DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kaneohe Canoe Club's Erin Jenny celebrated with sister Kristy Jenny after winning the 18-and-under race yesterday in the Hui Wa'a Championship Regatta at Keehi Lagoon.
Kaneohe comes through
After three years of heartbreak, the Kaneohe Canoe Club capped an incredible season with the sweetest finish to capture the Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a racing association championship.
Kaneohe edged the Lokahi Canoe Club by a narrow margin of four points for the Hui Wa'a title yesterday. After losing the last three association championships by a combined 11 points, Kaneohe turned the tables on Lokahi. Kaneohe took advantage of windy conditions at Keehi Lagoon that were similar to their practice conditions to win 12 races for 86 points.
Lokahi, the winner of 15 of the last 16 Hui Wa'a championships, staged an afternoon comeback but came up short with 82 points. Manu O Ke Kai finished a distant third with 34 points and Waikiki Yacht Club totaled 27 points.
In the AA division (9-17 events), Koa Kai placed first in three events and took four seconds to score 30 points for the win. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i was second with 25 points. The Waikiki Beach Boys picked up victories in the women's novice B, freshman and sophomore races to easily take the A division (6-8 events) with 23 points.
That Kaneohe was the club to beat was no secret. Powered by its youth crews all season long, the windward side club won seven of eight regular-season regattas. But the youth were not nearly as dominating yesterday. In the end, it was Kaneohe's adult crews that pulled out the victory.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kaneohe Canoe Club's Precious Vincent ran through a victory tunnel after the crew won the girls 15 race yesterday at Keehi Lagoon.
"Our kids did dominate the season," Kaneohe coach Clint Anderson said. "They did awesome today, but not as many points as I wished. I was trying to get 60 points today, but I was selfish."
Anderson was hoping to take a large lead into the afternoon when Lokahi would be at its strongest.
A rainbow arcing over the lagoon most of the afternoon was swallowed up by clouds as the regatta reached its most dramatic moment. With Lokahi clinging to an 82-81 lead with two races to go, the pressure to win was on Kaneohe.
But the men's open 4 crew of Shawn Alvarez, Markham Young, Scott Akau and Dean Kaluhiwa did not crack under the pressure. Despite training for only five weeks together after being plucked from other Kaneohe teams, the crew eked out an upset win by two seconds over Koa Kai. The five points they earned sealed a berth in the state races and Kaneohe's Hui Wa'a championship.
"The pressure was on us. We looked at it like there's 15 seconds left and we're against the wall," Alvarez said. "Koa Kai was undefeated, so it was a big win because we beat Koa Kai. We beat (Waikiki) Yacht Club to get into states and we clinched the regatta."
Anderson was in disbelief when his counterpart at Lokahi, Robert Viernes, walked over to congratulate him before the final event, the mixed open 6.
"I'm very happy that we won," Anderson said. "This is the best year we ever had for the past five years. The adults did awesome. They pulled through and the kids did what they could."
Lokahi, who won an uncharacteristic single regatta heading into yesterday's Hui Wa'a championship, nearly rallied for its 16th championship in 17 years.
Spurred by victories in four of six men's races (novice A, freshman, sophomore, senior), Lokahi cut Kaneohe's double-digit lead to six after the senior men's race. A win in the women's open 4 gave Lokahi its only lead of the day (82-81) but it wouldn't be enough.
"Some teams I expected to take first didn't take first," Viernes said. "We tried to cover whatever adults were winning the races (in previous regattas). My plan kind of worked.
"I know what we got to work on for next year. We need to get more kids and coaches for the kids. It's a tough loss for me because we're Hui Wa'a champions every year. You don't want to be the coach that gets the loss. But we did well, it wasn't a blow-away loss. I congratulate them. They did a great job."
Hui Wa'a hosts the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship at Keehi Lagoon on Aug. 2.
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Hui Wa'a
Championship regatta
At Keehi Lagoon
* Qualified for states
TEAM STANDINGS
AAA division (18+ events)--1. Kaneohe, 86 pts. 2. Lokahi, 82. 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 34. 4. Waikiki Yacht Club, 27.
