CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM New Hope led the Men's 50 at the turn yesterday and took fourth in a photo finish at Keehi Lagoon.

Lanikai holds off Kailua
in OHCRA season opener

With wins in six of the first 16 races, Lanikai held off Kailua to win the AA division of the Clement D. Paiaina Regatta yesterday at Keehi Lagoon.

Lanikai tallied 73 points with nine wins to Kailua's 69 points and five wins. Hui Lanakila placed third with 58 points and seven wins in the nine-team division, which included clubs that participated in 18 or more of the 37 races.

The regatta is the first of seven Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association competitions this summer.

Lanikai coach Kalani Irvine said the meet was a great opportunity to see how all his crews stack up against the competition.

"Our kids are strong again, and our men will be really strong," Irvine said. "We have some areas we need to work on. This is the feeling-out race."

The clubs continue competition Sunday with the King Kamehameha Regatta at Kailua Beach Park starting at 8:30 a.m.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Competitors in the Women's 40 race awaited the start during yesterday's 15th Annual Clement D. Paiaina Regatta.

"Our boys did very well. ... They set the tone for the day," Irvine said.

In what is considered the most prestigious race of the regatta, Lanikai sprinted down the home stretch to take the 1 1/2-mile senior men event by 1.55 seconds over Outrigger.

"Everybody just started ripping, and we pulled it off," Lanikai steersman Nahina Lee Loy said.

It was the first race for Lee Loy on the senior level. He previously raced on the freshman and sophomore levels with Kailua.

The crew of Lee Loy, Ka'ai Bruhn, Aaron Creps, David Daniels, Mike Judd and Andrew Penny finished the race in a time of 10:57.58.

Lanikai started the race strongly, taking a short lead as the canoes made the first turn at the 1/2-mile marker. But by the last turn at the 1 1/4-mile marker, Outrigger had the slight advantage before Lanikai made one last surge to pull in front before the finish line.

"It was just back and forth," Outrigger coach and paddler Jimmy Austin said. "I'm sure there will be a lot more competition like that throughout the year.

"Outrigger tends to start out under the weather," Austin added. "But as a club, with all the people we have missing with graduation and stuff, we've been doing very well. We're very impressed."

Outrigger, which finished fifth with 44 points, also excelled in the senior women's race. The team of Traci Phillips, Paula Crabb, Jennifer Thayer, Kanesa Duncan, Mary Smolenski and Kisi Haine won the race in 13:07.74, more than 8 seconds better than second-place Hui Nalu.

Aside from the large time advantage, the win itself was a surprise for the Lanikai crew, Haine said.

"We just threw together some really good paddlers who have paddled together for 20 years, and it clicked," Haine said. "We're surprised that we won, but it was a good win."

Leeward Kai and Anuenue Canoe Club tied for first place in the eight-team A division with 11 points each. Waimanalo finished third with 10 points after having won both the girls 12 and the men's 50 and over races. Kai Oni was the only other A division club to win an event, taking first in the girls 16.

Kaneohe wins second straight: Kaneohe Canoe Club collected 67 points to win its second competition in as many weeks, winning the AAA division of the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a regatta yesterday in Haleiwa.

Kaneohe won five of the 36 events, including four at the youth level. The club also placed in the top four in 23 races.

Manu O Ke Kai took second in the AAA division with 59 points, while Lokahi finished third with 51 points. The AAA division consisted of the four teams that participated in 25 or more events.

Koa Kai dominated the AA division (13-24 events), earning 48 points. Waikiki Beach Boys ran away with the win in the A division, posting 28 points.

The next Hui Wa'a competition takes place on Sunday at Keehi Lagoon, starting at 8:30 a.m.