It has not mattered which regatta or the type of conditions on any given Sunday so far this summer for Lanikai Canoe Club. The Windward-side club is still undefeated in the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association.
The defending association champion, Lanikai won its fourth straight regatta yesterday by taking the AAA (18-plus races entered) title at the Waimanalo Regatta with 13 race wins and 108 total points.
Kailua placed second in AAA for the fourth consecutive week with 79 points. Outrigger (72) and Hui Lanakila (39) rounded out the top four spots.
"We've just been scoring points consistently, and if you can get that, that's what wins regattas," Lanikai head coach David Smith said.
The wind was whipping and the ocean was extremely choppy for the 39-race event at Waimanalo Beach. But OHCRA decided against using open steersmen for the regatta.
Regardless, as it has all season, Lanikai began raking in the points as soon as it got under way. After the first 18 races, which included the youth and novice divisions, it already had six race wins, five runner-up results and a 53-42 advantage over Kailua with the rest of the AAA clubs trailing by no fewer than 29 points.
"We showed our versatility, but we're used to these types of conditions where we train," Smith said. "It's easier to go from rough water to calm water than the other way around."
Among its victories in the first half of the regatta, Lanikai remained unbeaten on the season in the boys 12 race, and also won the boys 18, women's and men's novice B, and women's and men's novice A events.
Big wins for Lanikai in the second half included taking the prestigious senior men's race as well as the freshmen men's. Lanikai rebounded from mixing some of its better paddlers into other crews and a sixth-place showing a week ago in the senior men's event to win it for the third time in the four regattas this year.
Brothers Kaai and Kekoa Bruhn, Aaron Creps, Mike Judd, Zane Chess and George Leslie paddled with Lanikai's senior men's crew yesterday. They finished the 1 1/2-mile course in 11 minutes and 48.64 seconds, more than 10 seconds better than runner-up Outrigger (11:59.46).
Outrigger, however, did manage to come out on top in both the sophomore and junior men's races.
"We wanted to come out today, even though we're still missing some (regular) guys, and get some points for (qualification for) the state regatta," Creps said. "We've got a lot of good young guys coming up, and I attribute that to our one-man (canoe) program. It helps with the transition from youth to men. We've got a lot of talent to pull from for the whole club; our women and masters (crews) are doing really well too."
Leeward Kai won the AA (nine to 17 races) division with 28 total points. Host Waimanalo (17) finished in second.
Anuenue (3) won the A (eight or fewer races) title for OHCRA's smallest clubs.
After twice winning the AA division this year, Ala Wai-based Hui Lanakila was in the AAA yesterday for the second time because it had two more crews than the middle-division maximum with 19.
But, as it usually does, Hui Lanakila got a tremendous showing from its women paddlers, as they managed to convincingly sweep the freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior and open 4 races for the second consecutive week.
In the 1 1/2-mile women's senior race -- which Hui Lanakila has yet to lose this year -- the crew of Jessica Eames, Arlene Holzman, Jane McKee, Katie Slocumb, Michelle Bradley and Jaimie Kinard were more than 30 seconds better than second-place Outrigger, at 13:51.17 to 14:22.89.
"A big reason (for the success) has been that the majority of our core has been paddling together now for about four years," McKee said. "That's huge. We know each other, know our styles, and we can adapt easily if we do make some changes. Plus we're training hard; we come into the season in great shape. But we expect things to get more competitive toward the end of the season, when other teams put together their best combinations."
Instead of racing next Sunday, OHCRA resumes competition on the Fourth of July with its annual Macfarlane Regatta at Waikiki Beach. While it does not count toward the official season standings and qualification for the state championship in August, the Macfarlane is a highlight as the only surf race on the OHCRA schedule.
PADDLING
OHCRA
Waimanalo Regatta
At Waimanalo
Team standings
AAA Division--1. Lanikai 108 points; 2. Kailua 79; 3. Outrigger 72; 4. Hui Lanakila 39; 5. Hui Nalu 27; 6. Healani 18; 7. New Hope 3.