AA division (9-17 events)--1. Koa Kai, 30. 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, 25. 3. Hawaiian Outrigger, 18. 4. North Shore, 14. 5. Kamehameha, 11. 6. Ka Mamalahoe, 9. 7. Kai Poha, 5. 8. Kumulokahi Elks 1.
A division (6-8 events)--1. Waikiki Beach Boys, 23. 2. Alapa Hoe, 6. 3. Windward Kai, 5. 4. Kalihi Kai, 4. 5. I Mua, -8.
BOYS
12-and-under--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Kaneohe(Nainoa Kahele, Bobby Pratt, Alika Kekoanui, Cody Hookano, Mason Cambra, Brent Fukushima), 2:10.48. 2. Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 2:28.28. 3. *Hawaiian Outrigger, 2:32.74. 4. Windward Kai, 2:48.25.
13--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Keoni Anderson, Dane Kimokeo, Alika Kekoanui, Nainoa Kahele, Kaona Chang, Bobby Pratt), 2:18.84. 2. *Hawaiian Outrigger, 2:27.74. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 2:28.36. 4. Lokahi, 2:34.30.
14--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Bryce Calpito, Keola Kamakana, Kamu Santos, Kealii Frank, Kainoa Ibarra, Nainoa Hopkins), 2:02.00. 2. *Lokahi, 2:07.50. 3. Hawaiian Outrigger, 2:15.90. 4. Kumulokahi Elks, 2:20.36.
15--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Cory Siquiera, Justin Silva, Bryce Calpito, Keola Kamakana, Jarred Ferrer, Dane Kimokeo), 4:09.34. 2. *Manu O Ke Kai, 4:21.01. 3. Kamehameha, 4:27.91. 4. Lokahi, 4:29.28.
16--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Manu O Ke Kai (Kaipo Orellana, Koa Matu'u, Kris Seumanutafa, Kekoa Kama, Andrew Madeyski, John Mack), 3:53.89. 2. *Kaneohe, 3:57.65. 3. Hawaiian Outrigger, 4:08.34. 4. Ka Mamalahoe, 4:11.21.
18--(1-mile): 1. *Kanohe (Seth Ramolete, Kawika Kahiapo, Justin Silva, Cory Siqueira, Jonathan Ukauka, Safea Kahiapo), 8:11.42. 2. Alapa Hoe, 8:30.02. 3. *Ka Mamalahoe, 8:31.28. 4. Lokahi, 8:37.77.
GIRLS
12-and-under--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Na Keiki O Ka Moi (Laurissa Asuega, Natasha Ah Nee, Priscilla Sakamoto, Mahina Manufekai, Piilani Reyes, Brandi Titsworth), 2:23.58. 2. Kaneohe, 2:33.28. 3. *North Shore, 2:35.08. 4. Ka Mamalahoe, 2:38.76.
13--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Kristine Aquino, Kiana Parrilla, Cherish Hosino, Camille Rodrigues, Chelsea Nascimento, Kelia Parrilla), 2:26.44. 2. *Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 2:29.69. 3. Windward Kai, 2:42.08. 4. Waikiki Yacht Club, 2:45.33.
14--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Hawaiian Outrigger (Alyson Ayers, Malia Samson, Shanadee Canon, Halialoha Travis, Breanne Vilarosa, Monica Shiroma), 2:22.67. 2. *Kaneohe, 2:27.23. 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 2:34.34. 4. Kamehameha, 2:38.07.
15--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Lehua Tabadero, Kawena Kawainui, Precious Vincent, Jessica Aquino, Angela Oka, Titi Kawainui), 4:40.09. 2. *Kamehameha, 4:51.98. 3. Lokahi, 4:53.12. 4. Manu O Ke Kai, 5:14.01.
16--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Manu O Ke Kai (Lahela Lorenzo, Christy Magarro, Cheyenne Christenson, Kyra Sussel, Jaylynn Kauwalu, Savannah McCue), 4:54.18. 2. *Kaneohe, 4:59.69. 3. Lokahi, 5:06.26. 4. Ka Mamalahoe, 5:07.31.
