Under longtime head coach Afa Tuaolo, Puna has built its reputation in the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association as a club that knows how to do more with less.
Under longtime head coach Afa Tuaolo, Puna has built its reputation in the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association as a club that knows how to do more with less.
Puna has rarely had large numbers like its next door Hilo neighbor Keaukaha or West Hawaii powerhouse Kai Opua.
In fact, Puna competed in 33 events, and showed its efficiency while Kai Opua and Keaukaha each participated in the maximum 40 races on Saturday at Hilo Bay.
Guess who won the Keaukaha regatta?
Puna raced clean and fast to snap Kai Opua’s streak of 42 consecutive regatta wins, dating back to 2010.
That year on June 19, Keaukaha pulled off the upset at Hilo Bay, edging Kai Opua, 225 to 221 points.
On a sunny and windy summer day, five years later, it was Puna’s turn to take down West Hawaii giant Kai Opua, 212 to 200 points.
Keauhou was third with 178 points, followed by Kawaihae, 155; Kai Ehitu, 144; Keaukaha, 122; Kamehameha, 92; and Paddlers of Laka, 69.
In Division B (1-14 events), Waikoloa took first with 49 points, followed by Keoua Honaunau, 38; Hui Wa‘a O Waiakea, 23; Milolii, 17; Kailana, 14; and Hanakahi, 13.
“Last week we were kind of close (207-200 points to Kai Opua). A lot of our novice B crews kicked in and did well,” Tuaolo said. “That made a difference and the adults did what they had to do. They did well. That’s what we did. That was all to it. I tell people that it’s a team thing.”
Puna won the three novice B events — the men, women and mixed. The men’s race is a half-mile while the other two are quarter-mile.
Maraea Keamo, Paulla Speegle and Angela Sugar, and Mike Crews, Eric Dolan and Kristopher Speegle were on two winning novice B crews.
Novice B victories are a highlight for coaches because the event is restricted to first-year paddlers.
Kai Opua won more medals than Puna, 25 to 24, but less gold. Puna had 12 gold and Kai Opua seized eight.
In the last two races, Puna placed first and had a six-point swing against Kai Opua, which finished third in the men open four, and mixed men and women, respectively.
Puna’s last two victories provided a nice cushion and were huge, but so were the points in the other races. And it helped that there were no disqualifications; Puna had one DQ last week.
That blueprint of doing more with less is no secret at all, according to Tuaolo.
“It’s hard work and training. Basically that’s it,” he said. “I know we’ve got experienced paddlers. We train the new ones. We do what we have to do. It’s a team thing.
“We’re getting a little better and there were no little mistakes. It was a good day.”
After two regattas at Hilo Bay, the local paddlers and their clubs should know all the scoops by now.
For example, it’s helpful for clubs to recognize who their best paddlers are, and what events need points to qualify for the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state championships.
Paddlers are allowed to compete in a maximum of two events at each regatta, and there are three race days left to score points in the Moku O Hawaii standings.
It’s also helpful to know what time to leave the house, whether in Hilo or West Hawaii, because of the traffic construction on Kamehameha Avenue fronting Hilo Bay.
It won’t be finished in time before the HCRA state championships, which will be held Aug. 1 at Hilo Bay for the first time since 2009. (Moku O Hawaii will have three lanes in each of the 42 events.)
That year, Puna took the Division AAA (13-20 events) state title and Keaukaha the Division AA (7-12).
Hawaiian, from Maui, made itself at home at Hilo Bay, and captured the Division AAAA (21-42) crown. Kai Opua was second, far behind in points, 355 to 295, despite competing in 36 events, only one less than Hawaiian.
Maybe with its top-notch efficiency Puna can turn the clock back to 2007. That year, Tuaolo’s club defeated Kai Opua for the Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii championship, 170 to 148 points.
The most impressive part was that Puna did more with less, competing in just 33 events. Kai Opua participated in 39 races.
It was the same thing at the Keaukaha regatta.