AA Division--1. Leeward Kai 28; 2. Waimanalo 17; 3. Keahiakahoe 10; 4. Waikiki Surf Club 5, Kaioni 5; 6. Honolulu Pearl 2.
A Division--1. Anuenue 3; 2. Keola O Ke Kai 2, Makaha 2; 4. Puuloa Outrigger 0, Keala 0.
Boys
12-and-under--1. Lanikai (Jake Armstrong, Colin McCreary, Benjamin Scholfield, Cole Caster, Aaron Madden, Walker Smith) 2:10.17; 2. Waimanalo 2:22.81; 3. Kailua 2:30.75.
13--1. Leeward Kai (Brian Kaaa, Nolen Kekawa, Darius Kawaauhau, Terence Naiwi, Shannon Palmero, Rylan-Joseph Baugh) 1:59.76; 2. Keahiakahoe 2:05.53; 3. Lanikai 2:12.75; 4. Kailua 2:19.58.
14--1. Hui Lanakila (Kalani Puaoi, Pele Soma, Adam Pedro, Raven Pokini, Nikolaus Pittman, Kaiminaauao Johnson) 1:54.80; 2. Waimanalo 1:57.85; 3. Leeward Kai 1:58.79; 4. Lanikai 2:00.92.
15--1. Outrigger (John Wade, Jon Hunter, Nion Nichols, Benjamin Beck, James Field, Riley Sieverts) 4:20.84; 2. Hui Nalu 4:28.56; 3. Leeward Kai 4:29.72; 4. Lanikai 4:33.39.
16--1. Kailua (Alika Guillaume, Tallii Monmaney, Lawrence Soto, Taylor Ho, Ka'onohi Malama-Custer, Keano Bruhn) 4:15.13; 2. Hui Nalu 4:17.28; 3. Outrigger 4:31.33; 4. Lanikai 4:52.30.
18--1. Lanikai (Ryan Dolan, Beau Moody, Tim Steinmeier, Damien Casken, Troy Thompson, Connor Dowsett) 8:09.72; 2. Outrigger 8:19.01; 3. Keahiakahoe 8:37.13; 4. Waikiki Surf Club 8:48.12.
Girls
12-and-under--1. Kailua (Kialoa Makua, Mahina Kahalewale, Nalani Bishaw, Rachel Stogner, Cheyenne Bautista, Alisha Kim) 2:23.86; 2. Keola O Ke Kai 2:38.56; 3. Lanikai 2:41.96; 4. Hui Nalu 2:43.55.
13--1. Leeward Kai (Sweetheart Kahananui, Kirstie Rosa, Zhyvanna Perry, Chardynae Morgan, Chassidy Kaaihue, Ka'ena Kaaihue) 2:17.02; 2. Lanikai 2:22.72; 3. Kailua 2:23.08; 4. Outrigger 2:30.26.
14--1. Waimanalo (Hillary Anderson, Maura Tynanes, Ku'uleialoha Reis-Moniz, Kau'ionalani Reis-Moniz, Taylor Kaalele, Hau'oli Wilkinson) 2:12.86; 2. Outrigger 2:15.70; 3. Leeward Kai 2:16.08; 4. Hui Lanakila 2:16.38.
15--1. Kailua (Katie Amberg-Johnson, Tyler-Ann Carvalho-Gomes, Mariah Petty-Pe'a, Victoria Morgado, Brittany Leandro, Kara Sheldon) 5:13.36; 2. Lanikai 5:21.52; 3. Hui Nalu 5:24.65; 4. Keahiakahoe 5:31.63.
16--1. Leeward Kai (Brittany Nao, Camille Simon, Keahulani Kelii, Grace Brack-Werner, Leilani Puaoi, Kiana-Caprice Merritt) 5:18.63; 2. Kailua 5:20.81; 3. Hui Lanakila 5:22.02; 4. Waikiki Surf Club 5:29.66.
18--1. Outrigger (Leigh Cullinan, Marisa Wriston, Jean Cullinan, Sarah Thacker, Nicole Libbey, Linnea Schuster) 4:58.73; 2. Lanikai 5:00.75; 3. Kailua 5:09.29; 4. Hui Nalu 5:10.01.
