[ HIGH SCHOOL PADDLING ]
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Iolani boys paddling team won the First Hawaiian Bank State Canoe Paddling Championships for the second year in a row.
Kamehameha, Iolani
paddlers repeat
After the severe storm that pummeled the islands postponed it Friday and even threatened cancellation for this year, the third annual First Hawaiian Bank State Canoe Paddling Championships ran relatively hitch-free yesterday at Keehi Lagoon.
The beach had to be cleared of debris before the 24-race, three-division event could begin, and a couple of brief showers did pass through after it started. But the extra anxiety caused by the weather didn't prove an obstacle to two of last year's winners repeating as champions and a Maui school picking up its first team state title ever.
Kamehameha of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu won the girls championship for the third year in a row. Iolani School, also from the ILH, picked up its second straight boys crown and King Kekaulike of the Maui Interscholastic League won the mixed division (three boys and three girls) and will be flying home with the first state trophy in any team sport for the 8-year-old school.
"This is such an honor," King Kekaulike head coach Paul Luuwai said, "for me, the paddlers, our staff and the school. So sweet. What a beautiful day it turned out to be."
In the girls final, Kamehameha finished in 4 minutes, 17.72 seconds, about four seconds ahead of ILH champion Punahou (4:21.64), which finished second. Coming in third was Anuenue (4:27.34) of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, and fourth, Saint Francis (4:27.92) of the ILH.
The six paddlers in the Warriors' winning crew were Elena Bryant, Makana Recca, Makana Bruhn, Kehau Meyer, Pua Reis-Moniz and Lori Nakamura.
"We were all so anxious" with Friday's weather, Bryant, a senior, said. "Just waiting, we had to keep the energy level up. ... We're confident in our ability, but we're never overconfident because we know there are hundreds of great athletes out here competing against us."
Said Warriors head coach Rose Lum, tearfully: "This is a joy. These girls work so hard. We didn't win the ILH, but we put it together for states. ... This whole thing was about staying focused."
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Kamehameha girls paddling team celebrated its third straight state title yesterday at Keehi Lagoon.
With six seniors -- Peter Van Lier Ribbink, Matt Sullivan, Landen Buckley, Zac Okemura, Robert Wada and Ian Smith -- in its canoe, Iolani picked up its second straight state title in the boys division with a winning time of 3:45.63.
"The whole crew is pretty much the same (as last year)," said steersman Smith. "We've all paddled together for like three years, so it's all good. It's a great accomplishment."
The ILH champion Raiders showed that they are equally adept at sprinting as well as long-distance racing (in ILH competition, races can last up to 5 miles), overcoming a stiff challenge from one of their league opponents, Kamehameha, which finished second at 3:47.62. King Kekaulike (3:55.16) took third and Kalaheo (3:58.70) of the OIA placed fourth.
"We always know that Kamehameha and Punahou are very strong schools, and we didn't know what to anticipate from the OIA and outer islands," Iolani head coach Brian Yee said. "We're very fortunate that we were able to (win) it again."
MIL champion King Kekaulike's winning time in the mixed division was 4:04.75, nearly six seconds ahead of second-place Kaimuki (4:10.12) of the OIA. Castle (4:17.04) of the OIA took third, while Baldwin (4:20.92) of the MIL placed fourth.
Paddlers in Na Alii's winning crew included Kekupaa Naeole, Tyler Lausten, Marci Ono, Kealii Forsberg, Liann Marks and Nohelani Uu.
"It's a big step," Lausten, a junior, said. "Let's hope it just keeps going from here. Let's get some more."
