Lokahi swamps competition
By Jack Wyatt
in season opener
Special to the Star-BulletinPunahou School teacher Janice Murabayashi had several canoe paddling experiences to share with her ninth grade class tomorrow. But humble and shy, the Lokahi Canoe Club president and canoe steerswoman probably kept her achievements to herself.
''A regatta win! What a great start to my first term as Lokahi club president," said the 26-year-old paddler, after Lokahi was declared winner of yesterday's Hui Wa'a Association season opener at Keehi Lagoon Beach Park. "Now to keep our (win) streak alive,''
''There's more,'' Murabayashi added. ''Our women's novice 'A' crew won its first race. And we won our heat with seconds to spare.''
Murabayashi captained the winning crew, which consisted of Kaia Hedlund, Debbie Rodriques, Renee Klingle, Vivian Kaopua, Paulette Imose and Murabayashi.
Approximately 1,000 paddlers turned out for 14-club Hui Wa'a season opener held under sunny skies on a relatively calm Keehi course.
Thirty-three events were staged using six-paddler fiberglass outrigger canoes. The season concludes Aug. 2 with the HCRA State Championship at Hilo.
Lokahi, winner of 10 of 33 heats yesterday, also placed second in nine others. Thanks to big wins scored by its adult crews, Lokahi's triumph was never in doubt.
The Ala Wai Canal-based club scored 94 points to win the big club division paddling away.
Honolulu's Koa Kai placed second to Lokahi in the AA with 56 points. Waianae's Ka Moi finished third with 42. New Kaneohe topped Hui Wa'a's small-club division with 24 points.
Ka Moi, thanks to an impressive string of victories by its young crews in the regatta's early stages, made a run for it, surging into an early lead.
''I'm proud of our kids. They showed the positive side of the Leeward Oahu youth,'' said Ka Moi's coach Greg Pavao.
The Pokai Bay-based club topped the girls' 13s and 14s, boys' 12s and 14s, and the mixed 12s.
''If these kids didn't paddle they'd be hanging around the malls and streets,'' Pavao said. ''We're providing a good youth paddling program that's paying off in trophies and medals.''
Lokahi's first win came in the 13th heat, when its boys 18 crew edged Windward Kai by three seconds.
''Our adult crews then began racking up points. The older crews really came through,'' said Mike Cushnie, Lokahi's upper division men's and women's coach.
Murabayashi really never had to worry. Lokahi has dominated Hui Wa'a racing for years.
''Our Koa Kai was the last club to beat Lokahi in a regatta,'' said Koa Kai coach Irwin Keliipuleole, ''and that was three years ago at Haleiwa. We'll get them again one day. And I hope that day will come soon.''
Iwalani Bush steered Lokahi crews to a pair of wins -- first in the women's freshman race; then later in the women's senior event.
''Neither race came easy. Koa Kai and other crews were right there,'' she said. ''I look for a very competitive season.''
Waikiki Beach Boys' crew of Oahu lifeguards topped the 2-mile men's senior race -- considered the regatta's blue ribbon contest.
''Winning the senior race is always nice,'' said steersman Ian Forester.
''But we're long distance paddlers with a goal. And that's to become the first Hui Wa'a club to win the Molokai Hoe (in October).''
Kai Poha (Keehi Lagoon) and Manu O Ke Kai (Haleiwa) upset the field, winning the men's and women's open-4 events, respectively.
''We made it happen. This win was our dream come true,'' said Manu O Ke Kai's steerswoman Ernie Allen, after edging Lokahi for their first women's open-4 victory ever.
In addition to Allen, Manu's crew included Angelica Gutierrez plus Lani and Lona Benson.
As in most regattas, yesterday opener saw at least one swamping, several disqualifications and heats with too few entries.
''This is an early season regatta,'' said race official June Leialoha.
''Paddlers aren't fully trained and crews aren't set.
''The field will become more competitive and become better attended after school lets out for the summer. For a season's opener I think this regatta went off just fine.''
On Sunday, Hui Wa'a travels to Waimanalo Beach Park for its second of nine competitions, while the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association stages its season's opener at Keehi Lagoon.
Racing at both sites begins at 8:30 a.m. Admission is free and the public is invited.
