[ ROW, ROW, GROW YOUR BOAT ]
Outrigger canoe paddling may be the official sport of Hawaii, but it belongs to the world. The images of the islands include hula girls and, thanks to the opening scene of the television series "Hawaii 5-O," outrigger canoes. Paddling rides wave
of global successBusiness is booming as 1-man canoes lead
the way in introducing the sport worldwideBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comIt's a big business that is becoming even bigger as the sport grows internationally and away from the Pacific Rim. There are now annual competitions in Italy, England, Brazil and Germany, just to name a few.
But the piko -- the core -- of paddling is Hawaii. It's where the world championships are held, and it's where canoe culture thrives.
Dozens of must-have accessories can be found in stores across the islands and at swap meets. Paddle bags, canoe racks and Lycra paddling shirts are just part of what has become a multi-million dollar industry.
But it's the canoes themselves -- particularly the OC-1 or one-man canoe -- that are riding the current wave toward billions of dollars that will be spent by the recreational and competitive paddler alike. And the top builders and designers are here in Hawaii, watermen such as Bob Twogood, Karel Tresnak, John Puakea, Mike Judd, Walter Guild, John Martin, Kai Bartlett and Tiger Taylor.
"The OC-1 allows for people to be out on the ocean almost immediately," said Guild, who formed Canoe Sports Hawaii in 1989 to combine canoe manufacturing with promotion of canoe racing. "The interest is growing, not just from a pure paddler's perspective. I think it's the lifestyle, like surfing was in the '60s."
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Marcela Tresnakova, wife of canoe maker Karel Tresnak, showed some of the sleek watercraft displayed in the showroom of Outrigger Connection in Kailua.
Guild and others annually head to the Liberty Challenge in New York, an outrigger canoe race on the Hudson River that passes the Statue of Liberty. The event includes a vendors trade show, with a heavy island emphasis; even the sponsor levels use Hawaii words: "Mahalo." "Aloha." "Big Kahuna."
Production of OC-1s aren't limited to Hawaii. Guild has a partner in Maine who builds canoes for East Coast paddlers.
Puakea, whose father and grandfather built koa canoes, has his main production center for his Kaku canoes in Costa Mesa, Calif. The location is near the Newport Aquatic Center, which offers recreational and competitive paddling, rowing and kayaking.
The site was specifically chosen to cut the cost of shipping to the mainland and the decrease the chance of damage during shipment, a wise move considering these "toys" sell for around $2,900.
"While the OC-1s in Hawaii has exploded, on the mainland it's growing steadily," said Puakea. "For the serious racing guys, buying one is a way to improve how they do in the six-man.
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The women of Lokahi Canoe Club captured first place in the Women Senior 1 1/2-mile heat of the Hui Wa'a Championship at Keehi Lagoon on July 20. Paddling has become big business here and abroad, with its popularity expanding in places like Italy, England, Brazil and Germany.
"I get a lot of looks when I'm driving in my car with my (OC-1) on the racks. People want to know what it is and where they can buy the toy. I don't think it's fully hit the recreational market yet. That will be huge."
For Tiger Canoe & Kayak, the demand in California and Australia created the need to add manufacturing plants outside of Kona. Owner Taylor builds all the canoes he sells in Hawaii locally, while those sold in Australia and California are built at those locations.
He understands the preference of the one-man over the surfski.
"The surfski is difficult to learn on," he said. "It takes a persistent person to stay with it. Now the one-man outrigger, you can take someone who has never paddled a stroke out and, in a day, they'll be able to race.
"Paddling has really become an industry. Certainly there's no reason it can't explode."
Tresnak more than agrees. The former Olympic C-1 paddler for Czechoslovakia moved to Hawaii in 1986 and started his boat-building business a year later.
"I started with recreational kayaks, which give you no headaches," said the owner of Outrigger Connection. "The models don't age on you and the buyers aren't asking for the latest equipment, like racers are.
"I was reluctant to go into the racing business where the equipment is always changing. But I saw the potential and took the chance. I realized that maybe it would be a good business and it brought out the competitive part of me."
Tresnak has two shops, one for work in Waimanalo, the other the showroom in Kailua. Thanks to the Internet, e-business is growing; there's even been interest from Patagonia, one of the world's largest retailers of outdoor gear.
"It's looking really good for the sport," said Tresnak. "A company like Patagonia is a giant and would be a considerable source for revenue.
"Right now, I'm two to three months behind in orders. It just shows you that there's more people getting into the sport. The potential worldwide is in the billions."
