Kailua's freshman women, foreground, cruised to a win yesterday, helping their club to the OHCRA championship.
Kailua paddles to
OHCRA championship
Lanikai finishes second and Hui Nalu
third in a close regatta; Waimanalo
wins the A Division
Prior to yesterday's Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association Championships at Keehi Lagoon, it was unclear which club would paddle to victory.
Kailua put any speculation to rest as it claimed the AA Division (18-plus crews) with 77 points, just ahead of neighboring rival Lanikai (68) and Hui Nalu (60).
"It feels good," said Kailua head coach Jimmy Bruhn, whose club won seven races. "It's been close all year long, and we're fortunate and happy to win this trophy. It was a total club effort and everybody worked hard for it. We had to win this one."
Kailua and Lanikai shared last year's championship, so this race carried double the weight, as well as bragging rights.
"It's disappointing, but hats off to (Kailua)," Lanikai head coach Kalani Irvine said. "They out-paddled us today. The strategy that we put together didn't work out, and they countered us pretty well. It's tough because you always want to win, but you respect what they were able to pull off."
This turned out to be the last race of the season for Lanikai. It withdrew from the state championships because its canoes were initially deemed illegal due to the use of fiberglass in their construction. In May, the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association gave Lanikai a waiver that would have allowed them to compete in the Aug. 6 event at Hanakaoo Beach on Maui, but many club members had already made plans for the summer.
According to Irvine, the club will work with the HCRA after the season to interpret the wording of the rule regarding the modification of the traditional canoe design with fiberglass.
"Because we aren't going to states, some guys took an opportunity to get their houses in order so they can be ready for the distance season," said John Foti, a member of Lanikai's senior men's crew, which won the 1.5-mile race in 10 minutes, 47.12 seconds. "Since this was our last opportunity to test everybody in a sprint situation, we wanted to make a statement."
The other crew members were: Ka'ai Bruhn, David Daniels, Jim Foti, George Leslie and Andrew Penny.
Ursula Kaneaiakala kissed Waimanalo club's Dennis Sallas as teammate Raymond Li'i looked on after a win in the men's 55.
Kailua relied on their experienced paddlers to hold onto the lead. The women's golden senior masters crew bolstered the club's point total by winning its sixth straight race.
"We have a fantastic, positive attitude and strong women," crew member Susie Oakland said. "It's an honor working with the women I'm with because they're all seasoned paddlers."
The crew, which finished the race in 4:48.11, also included Sarah Watson, Yvonne Keahi, Mimi Frank, Adrienne Wilson-Yamasaki and Mary Martin.
Waimanalo captured the A Division (17 crews or less) with 11 points, followed closely by Anuenue (10) and Leeward Kai (7).
Waimanalo was able to earn enough points, thanks in part to its men's golden senior masters crew, which completed an undefeated season after winning in 4:06.62, just a quarter-second ahead of Kailua.
"We have a good bunch of paddlers who've been paddling for years, so they know what it's all about," said the crew's steersman, Raymond Li'i.
The junior women of Hui Lanakila edged Kailua en route to an undefeated record. The crew of Allison Sokei, Michelle Arnold, Jen Von Ruden Pollard, Seraphina Earnes, Jody Kono-Kjeldsen and Dani Gay finished in 8:23.97.
"At the half-mile flag, we were unfocused, so I called a power change," Earnes said. "It took everyone holding on (through two changes) for that to work."
Five other crews finished the OHCRA season undefeated: Hui Lanakila's 18 girls and sophomore women; Kailua's 13 boys and freshman women; and Hui Nalu's women's senior masters.
"We paddled well, and the boat felt good," said Lita Blankenfeld of the aforementioned Hui Nalu crew. "All of us have been paddling for so long that we all know each other, so we just go out there and do our best."
According to race director Carol Young, there were no reports of jellyfish stings, which had caused regattas to be moved from Keehi Lagoon earlier in the season.
The HCRA State Championships are Aug. 6 on Maui for crews that have qualified.
"We're looking forward to states, and we'll throw everything in the pot and see if it comes out gold," said Bruhn.
This is the 26th anniversary of the OHCRA Oahu Championships. The organization is made up of 18 clubs represented by almost 3,000 paddlers.
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