Men
Novice B--1. Lanikai (Sam Bello, Andre Boshoff, Robert Edge, Craig Streetman, Jeff McCreary, Jesse Hampton) 4:19.37; 2. Kailua 4:21.36; 3. Hui Nalu 4:39.47; 4. Makaha 4:55.43.
Novice A--1. Lanikai (Quinn Barber, Clifton Botelho, Andrew Csigi, Brett Fillmore, Jon Hanks, Patrick Shea) 8:28.06; 2. Outrigger 8:33.39; 3. New Hope 9:07.93; 4. Healani 9:09.96.
Freshmen--1. Lanikai (Kahaku Aspelund, Ben Creps, Matt Crowley, Paul Casken, Thomas Cavaco, Eckhart Diestel), 8:11.59; 2. Kailua, 8:21.37; 3. Outrigger, 8:23.74; 4. Hui Lanakila, 8:25.99.
Sophomore--1. Outrigger (Robert Harrison, Tapa Worthington, Ikaika Harbottle, Byron Ho, Scott Hendricks, Karel Tresnak), 7:41.67; 2. Lanikai, 7:46.09; 3. Kailua, 7:55.83; 4. Leeward Kai, 8:02.18.
Junior--1. Outrigger (Ruben Cabaniero, Jeremiah Gushman, Franz Solmssen, Jimmy Austin, Gunner Schull, Tapa Worthington), 8:07.03; 2. Kailua, 8:11.79; 3. Leeward Kai, 8:57.46; 4. New Hope, 9:33.88.
Senior--1. Lanikai (Ka'ai Bruhn, Aaron Creps, Mike Judd, Kekoa Bruhn, Zane Chess, George Leslie), 11:48.64; 2. Outrigger, 11:59.46; 3. Kailua, 12:05.04; 4. Hui Lanakila, 12:15.27.
Masters 40--1. Lanikai (Thomas Conner, Eric Levora, Toby Morris, Jeff Cummings, Daniel Kauai, Michael Pedersen), 8:18.66; 2. Outrigger, 8:29.90; 3. Kailua, 8:45.67; 4. Hui Nalu, 8:48.65.
Masters 50--1. Kailua (Paul Hewlett, Kamoa Kalama, Stephen Holbrook, Benny Quitevis, Nyle Warinner, Walter Hamasaki), 4;03.73; 2. Hui Lanakila, 4:13.27; 3. Outrigger, 4:19.33; 4. Hui Nalu, 4:21.41.
Masters 55--1. Outrigger (Ken Bailey, Bill Bright, Douglas Bechert, Chris Crabb, James Kincaid, Mark Buck), 4:15.37; 2. Hui Lanakila, 4:20.80; 3. Kailua, 4:21.08; 4. Lanikai, 4:27.74.
Masters 60--1. Kailua (Henry Leandro, Mike Watson, Pat Goldstein, Gary Murakami, Allan Ouye, Robert Thurston), 4:25.49; 2. Outrigger, 4:30.36; 3. Anuenue, 4:40.36; 4. Keahiakahoe, 4:43.35.
Open 4--1. Healani (Kyle Kennedy-Pocock, Tad Yamashita, Aaron Domingo, Kealii Paiaina), 4:17.65; 2. Lanikai, 4:23.81; 3. Keahiakahoe, 4:39.72; 4. Kailua, 4:54.42.
Women
Novice B--1. Lanikai (Jennifer Brien, Megan Himmer, Amber Moorhead, Kira Withy-Allen, Barb Van Der Kamp, Geri Robles) 2:03.84; 2. Kailua 2:05.29; 3. Outrigger 2:10.72; 4. Hui Lanakila 2:12.42.
Novice A--1. Lanikai (Alison Cannon, Janelle Jinbo, Kris Krengel, Mandy Startup, Tanya Pertzoff, Alison Parsons) 4:44.78; 2. Kailua 4:49.20; 3. Waikiki Surf Club 5:04.11; 4. Makaha 5:07.40.