18--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Erin Jenny, Teri Wright, Brooke Calpito, Treasure Watanabe, Sachelle Featheran, Sharde Marshall), 4:32.88. 2. *Lokahi, 4:37.32. 3. Kamehameha, 4:50.00. 4. Manu O Ke Kai, 4:53.08.
MEN
Novice A--(1-mile): 1. *Lokahi (Alexander Tiedemann, David Shamblin, Kalani DeMello, Lokahi Fernandez, Rudy Briones, Lance Ponce), 7:44.30. 2. *Koa Kai, 7:48.32. 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 8:19.11. 4. Kaneohe, 8:43.25.
Novice B--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Koa Kai (Kaleo Schoeing, Brett Saguid, Eric Kingma, Dave Fuga, Justin Oleole, John Miner), 3:54.13. 2. Kai Pona, 4:14.21. 3. I Mua, 4:15.68. 4. *Lokahi, 4:16.37.
Freshmen--(1-mile): 1. *Lokahi (Chris Tseu, Eddie Davis, Norm Bradley, John Kaaialii, Marshall Giddens, Kevin Mokuahi), 7:31.80. 2. *Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 7:54.46. 3. Manu O Ke Kai, 8:07.27. 4. Koa Kai, 8:25.27.
Sophomore--(1-mile): 1. *Lokahi (Alexander Tidemann, Robert Viernes, Norm Bradley, John Kaaialii, Marshall Giddens, Kevin Mokuahi), 7:52.25. 2. Kaneohe, 8:02.11. 3. *Manu O Ke Kai, 8:04.28. 4. Koa Kai, 8:28.68.
Senior--(1 1/2-miles): 1. *Lokahi (Christopher Tseu, Eddie Davis, Robert Viernes, Michael Cushnie, Earl Cobb Jr., Terry Hamamoto), 11:46.52. 2. *Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 11:55.20. 3. Kalihi Kai, 12:24.63. 4. Manu O Ke Kai, 12:56.44.
Masters--(1-mile): 1. *Koa Kai (Ruben Cabaniero, Joe Kim, Ben Ancheta, Paul Amoy, Neal Ceberano, James Oleole Jr.), 7:39.57. 2. *Waikiki Yacht Club, 7:52.03. 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 7:52.93. 4. Ka Mamalahoe, 8:17.83.
Senior masters--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Koa Kai (Dan Gagich, Ron Ogino, Mort Watson, Colin Galang, Bill King, Dickie Chow), 4:09.54. 2. *Lokahi, 4:14.28. 3. Kaneohe, 4:35.89.
Golden masters--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Bobby Amaral, Bob Perreira, Sandy Quon, Allan Ouye, Noll Andrell, Dickie Abbey), 4:17.68. 2. *Lokahi, 4:24.24. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 4:49.05.
Open 4--( 1/2 mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Shawn Alvarez, Markham Young, Scott Akau, Dean Kaluhiwa), 4:00.75. 2. *Koa Kai, 4:02.85. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 4:05.18. 4. Kalihi Kai, 4:18.10.
WOMEN
Novice A--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Lokahi (Carol Silverio, Christina Clinton, Wendy Gampong, Daria Dasha Dillard, Laureen Garrido, Maureen Manufekai), 4:28.74. 2. *Manu O Ke Kai, 4:45.30. 3. Waikiki Beach Boys, 4:46.08. 4. Waikiki Yacht Club, 4:46.85.
Novice B--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Waikiki Beach Boys (Jennifer Bowers, Vai Hershey, Stephanie Canda, Jennifer Morgan, Kelsa Teeters, Fern Yoon), 2:10.23. 2. *Lokahi, 2:24.84. 3. North Shore, 2:26.43. 4. Kaneohe, 2:28.42.
Freshmen--(1-mile): 1. *Waikiki Beach Boys (Jennifer Morgan, Malia Eversole, Erin Offenhauser, Dana Gorecki, Angela Lovitt, Julia Shupe), 8:47.46. 2. *Lokahi, 8:52.13. 3. Ka Mamalahoe, 9:27.04. 4. Waikiki Yacht Club, 9:51.17.
