[PADDLING]
The last time Hui Nalu Canoe Club had won a regatta, head coach Darryl Hara's son, Dru, could count his age with six fingers. Hui Nalu returns to glory
of past with Paiaina winThe Hawaii Kai club wins 7 races
to edge Lanikai by 3 pointsBy Brandon Lee
Special to the Star-BulletinYesterday at Keehi Lagoon, Dru Hara was part of the victorious 14 (years-and-under) Boys' crew that jump-started the Hawaii Kai-based club to eventually place first overall at the Clement D. Paiaina Race -- its first regatta win in eight years.
"The message I've been trying to send to the club is one of unity, of course, but, also, for us to try and turn it up a notch," Darryl Hara said.
"We've been participants, but I don't know that we've always been competitors. So, this year I've really asked the club to take it to heart."
"But we were just fortunate today," he added. "In the right place at the right time. The planets were in the right place. It's been a long time coming. We're happy, but there's a lot more growth to be had."
In a points battle that was tight for the stretch end of the day's 36 races, Hui Nalu won with 65 total. The club picked up eight race victories -- the second most overall -- in the 32 it entered.
Finishing second at the opener to the 2002 Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association regatta season was Lanikai, with 62 points. Outrigger took third, at 59, and Hui Lanakila, a narrow fourth, at 58.
Winning the A Division for smaller clubs was Waikiki Surf with 23.
"We came in just expecting to do the best that we could, considering the circumstances," Lanikai co-head coach Curtis Hawkins said. "A lot of our paddlers -- especially our men --weren't all signed in and ready yet.(But) it's a good feeling; we did good."
A lot of clubs are in a position similar to Lanikai's, as most expect more paddlers to rejoin the ranks as the regatta season progresses.
But it was Lanikai that bolted out to an early lead behind strong performances from its youth crews. Four of the Windward-side club's six victories came from its kids, and halfway through the regatta, Lanikai held a five-point lead (34-29) over its nearest competitor, Outrigger.
Hui Nalu was back in fourth (22 points) at the midpoint. The club had picked up two victories and placed in seven others as it entered the last 18 races.
The point spread was quickly narrowed, as Hui Nalu dominated the open women's races and Hui Lanakila, the open men's. Hui Nalu won the women's freshmen, sophomore and open-4 races. It also took the prestigious 1.5-mile women's senior race in 13 minutes and 5.24 seconds, about 13 seconds ahead of second-place Kailua.
OHCRA PADDLING
Paiaina Regatta
At Keehi Lagoon
AA Division
1. Hui Nalu, 65 points. 2. Lanikai, 62. 3. Outrigger, 59. 4. Hui Lanakila, 58. 5. Kailua, 53. 6. Healani, 37. 7. Keahiakahoe, 18.A Division
1. Waikiki Surf, 23. 2. Anuenue, 11. 3. (tie) Leeward Kai, Makaha and Waimanalo, 2. 6. Puuloa, 0.Hui Wa'a
Waikiki Yacht Club Regatta
At Maili Beach
AA Division
1. Kaneohe, 59. 2. Lokahi, 57. 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 50. 4. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, 49. 5. Waikiki Yacht Club, 27. 6. Kumulokahi Elks, 10.A Division
1. Koa Kai, 33. 2. Windward Kai, 23. 3. Kalihi Kai, 17. 4. Waikiki Beach Boys, 16. 5. Kai Poha and Kamehameha, 11. 7. Hawaii Outrigger, 7. 8. Alapa Hoe, 5. 9. I Mua, 1.
"Today, we were blessed with a strong upper-division women's program," Hara said. "And we got some points from some of the age-group kids that we didn't get last year, and the novices contributed and the masters contributed. It really was a club effort."
A first-place finish for Lanikai and a second for Hui Nalu in the third-to-last race, men/women mix, left the two clubs in a tie with 60 points.
But Hui Nalu turned right around and won in the next race, 35-women, while Lanikai placed third. This effectively sealed the victory for Hui Nalu, as neither club placed in the final race.
The final race did affect the third- and fourth-place clubs, however.
Outrigger's victory in the 35-Men's division allowed them the necessary five points to get by Hui Lanakila for third. Hui Lanakila took second in the race, receiving only three points and settling for fourth by just one overall.
"I thought at the end, we would at least get third," Hui Lanakila head coach Leighton Look said. "But that's just the way the pins fall."
Still, Hui Lanakila could at least take consolation in the fact that it won the most races at the regatta: nine. The club entered only 26 races, but came away with victories in the men's freshmen, sophomore and senior divisions, among others.
OHCRA resumes competition next Sunday with King Kamehameha Regatta at Kailua Beach Park. Oahu's other canoe paddling association, Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a, raced yesterday at Maili Beach and will be at Keehi Lagoon next Sunday.
Kaneohe wins Hui Wa'a:For the second week in a row, Kaneohe Canoe Club edged Lokahi for the overall title of the Hui Wa'a Regatta.
Yesterday, the margin of victory was just two points, much closer than the eight points of the previous week. Despite being disqualified in the final race of the day at Maili Beach, the Windward club held on to claim the AA Division championship with 59 points.
Lokahi finished with 57 and Manu O Ke Kai was third with 50 points in the event hosted by Waikiki Yacht Club. In the A Division, Koa Kai easily finished ahead of second-place Windward Kai, 33-23.
Hui Wa'a's next regatta is Sunday at Keehi Lagoon, hosted by Lokahi.
