HILO — Kai Opua’s young paddlers reeled off wins in the first six races Saturday en route to the club’s wire-to-wire victory. Keauhou picked up steam a little later, and the two West Hawaii powerhouses combined to win 28 of
HILO — Kai Opua’s young paddlers reeled off wins in the first six races Saturday en route to the club’s wire-to-wire victory. Keauhou picked up steam a little later, and the two West Hawaii powerhouses combined to win 28 of 38 races during the second Moku O Hawaii Canoe Racing Association regatta of the season.
In between, a handful of youth crews helped maintain some semblance of parity Saturday during the Tui Tonga regatta at Hilo Bayfront. The Keaukaha boys 14 and Hui Waa O Waiakea boys 15 crews were among those to win for the second consecutive week. Each is simply picking up where it left off last season.
The Keaukaha 13 boat went undefeated last season and claimed the state championship, and Saturday’s winning 14 entry included five of those paddlers — Kumulipo Alapai, Keahi Denne-Kimi, Kaimi Iaukea-Ronquillio, Ulu Bueltmann and Kualono Kaupu — with the sixth set to return soon under coach Keahi Warfield.
“I think they click really well and are good friends,” Warfield said. “They do everything together, and attendance at practice is good. Always good to see the kids come back year after year. I was lucky to have the boys back.”
Kanoa Kaakimaka was also part of the crew that navigated the quarter-mile to win in 1 minute, 47.52 seconds and outdistance Puna by almost four seconds, but Warfield said the boat could gain even more strength next week with the return of Daniel Nunes.
All but Nunes attend Hilo’s Ka Umeke Kaeo, a public charter school where Warfield teaches. During their sophomore seasons next year, the school plans to compete in Big Island Interscholastic Federation regattas.
Co-host Hui Waa O Waiakea was the top B division finisher, getting its lone victory from a boys 15 crew (Sumo Kekaualua-Tuiaana, Wyatt Dudoit, Sateki Nisa, Suwaiter Poch, Jordan Dodd, Bronson Napoleon) that also is returning intact and is making a successful transition to the half-mile after an undefeated Big Island season last year in quarter-mile races.
“It gives you more time to make mistakes in practice,” coach Ira Kekaualua Jr. said. “Race day, no more time to make mistakes. You paddle hard with power strokes.”