Sophomore--(1-mile): 1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Meredith Takara, Shonette Devitt, Jennifer Bowers, Kathleen Grubbs, Fern Yoon, Sue Brown), 8:43.21. 2. *Lokahi, 8:59.69. 3. *Manu O Ke Kai, 9:12.63. 4. Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 9:35.00.
Senior--(1 1/2-miles): 1. *Lokahi (Jenn Thompson, Bozo Vierra, Dy Valdez, Karen Dunai, Theresa Gerry, Iwa Bush), 13:06.09. 2. *Waikiki Beach Boys, 13:37.26. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 14:35.00. 4. Kaneohe, 14:55.04.
Masters--(1-mile): 1. *North Shore (Folly Murdock, Kimberly Walsh, Jenny Smith, Chana Dimmitt, Brynn Thurston, Donna Moore), 9:30.60. 2. *Koa Kai, 9:39.45. 3. Kaneohe, 10:18.33. 4. Waikiki Yacht Club, 10:31.08.
Senior masters--( 1/2-mile): 1. *North Shore (Dara Fairchild, Jennifer Smith, Melodie Lane-Reeves, Linda Tseu, Jeannie Martinson, Debi Kelly), 4:46.84. 2. *Waikiki Yacht Club, 5:03.09. 3. Kai Poha, 5:25.08.
Golden masters--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Waikiki Yacht Club (Carole Chun, Paula Carrol, Chris Gaylord, Margaret Vogt, Bonnie Ranate Baffoe, Lori Auhll), 5:30.26. 2. *Lokahi, 5:31.47. 3. Hawaiian Outrigger, 6:16.58.
Open 4--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Lokahi (Michelle Bradley, Theresa Gerry, Darlene Morikawa, Dy Valdez), 4:46.55. 2. *Koa Kai, 4:50.96. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 5:13.68. 4. Kamehameha, 5:15.48.
MIXED
12-and-under--( 1/4-mile): 1. Lokahi (Hana Allison, Michael Freeman, Kurtian Cabacungan, Kawai Laroya, Brandy Jardine, Bernice Musrasrik), 2:33.15. 2. *Kaneohe, 2:39.89. 3. *Kamehameha, 2:54.42. 4. Kalihi Kai, 2:55.25.
Novice B--( 1/4-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Vanessa Tsukane, Jr. Pecpec, Mark Sprague, Amanda Abbey, Mel Diaz, Loke Villiamu), 1:59.24. 2. *Waikiki Beach Boys, 2:05.28. 3. Hawaiian Outrigger, 2:06.05. 4. Koa Kai, 2:09.17.
Masters--( 1/2-mile): 1. Lokahi (Mark Tomomitsu, Michael Neuman, Kim Meyer, Earl Cobb Jr., Sue Lin Lutfy, Iwa Bush), 4:15.03. 2. *Kaneohe, 4:20.44. 3. Waikiki Yacht Club, 4:25.88. 4. *Windward Kai, 4:28.18.
Senior masters--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Kaneohe (Byron Scholtz, Mel Deutsch, Tony Obatay, Freddie Tauotaha, Clarise Obatay, Tweetie Anderson), 4:48.70. 2. Lokahi, 4:49.94. 3. *Manu O Ke Kai, 4:54.07.
Golden masters--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Manu O Ke Kai (Ed Tseu, Joe Scallon, Kay Bauman, Chuck Meade, Darlene Heck, Shelia Pactol), 4:49.84. 2. *Kaneohe, 4:55.29. 3. Lokahi, 5:00.99. 4. Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 5:04.05.
Open 6--( 1/2-mile): 1. *Waikiki Beach Boys (Jody Kono, Makena Coffman, Romelyn Esperanza-Stein, James Richmond, Cory Beall, Dan Newbill), 4:02.99. 2. Alapa Hoe, 4:04.22. 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi, 4:07.06. 4. *Windward Kai, 4:07.57.
SPECIAL
1. Kamehameha (Joshua Ho, Kristine Sugimoto, Jesse Henning, Mariah Murdock), 2:47.34. 2. Kumulokahi Elks, 2:50.31. 3. North Shore, 3:44.85. 4. Hawaiian Outrigger, 4:09.23.
