Despite a lack of youth paddlers—Kaneohe's key ingredient in its recipe for winning seven consecutive organization titles—the club rallied to win two of yesterday's final three races, and claimed the overall points race in the Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a outrigger canoe paddling organization's season-opening regatta at Keehi Lagoon.

Kaneohe scored 55 points and won six races en route to capturing the regatta as well as the AA Division (13-24 crews), and edged Manu O Ke Kai (52 points) of the AAA Division (25-39 crews). Na Keiki O Ka Moi (46 points) and Koa Kai (42 points) finished second and third in the AAA Division, while the Waikiki Beach Boys (42 points) and Lokahi (34 points) did likewise in the AA Division.

“;We got less crews this year in the kids (races),”; Kaneohe coach Clint Anderson said. “;As you notice, we don't have an 18 Boys (crew) like normal, so we've got to deal with it. We're really short kids this year. They did real well considering we have plenty of new kids.”;

After establishing a 42-36 lead over Manu O Ke Kai through the first 27 races, Kaneohe fell behind by six points as the ensuing six races unfolded. However, Kaneohe ran away with the men's open four race—winning by more than 17 seconds—and relied on its mixed open crew to win the regatta's final race and wrap up the victory.

“;We've always got to see what's happening in the first race and adjust from there,”; Anderson said. “;There's a lot of (pieces) we can work with, we can make something happen. I always judge the first race to see what everybody got, and see what we got. Coming back from last year winning the Oahu championship in the Double-A, it's a good feeling to win again in the first regatta.”;

Anderson went on to say that a significant number of prospective paddlers have yet to turn out, and that their doing so could allow him to assemble more race crews and elevate the club to the AAA Division.

Despite winning a regatta-high seven races, the Beach Boys lacked a core group of female paddlers who were competing in an unrelated long-distance race. Waikiki had gone 36 years without winning a regatta until the club rattled off three consecutive victories last year.

“;We like to bang heads, have fun,”; Anderson said of the competitive spirit shared with the Beach Boys. “;Last year we got caught up by the Beach Boys, and they knocked us off in a couple of regattas. I don't count them out because they'll come back strong. They've got a different level of athlete.”;

Ka Mamalahoe claimed the A Division (6-12 crews) with 30 points and held off North Shore (24 points) and Kalihi-Kai (16) in the small-club division.

The event featured nearly 1,500 paddlers representing 18 clubs competing in age divisions ranging from 12 and under to 60 and above. The races covered distances ranging from a quarter-mile to 1 mile. The top four crews in each race earned points for their clubs with the winners gaining five points, second place garnering three, third place earning two and fourth place picking up one.

Crews braved gusty trade winds—which were at the paddlers' backs in the opening legs of the races and directly in their faces as the paddlers headed toward the finish line—as well as increasingly heavy trade showers.

“;It was a nice, cold day, like our side of the island,”; Anderson said.

Hui Wa'a will hold its next regatta on Sunday at Haleiwa Beach Park.