Kaneohe races to Koa Kai Laulima victory

The season's undefeated remained that way after the sixth regatta for Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a

Whether club or individual crew, the season's undefeated remained that way after the sixth regatta for Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a.

Four-time defending association champion Kaneohe Canoe Club won its sixth consecutive AAA (25-plus races entered) title yesterday at the Koa Kai Laulima Regatta at Keehi Lagoon with 85 total points and 13 race wins in the 39-race event.

Kaneohe's three unbeaten crews -- girls 12, mixed 12 and girls 15 -- all won their races. And the nine other undefeated crews from other Hui Wa'a clubs also were victorious.

"We still try to think about doing well in these regattas first," even with the association and state championships looming, Kaneohe head coach Clint Anderson said. "But right now we're trying to get all of the kids and adults in the club to have a chance to race. We're going week by week, and if it happens to continue going our way, we're happy."

Manu O Ke Kai placed second in AAA with 50 points. Na Keiki O Ka Moi (43) took third, and Lokahi (32) fourth.

Starting strong as it has for the last handful of years with a dominant performance from its youth crews, Kaneohe won nine of the 13 kids races during the first half of the regatta to put the title out of reach for other clubs.

After going undefeated last year on the way to the girls 14 state title, Kaneohe's girls 15 crew maintained its winning streak this year by finishing the 1/2-mile course in 4 minutes and 50.49 seconds, almost 15 ticks better than runner-up Koa Kai (5:03.71).

Like with all of his crews, Anderson has tried to mix in all of his eligible girls 15 paddlers during this last stretch of the regular season so that all can feel a part of the team and gain some experience. And the experience they've gained is how it feels to keep on winning.

The crew yesterday included Aulani Saizon, Kapua Neumann, Kree Espinda, Brandi Kaluhiwa, Kristine Okamura and Kahealani Anderson (Clint Anderson's daughter).

"(The success) does get a little overwhelming, because everyone is counting on us to do good and it puts pressure on us," Neumann said. "But we just do what we do. We don't have a set crew, and we get a little worried (because of it), but we're all just happy to be a part."

Thanks in large part to their six unbeaten crews again winning and a big, surprising victory by their senior men, the Waikiki Beach Boys won the AA (13 to 24 races entered) title for a fourth straight week with totals of 48 points and nine race wins.

Koa Kai (31) placed second, and Alapa Hoe (29) third. Kalihi Kai (21) won the A (12 or fewer races entered) for Hui Wa'a's smallest clubs.

Though they weren't ready for the start of their race and were trailing all the other crews by at least a boat and a half at the outset, the defending state champion Beach Boys senior women held on to their undefeated streak yesterday and still have not lost their race in Hui Wa'a competition since 2003.

The Beach Boys senior men, however, had not won their race even once in about 10 years, according to association officials. But after trailing at the 1-mile turn by just a nose yesterday, the Beach Boys were able to just nudge out Koa Kai over the last half-mile, 11:40.90 to 11:41.68.

The winning crew included Franco Arango, John Groom, Raymon Orange, Robert Alderton, Tetsuyama Murayama and Patrick Switzer.

"We have really been drilling with the cross-training and we're getting really serious," said steersman Switzer, who also serves as the Beach Boys' open men's coach. "We're putting in the homework, and it's paying off. With our men, we've taken some ribbings for a while, with the women bringing home the bacon for the last several years. So we're really stoked to be able to contribute."

The Beach Boys' other unbeaten crews that also won were: women's novice B, women's and men's novice A, freshmen women and sophomore women.

The other unbeaten crews from other clubs that continued winning were: Koa Kai's senior men masters 50, Manu O Ke Kai's mixed platinum 60 and Alapa Hoe's girls 18.

The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association did not race yesterday, and will next hit the water for its annual Macfarlane Regatta at Waikiki Beach on the Fourth of July.

Hui Wa'a resumes competition with the Na Keiki O Ka Moi Regatta at Maili Beach next Sunday.