Freshmen--1. Hui Lanakila (Kaui Martinez, Kaipo Martinez, Kelsi Campos, Lori Nakamura, Chelsea Meyer, Taupuuwaiotalani Crawford), 9:30.75; 2. Kailua, 9:44.25; 3. Lanikai, 9:52.33; 4. Hui Nalu, 10:24.51.
Sophomore--1. Hui Lanakila ( ), ; 2. Hui Nalu, 10:18.45; 3. Lanikai, 10:49.31; 4. Outrigger, 11:30.58.
Junior--1. Hui Lanakila (Colleen McCormick, Deborah Rosenblum, Clementine Siaosi, Danielle Gay, Shannon Van Gieson, Leila Albino), 10:07.15; 2. Waimanalo, 10:45.69; 3. Honolulu Pearl, 10:57.11; 4. Kailua, 11:07.95.
Senior--1. Hui Lanakila (Jessica Eames, Arlene Holzman, Jane McKee, Katie Slocumb, Michelle Bradley, Jamie Kinard), 13:51.17; 2. Outrigger, 14:22.89; 3. Kailua, 14:33.34; 4. Lanikai, 14:37.79.
Masters 40--1. Lanikai (Cynthia Bostick, Cindi Chess, Ann Dewey, Heidi Smith, Lisa Sauer, Malia Maldonado), 9:29.29; 2. Outrigger, 9:40.57; 3. Hui Lanakila, 9:43.05; 4. Healani, 10:21.67.
Masters 50--1. Kailua (Vivian Griffin, Chrystal Hogue, Kathy Erwin, Donna Kohls, Lois Wise, Carleen Ornellas), 5:01.53; 2. Outrigger, 5:08.09; 3. Hui Nalu, 5:13.57; 4. Lanikai, 5:17.21.
Masters 55--1. Lanikai (Judy Allen, Helen Coelho, Suzi Mechler, Lani Twomey, Cherie Moncrief, Pamela Monahan), 5:28.55; 2. Outrigger, 5:30.32; 3. Waimanalo, 6:07.33.
Masters 60 --1. Kailua (Ann Buck, Susan Heitzman, Sandra Simons, Barbara Bryan, Gerri Pedesky Michele St. John), 5:17.30; 2. Lanikai, 5:19.07; 3. Hui Nalu, 5:23.16; 4. Kailua, 5:28.51.
Open 4--1. Hui Lanakila (Allison Sokei, Sarah Vandevanter, Lisa Martin, Seraphina, Eames), 5:13.43; 2. Lanikai, 5:42.99; 3. Healani, 5:49.13; 4. Kailua, 6:01.26.
Mixed
12-and-under--1. Kaioni (Bryan Domingo, Damien Apilando, Hawaiiloa Durante, Georgienne Murray, Brianne Apilando, Chante Pagan) 2:20.47; 2. Lanikai 2:21.90; 3. Leeward Kai 2:35.35; 4. Healani 2:38.98.
Open--1. Healani (Shawn Finch, Kapryce Thatcher, Rebecca Gardner, William Gacutan, Peter Valenti, Diana Trevino), 4:28.36; 2. Lanikai, 4:29.84; 3. Hui Nalu, 4:31.48; 4. Keahiakahoe, 4:38.36.
Novice B--1. Kailua (Kristen Klassen, Kristine Lesperance, Debra Perretta, Steven Scatcherd, Tyrone Peeples, Bernardo Bayley) 1:57.60; 2. Lanikai 2:00.81; 3. Leeward Kai 2:01.67.
Masters 40--1. Lanikai (Wendy Saito, Hillary Radovich, Nani Daniels, Michael Smith, David Smith, Ricky Bermudez), 4:39.22; 2. Healani, 4:40.37; 3. Kailua, 4:52.43; 4. Waimanalo, 4:53.52.
Masters 55--1. Lanikai (Elizabeth Dingeldein, Leonard Lepine, John Linzi, Margaret Lefton, Lynn Soldat, Robert Milne), 5:01.59; 2. Hui Nalu, 5:13.73; 3. Outrigger, 5:15.49; 4. Waikiki Surf Club, 6:24.64.
