KAILUA-KONA — Despite a few problems early on, Kai Opua continued to dominate the competition with their third regatta victory of the season at Kailua Bay on Saturday. Kai Opua, the host club of this week’s race, edge out Puna for the win.
KAILUA-KONA — Despite a few problems early on, Kai Opua continued to dominate the competition with their third regatta victory of the season at Kailua Bay on Saturday. Kai Opua, the host club of this week’s race, edge out Puna for the win.
“It was a rough day,” Kai Opua Canoe Club president Bo Campos said. “We had problems with DQ’s , paper work, running over flags — it was just a difficult start for us.”
Despite the problems, Kai Opua totaled 207 points while competing in 40 races. Puna, who only competed in 32 races, finished second with 191 points. Kai Ehitu rounded out the top three with 179 points after competing in 34 races.
Waikoloa won the B division with 52 points. Rounding out the top three were Keoua Honaunau (43) and Milolii (24).
Trailing early isn’t unusual for Kai Opua but they had more ground to cover than usual Saturday because of their mistakes and a dominating youth performance by Kai Ehitu. Kai Opua managed to turn the corner with wins in the Mixed Masters (40), Senior Women Masters (50), Men Golden Masters (55) and Mixed Masters (60).
The Senior Women Masters team of Angela Rey, Annalee Akagi, Cheryl Villegas, Amy Young, Sherri Carney, and Kathleen Leahy is undefeated this season, with wins in all three races at Kailua Bay.
“It is nice to know that even on a rough day we can come out the winners,” Campos said. “You have clubs like Kai Ehitu, clubs like Puna and Keauhou, they are bringing it. And to see clubs like Waikoloa coming in first in races, it’s a good thing. It is the heritage I love. It’s the kids I love. It is everybody competing and everybody being happy.”
Youth Movement
Kai Ehitu paddled their way into first place early in the day thanks to a dominating performance in the youth races. The Richard Kinetete led group took six races including Girls 12, Girls 13 Boys 13, Girls 14, Boys 14 and Girls 15.
“What the coaches have been doing is helping a whole lot,” Kimetete said. “They are showing a lot of patience, humbleness, and giving the kids all the time they need to prepare themselves for every race.”
Many of the youth races were close finishes Saturday. Kai Ehitu managed to pull out wins in the Boys 14, Girls 14, and the Boys 13 races by just a little over a second.
In the Girls 14 race, the team of Kyrie Kaupe-DeLeon, Hunter Kalima, Myra Liufau, Sinavaioleola Liufau, Tianna Avanilla and Berri Lagmay finished in a time of 2:04.14. The Paddlers of Laka followed right behind with a time of 2:05.28.
In the Boys 14 race, the Kai Ehitu team of Baba Weza, Lokepa Aponte, Bronson Leslie, Moses Brooks, Hiram Anakalea Jr. and Kalai Ballesteros won in a time of 1:47.20, just head of Kai Opua, who finished at 1:48.45.
The Kai Ehitu Boys 13 team of Kelil Pelekane, Malosi Abraham, Keola Kaleookamanu-Pelekane, Justin Jr Kaupe-DeLeon, Setu Vole and Kalai Ballesteros won the Boys 13 race in a time of 1:58.40. Keaukaha followed in second with a time of 2:00.24.
Kimetete credits a lot of the improvement to condition training that the team did over the recent two week break.
“They did a lot of running,” the head coach said. “That is their strength. Every kid is coming out every day and they will all get a chance. They should do a good job.”
Kai Opua entered the third regatta of the season having swept the Girls 12, Girls 15, Girls 18-and-under, and Boys 18-and-under races but where shut out in those four events on Saturday. They did finish with two youth wins, sweeping the 16-and-under division. Keaukaha took both 18-and-under races.