PADDLING

Hui Wa'a Koa Kai Laulima Regatta

At Ke'ehi Lagoon

Team standings

AAA Division--1. Kaneohe 85; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 50; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 43; 4. Lokahi 32.

AA Division--1. Waikiki Beach Boys; 2. Koa Kai 31; 3. Alapa Hoe 29; 4. Kumulokahi Elks 13; 5. Kai Poha 12; 6. Waikiki Yacht Club 7.

A Division--1. Kalihi Kai 21; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 16; 3. North Shore 14; 4. Kamehameha 5; 5. I Mua 4; 6. Windward Kai 3; 7. Hawaiian Outrigger 3.

Boys

12 and under--1. Kaneohe(Kapua Saizon, Ezekiel Marshall, Jonah Ganzagan, Micah Chun, Russ Kimokeo, Erik Chang) 2:18.55; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 2:30.11; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 2:31.62; 4. Alapa Hoe 2:33.59.

13--1. Kaneohe (Kai "Joshua" Leong, Nainoa Defiesta, Makana Tilton, Eric Alabanga, Richard Silva, Kepa Souza) 2:09.62; 2. Kumulokahi Elks 2:12.65; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 2:13.80; 4. North Shore 2:39.88.

14--1. Kaneohe (Ross Uehara-Tilton, Cy Rosete, Makana Tilton, Joshua Leong, Kristopher Harvest-Texeira, Kepa Souza) 2:02.59; 2. Kumulokahi Elks 2:06.39; 3. Hawaiian Outrigger 2:07.61; 4. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 2:10.17.

15--1. Kaneohe (Kelii Pa'ao'ao, Isaac Cambra, Kawela Kamakana, Lewis Char, Jonathan Riofta, Casey Demello) 4:05.73; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 4:08.11; 3. Kai Poha 4:10.40; 4. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 4:20.56.

16--1. Kaneohe (Kanoa Chang, Nainoa Kahale, Lewis Char, Kawela Kamakana, Ross Uehara Tilton, Isaac Cambra) 4:03.58; 2. Alapa Hoe 4:11.50; 3. Koa Kai 4:11.98; 4. Kumulokahi Elks 4:59.29.

18--1. Kaneohe (Keali'i Pa'ao'ao, Keoni Anderson, Nainoa Kahale, Kainoa Ibarra, Dane Kimokkeo, Brisan Kalahiki) 8:10.94; 2. Alapa Hoe 8:16.98; 3. Kamehameha 8:19.11; 4. Koa Kai 8:35.68.

Girls

12 and under--1. Kaneohe (Kiana Tilton, Tawnie Skaggs, Ashley Soderberg, Cheyann Hosino, Destinee Nicol, Tarita Keohokalole-Look) 2:23.57; 2. Alapa Hoe 2:31.30; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 2:32.05; 4. Kalihi Kai 2:32.60.

13--1. Koa Kai (Kalena Snow, Victoria Parmele, Kawehi Lum, Noelle Miller, Tinonsi Mulitauaopele, Emma Fujimoto) 2:37.28; 2. Alapa Hoe 2:38.36; 3. Kaneohe 2:38.76; 4. Kululokahi Elks 2:41.16.

14--1. Koa Kai (Lia Cornair, Dana Tsuruda, Mylinda Ipsen, Kawehi Lum, Kalena Snow, Marissa Kozuma) 2:20.88; 2. Alapa Hoe 2:26.00; 3. Kalihi Kai 2:33.04; 4. Kaneohe 2:35.82.

15--1. Kaneohe (Aulani Saizon, Kapua Neumann, Kree Espinda, Brandi Kaluhiwa, Kristine Okamura, Kahealani Anderson) 4:50.49; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 5:03.71; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 5:04.38; 4. Manu O Ke Kai 5:05.35.

16--1. Alapa Hoe (Brianna Abrigo, Jasmine Parish, Lauren Yumol, Jessica Higgins, Talen Medeiros, Tanya Tadeo) 4:51.30; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 4:51.61; 3. Kaneohe 4:52.14; 4. I Mua 5:11.11.

