JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM The Kaneohe Canoe Club's Men's Novice A team won its event yesterday with a time of 7:54.88.

Andersons lead Kaneohe
to Father’s Day victory

Father's Day meant a family day for Kaneohe Canoe Club. And, with about a dozen of the Anderson ohana competing at Ma'ili Beach, it also meant another Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a victory for the windward side outrigger paddling club.

Kaneohe scored points in 21 of yesterday's first 24 events -- including 45 points for nine race wins -- for 75 points in the AAA Division (25-36 crews). A late charge in the afternoon races for Manu O Ke Kai led to 68 points, while Lokahi and Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i shared third at 52.

"It's a good Father's Day for me and the whole club," said Kaneohe coach Clint Anderson. "Everything's worked out well. Yes, it's worth the drive."

The commute was longer for Anderson's brother Roy, who flew in yesterday morning from Maui. Although neither of his crews won -- he paddled in the 40 and 50 men's races -- "I enjoy coming every weekend, seeing the family all paddling together again," he said. "We have my sister, my dad's two sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins. We enjoy the whole day."

The celebration included four victories for the family, with Clint's daughter Kahea steering for the winning girls 13 and his sister, Tweetie Anderson-Perreira, winning in the women's 50 event.

Clint's son Keoni steered two winning crews: boys 15 and 18. The victory in the 18s was doubly sweet; not only did Kaneohe break Lokahi's 9-year-old record in the 1-mile event (by 0.54 seconds), the crew avenged its technical loss from two weeks ago, when it was disqualified for a false start after winning the race by nearly 28 seconds.

Yesterday, their start was clean and the finish just as dominating. Kaneohe crossed the line in 7 minutes, 47.29 seconds, well ahead of Manu O Ke Kai's 8:05.65.

"There was some motivation for this week," Keoni Anderson said. "It was a fun race. We got some bumps on the way back."

The reward was getting to bodysurf in the large swells just south of the course ... something that would not have had happened had the regatta been held at its original place: Keehi Lagoon. The jellyfish infestation has left both Hui Wa'a and the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association having to relocate their respective regattas for the rest of the season.

"There's been a lot of good that has come out of the situation," Hui Wa'a vice president Tambry Young said. "A lot of people have come out to help us get the sites settled. Next week, we'll be at Kailua and, the following week, we have several options, including to the Kaneohe Marine Base in conjunction with BayFest."

The association's championship on July 23 will likely be at Kailua, as will OHCRA's championship on July 24.

"It was nice out here," said Danny Sanford, coach of host 'Alapa Hoe, which continues to practice at Keehi. "We've been camping out since Friday to get things set up. It was a great race, we finished on time, there were no hulis, we didn't have to worry about the jellyfish."

Besides overseeing the regatta, Sanford also spent a week crafting the nine trophies that were awarded for the top three clubs in each of the three divisions. The trophies were miniature outrigger canoes made of African mahogany and monkeypod.

Koa Kai, which won three races, easily claimed the AA Division (13-24 crews) trophy with 46 points. 'Alapa Hoe took home one of their coach's creations for second (18), with Ka Mamalahoe third with 13 points.

Waikiki Beach Boys, with five wins and two records, dominated the A Division (1-12 crews) with 31 points. North Shore was second (seven) and Kalihi Kai third (one).

The Beach Boys sophomore women won their 1-mile race by 37 seconds, finishing in 8:22.34, and bettering Lokahi's mark of 8:39:69 from 1999. The senior women were equally dominating in also breaking the 1999 mark of 13:09.20 by Lokahi. The Beach Boys were timed in 12:44.57 over the 1 1/2-mile course, an impressive 45 seconds ahead of second-place Lokahi.

"It was a hard race with tough water," Beach Boys steersman Sue Brown said. "We're training really hard and it's paying off.

"I have to give credit to my No. 1 (stroker Kelsa Teeters). With three turns, you need a strong No. 1 to help make the turns and Kelsa is very strong. And we got some bumps coming back in. I like this water."

So did the self-proclaimed "Love Boat" from Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i. The crew is comprised of three married couples -- Jim and Ann Johns, Glenn and Shelly Freitas, and Joe and Allyn Momoa -- all of whom have been together for about 24 years. The mixed masters 50 crew won its second consecutive race, edging out friendly rival Koa Kai, 4:11.25-4:15.64.

"We've just got it going," said stroker Jim Johns. "My wife (Ann) sits behind me and tells me when I need to pick it up."

"We have a ball together," added Ann Johns.

Ka Mo'i has also come together in a tsunami relief effort with its 'A Ohe Hana Nui Ke Alu'ia (No Task Is Too Big When Done Together By All). The club is selling T-shirts with the flags of the six countries affected by last year's tsunami: Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Indonesia.

"The board thought it was a good idea and we sold out our first printing," said Allyn Momoa, who helped designed the shirt. "We wanted to help somehow. We hope to be able to donate a couple thousand dollars."

OHCRA: Lanikai ran its winning streak to three straight by claiming the AA Division title of the 13th Pa'iaina Regatta at Nanakuli Beach.

Lanikai won 12 of the 37 events to finish with 87 points in the division for 18-plus crews. Kailua was again second with 76 points, followed by Hui Nalu (54) and Hui Lanakila (53).

Waimanalo repeated as A Division winner with 15 points. Leeward Kai was a distant second with six points.

OHCRA's next regatta is Sunday at Waimanalo Beach. Racing begins at 8:30 a.m.