At Keehi Lagoon YESTERDAY'SRESULTS
Hui Wa'a
Team results
A Division: 1. New Kaneohe, 24. 2. Windward Kai, 22. 3. Waikiki Beach Boys, 20. 4. Kalihi-Kai, 19. 5. Kamehameha, 17. 6. Manu O Ke Kai, 13. 7. Kai Poha, 10. 8. Hawaiian Outrigger, 9. 'Olapa Hoe, 4.
AA Division: 1. Lokahi, 94. 2. Koa Kai, 56. 3. Ka Mo'i, 42. 4. Waikiki Yacht Club, 21.
Girls age 12 and under: 1. Hawaiian Outrigger (Kehau Quidachay, Heidi Hanawahine, Marie Kane, Jade Leong, Michell Correa), 2:10.96. 2. Kalihi Kai, 2:13.42. 3. Lokahi, 2:15.21.
Boys 12: 1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Dustin McCollough, Kaapa York, Cheyenne Chong Yim; Ikaika Lozano, Delbert Reis, Guy Demello), 2:05.31. 2. New Kaneohe, 2:06.44. 3. Lokahi, 2:10.86.
Mixed 12: 1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Chanel Opunui, Bernadette Ortiz, Kyle Monis, Kellen Evangelist, Bronson Maesaka, Krissel Opunui), 2:05.16. 2. Windward Kai, 2:07.39. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 2:47.93.
Girls 14: 1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Leanne Alameida, Tiana Lau, Krysia Hartness, Angel Kamalii, Tanya Lau, Kapi Kauinana), 1:58.48. 2. New Kaneohe, 2:03.35. 3. Kamehameha, 2:05.55.
Boys 14: 1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Justin Keliipaakaua, Kalani Hayworth, Ikaika Ahuna, Brandon Van Kuren, Keoki Kanakaokai, Henry Makanani), 1:42.91. 2. Kalihi Kai, 1:48.06. 3. Windward Kai, 1:49.72.
Women Novice B: 1. Waikiki Beachboys (Cailin Kulp, Kathy Sarria, Peta Nicholson, Meredith Takara, Michelle Fuller, Kimberly Fjarli), 1:57. 2. Koa Kai, 1:59.13. 3. Kamehameha, 2:01.28.
Men Novice B: 1. Koa Kai (Neal Davies, Gilbert Sanchez, Greg Mclain, Brian Rogers, Brent Koza, Dave Thompson), 3:52.30. 2. Waikiki Beachboys, 3:53.82. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 3:55.82.
Girls 16: 1. Windward Kai (Patty Brack, Tiffany Kruse, Ronnie Texeira, Sarah Johnson, Kristi Mokulehua, Heather Jaber), 4:31.23. 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, 4:33.88. 3. Lokahi, 4:38.77.
Boys 16: 1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Kaimana Holokahi, Jacob Makepa, Tony Mcintosh, Vernon Mahelona, Kolu Chang, Awe Kaauwai), 3:47.59. 2. Lokahi, 3:56.88. 3. Hawaiian Outrigger, 4:05.03.
Women Novice A: 1. Lokahi (Kaia Hedlund, Debbie Rodrigues, Renee Klingle, Vivian Kaopua, Paulette Imose, Janice Murabayashi), 4:29.76. 2. Koa Kai, 4:37.44. 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 4:39.57.
Mixed Masters: 1. Lokahi (Deborah Smith, Joy Waikoloa, Kevin Mokuahi, Roberta Berlestresser, Darrell Camat, Wiliam Rees), 4:30.16. 2. Waikiki Yacht Club, 4:37.28.
Senior Women Masters: 1. Kalihi Kai (Dinora Gil, Lorenn Walker, Mig Gasper, Mary Jo Buell, Roshalle Lewis, Jo Hand), 4:48.13. 2. Waikiki Yacht Club, 5:02.20. 3. Kai Po'ha, 5:19.14.
Senior Men Masters: 1. Lokahi (Emlyn Higa, Glenn Higuchi, David Babineau), 3:54.20. 2. Koa Kai, 3:55.48. 3. Windward Kai, 3:57.15.
Senior Mixed Masters: 1. Koa Kai (Ray Suganuma, Irwin Keliipuleole, Linda Tseu, Sue Garner, Art Varady, Mary Martin), 4:25.38. 2. Lokahi, 4:40.00.