18--1. Alapa Hoe (Chelsey Takahashi, Jasmine Parish, Nalei Mendonca, Jessica Higgins, Brianna Abrigo, Miyuki Tanaka) 4:34.55; 2. Kaneohe 4:55.14; 3. Kamehameha 4:56.01; 4. Kai Poha 5:06.87.

Men

Golden 55-plus--1. Lokahi (Marshall Giddens, Randy Fernandez, Wayne Babineau, Bob Bevacqua, Curt Powley, Mike Cushnie) 4:09.37; 2. Windward Kai 4:14.15; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 4:16.98; 4. Kaneohe 4:33.61.

Platinum 60-plus--1. Kaneohe (Robert Amaral, Richard Abbey, Allan Gaylord, Noll Andrel, Laredo Murray, Stu Kalama) 4:26.97; 2. Kai Poha 4:41.15; 3. Kalihi Kai 5:04.33.

Senior masters 50-plus--1. Koa Kai (Paul Amoy, Ben Ancheta, Ron Secretario, Bill King, Dan Gagich, Joe Kim) 4:02.09; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 4:06.22; 3. Lokahi 4:19.37; 4. Kaneohe 4:23.4.

Novice B--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Joel Ambouillit, Paul Jamison, Larsen Kaneda, Joshua Martin, Chip Miller, Eddie Steinmueller) 4:01.43.

Novice A--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Austin Verive, Justin Fukino, Dane Keahohou, Damon Sweazy, Maurice Cenal, Barney Beter) 7:57.05; 2. I Mua 8:29.34; 3. Koa Kai 8:38.97; 4. Kai Poha 9:11.32.

Freshmen--1. Kalihi Kai (Gavin Hanoa, Alex Aurio, Sean Kaawa, Mika Ahyou, Joe Lilio, Allan Moon) 7:50.87; 2. Lokahi 8:03.18; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 8:09.42; 4. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 8:10.40.

Sophomore--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Franco Arango, John Groom, John Donavan, Daniel Neves, Takahito Iida, Patrick Switzer) 7:26.05; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 7:45.24; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 8:04.36; 4. Koa Kai 8:10.06.

Senior--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Franco Arango, John Groom, Raymon Orange, Robert Alderton, Tetsuyama Murayama, Patrick Switzer) 11:40.90; 2. Koa Kai 11:41.68; 3. Kaneohe 11:52.32; 4. Manu O Ke Kai 11:58.47.

Master 40--1. Manu O Ke Kai (Eldon Galiza, DJ Oga, Henry Lopez, Tom Schlotman, Greg Wright, Richard Moore) 4:45.60; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 4:51.10; 3. Lokahi 4:58.04; 4. Alapa Hoe 5:08.60.

Open 4--1. Kaneohe (Moki Anderson, Cory Siqueira, Aaron Abbey, Eric Moncriffe) 4:02.58; 2. Kalihi Kai 4:08.62; 3. Waikiki Yacht Club 4:11.35; 4. Waikiki Beach Boys 4:11.95.

Women

Novice B--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Carrie Brugger, Jennifer Fukino, Candace Kelly, Leah Lawyer, Erika Wasner, Rachel Bruntsch) 2:08.46; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 2:15.78; 3. North Shore 2:23.31; 4. Koa Kai 2:23.76.

Golden 55-plus--1. Kai Poha (Pauline Hess, Jeneri Uehara, Margaret Lee, Sharon Kalilikane, Bridget Ruane, Debbie Zoller) 4:52.32; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 5:10.94; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 5:18.54.

Platinum 60-plus--1. Kaneohe (Julia Takano, Victoria Kaama, Chris Gaylord, Carol Ryan, Maylene Keamo, Mary Winchester) 5:19.41; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 5:22.58; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 5:47.64.

Senior masters 50-plus--1. North Shore (Jeannie Dilcher, Barbara Fisher, Folly Murdock, Jennifer Smith, Isabelle Yao, Donna Moore) 4:50.51; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 4:55.63; 3. Kaneohe 5:04.36; 4. Waikiki Yacht Club 5:10.22.

