanikai coach Kalani Irvine said. "We know the other clubs are waiting for some of their paddlers to come back (from mainland schools). There's still a lot of racing between now and the state championship (Aug. 1).

"Plus, I don't think the new rule changes will have the affect they were intended to have. In some ways, it has diluted the competition."

One new rule limits the number of times a paddler can race in a regatta in unclassified (non-age group) events.

For some time, adult paddlers had been able to race twice in a day.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
The Koa Anuenue men pull hard in the freshman division.

It noticeably affected two men's premier races. Only three crews were entered in the junior race and two in the senior.

But no rule changes could affect the special blend of competition and camaraderie found on the shore and on the water.

For nearly eight hours, it was time to renew acquaintances and rivalries for the first time since the state race in Hilo last August.

OHCRA continues its season Sunday with the King Kamehameha Regatta at Kailua Beach. Racing begins at 8:30 a.m.

---

Results in Scoreboard