Women Golden Masters: 1. Lokahi (Pat Chung, Sarah Watson, Meredith Miller, Carole Chun, Kathryn Weldon, Lonnie Trimarche), 5:30.02.
Men Golden Masters: 1. Koa Kai (Allen Gaylord, Allen Napoleon, Fred Antone, Nroman Kahale, Joe Ah Yuen, Ralph Hanalei), 4:09.35. 2. Kai Po'ha, 4:14.08.
Mixed Golden Masters: 1. Koa Kai (Michael Greco, Guillermo Goldstein, Sammy Texeira, Sharon Skouge, John Davis, Margaret Lefton), 4:28.20. 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, 5:04.30. 3. Windward Kai, 6:47.34.
Women Open Four: 1. Manu O Ke Kai (Angelica Gutierrez, Lani Benson, Loha Benson, Ernie Allen), 4:48.02. 2. Lokahi, 4:51.30. 3. Kamehameha, 4:56.48.
Men Open Four: 1. Kai Po'ha (Reid Nakaima, Joel Calicdan, Brandon Ancog, Jeff Kellett), 4:09.30. 2. Lokahi, 4:12.26. 3. Kamehameha, 4:13.70.
Mixed Open Six: 1. Lokahi (Nicole Pei, Heather Murakami, Lisa Koenig, James Stone, Nate Javellana, Vince Maloney-Cui), 4:14.26. 2. New Kaneohe, 4:15.17. 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 4:20.08.
Boys 18: 1. Lokahi (Jeffrey Yamashiroya, Terence Tolbert, Gregg Kaneko, Terrence Basug, Keakia Ching, Steve Gerwig), 8:00.74. 2. Windward Kai, 8:03.61. 3. Alapa Hoe, 8:39.26.
Men Novice A: 1. Lokahi (Bonifacio Sayaboc, Kevin Lockette, Dayne Higuchi, William McCall, Bob Eheler, Lyle Rivera), 7:40.47. 2. New Kaneohe, 7:49.05. 3. Koa Kai, 7:49.92.
Women Freshmen: 1. Lokahi (Renee Rambour, Kelly Wong, Michelle Sparling, Jennifer Thompson-Tuzon, Michelle Mikala Hetland, Iwa Bush), 8:19.35. 2. Koa Kai, 8:20.24. 3. Waikiki Beachboys, 9:02.24. Men Freshmen: 1. Koa Kai (Justin Heard, Scott Worthington, Erick Elgren, Matt Trumbell, Matt Trumbell, Darrel Cox, Ron Conteen), 7:04.65. 2. Lokahi, 7:07.04. 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, 7:11.75.
Women Sophomores: 1. Kamehameha (Shervell Gardner, Marjorie Lum, Kini Neal, Cindy Takazono, Lean Reyes, Barbara Vasold), 8:42.96. 2. Lokahi, 8:44.12. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 9:14.32.
Women Masters: 1. Kalihi Kai (Polly Murdock, Loriann Bean, Mary Borden, Kimberly Walsh, Leslie Conron, Donna Whitford), 8:55.46. 2. Koa Kai, 8:59.02. 3. New Kaneohe, 9:06.30.
Men Masters: 1. Waikiki Yacht Club (Ben Garces, Faaunga Tootoo, Tom Shearer, Arthur Smith, Lance Anderson, Stephen Quitevis), 7:35.38. 2. Lokahi, 7:48.16. 3. Windward Kai, 7:54.40.
Men Sophomores: 1. Lokahi (Jon Dean, Jr., Albert Yamanouchi, Rob Haygood, Rodney Ouchi, Leighson Tanaka, Butch Ukishima), 11:52.43. 2. Koa Kai, 12:06.05. 3. Waikiki Beachboys, 12:07.29.
Women Seniors: 1. Lokahi (Renee Rambour, Kebekan Manzon, Catherine Latson, Kelly Wong, Michelle Campillo, Iwa Bush), 13:12.73. 2. Koa Kai, 13:30.73. 3. Waikiki Beachboys, 13:47.19.
Men Seniors: 1. Waikiki Beachboys (Ian Forester, Kevin Allen, Tim Nakamura, Eddie Horner, Eric Chun, Grant Currie), 15:08.11. 2. Lokahi, 15:39.48. 3. Koa Kai, 15:46.10.