Novice A--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Melissa Rotella, Frances Lichowski, Raye Powell, Susannah Johnson, Andrea Wilson, Carrie Lukens) 4:19.53; 2. Lokahi 4:52.49; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 4:53.11; 4. North Shore 4:57.72.

Freshmen--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Kelsa Teeters, Jennifer Polcer, Betsy Bowes, Lisa Towne, Chene Lee, Kaui Pelekane) 8:32.36; 2. Lokahi 9:11.18; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 9:16.19; 4. Ka Mamalahoe 10:36.26.

Sophomore--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Dana Gorecki, Erin Offenhauser, Katy Grubbs, Megan Motz, Traci Hisatake, Susan Brown) 8:29.52; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 9:02.61; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 9:10.99; 4. Lokahi 9:15.21.

Senior--1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Dana Gorecki, Kelsa Teeters, Erin Offenhauser, Jennifer Polcer, Susan Brown, Rachel Orange) 12:57.95; 2. Lokahi 13:45.51; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 14:13.30; 4. Manu O Ke Kai 14:21.00.

Masters 40--1. North Shore (Folly Murdock, Kimberly Walsh, Jane Duncan, Sherry Kaalekahi, Deidre Erickson, Donna Moore) 9:10.40; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 9:12.23; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 9:22.31; 4. Ka Mamalahoe 9:48.25.

Open 4--1. Kalihi Kai (Violet Carrillo, Germaine Hall, Jo-Jo White, Ama Keama) 4:45.60; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 4:51.10; 3. Lokahi 4:58.04; 4. Alapa Hoe 5:08.60.

Mixed

12 and under--1. Kaneohe (Kapua Saizon, Ezekiel Marshall, Chelsey Gerona, Taylor Bertlemann, Jonah Gonzagan, Kahea Anderson) 2:26.26; 2. Kalihi Kai 2:32.68; 3. Kumulokahi Elks 2:34.43; 4. Manu O Ke Kai 2:35.13.

Novice B--1. Lokahi (Sandra Kuhn, Emad Abi-Hashim, Katsuhiko Kawasome, Ashley Lucas, John Tursi, Barbara Bumatay) 2:03.45; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 2:04.47; 3. Kaneohe 2:06.88; 4. Kamehameha 2:11.39.

Golden 55-plus--1. Lokahi (Barbara Keenan, Teena Urban, Larry Sakagawa, Curt Powley, Jackie Bogan, Mike Cushnie) 4:26.46; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 4:31.48; 3. Kaneohe 4:40.41; 4. Na Keiki O Ka Moi 4:41.46.

Platinum 60-plus--1. Manu O Ke Kai (Randy Sanborn, Eddie Tseu, Rick John, Sundra Ornells, Kay Bauman, Peggy Cutting) 4:49.54; 2. Lokahi 4:56.45; 3. Kaneohe 5:05.78; 4. Hawaiian Outrigger 5:22.39.

Masters 45-plus--1. Na Keiki O Ka Moi (Dee Kila, Jim Johns, Albert Cambra, Kris Lindquist, Mapu Auwae, Hartwell Afong) 4:19.23; 2. Waikiki Yacht Club 4:22.37; 3. Lokahi 4:25.55; 4. Koa Kai 4:26.27.

Masters 40--1. Manu O Ke Kai (Faith Craycroft, Wende Lee, Caroline Hamilton, DJ Oga, Henry Lee, Richard Moore) 4:05.25; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 4:07.63; 3. Ka Mamalahoe 4:12.77; 4. Waikiki Yacht Club 4:17.10.

Open 6--1. Kaneohe (Kehau Ching, Richard Jenny, Seth Ramolette, Cheryl Parrish, Travis Hawkins, Titi Kawainui) 4:04.41; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 4:05.92; 3. Alapa Hoe 4:11.97; 4. Waikiki Beach Boys 4:19.69.