Hui Wa‘a O Waiakea’s women novice A paddlers carried Ira Kekaualua’s feisty spirit, and fought hard for a bronze medal at the 10th annual Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championships.
Hui Wa‘a O Waiakea’s women novice A paddlers carried Ira Kekaualua’s feisty spirit, and fought hard for a bronze medal at the 10th annual Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championships.
But third place wasn’t worth enough points to secure a lane for the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state championships, and no other crew from Kekaualua’s club qualified either.
“It is what it is,” said Ira Kekaualua Jr., the club’s coach and founder’s son.
His 79-year-old dad is in declining health, slowed by emphysema. But even when Kekaualua is at death’s door, he’s not going down without a fight.
“All my life I’ve worked for the community, and gave time to the community,” he said. “I died three times, but I’m still alive. I believe God loves me.
“The second time my whole family was in the house surrounding me. The last time was April 7 when I was in a coma for four days. But after four days I woke up.”
The only one tougher in the Kekaualua household is his wife Barbara, who turns 80 on Oct. 29, and serves as the backbone of a large ohana.
“She don’t take crap from nobody,” he said.
He added that there’s a secret to staying together for six decades.
“What goes in my one ear, goes out the other,” he joked.
They have five sons, Bobby, Ricky, Ira Jr., Dru, and Hidey, and six daughters, Nani Roan, Lisa Medeiros, Fanny Hashimoto, Momi Leopoldino, Nami Kekaualua and Manu Kekaualua.
There are over 50 grandchildren and 70 great-grandchildren, reason enough for Kekaualua to have the Panaewa house extended for family gatherings.
All of his children paddled in the past, but Kekaualua’s sons had a passion other than being in a canoe. They formed their own band in the 1970s called the 4 K’s, and had a single “Love Ten Feet Away” that was nominated for a Na Hoku Hanohano award in 1998.
“My dad was supportive in everything we did,” Ira Jr. said. “It was natural for us to play music because we saw my dad and my uncles and aunties play.”
Kekaualua dished out big bucks to buy music equipment. Barbara sewed Kolea’s clothes, showing that a mother’s love is always closer than 10 feet away.
He believed in his boys so much that he stepped away from paddling for 15 years, and returned in 2000.
After Kekaualua graduated from Hilo High in 1954, he served in the Korean War and came home in 1956.
He later became president of the Prince David Kawananakoa civic club, formed his canoe club in 1965 and named it after the third heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The club’s name was later changed to Hui Wa‘a O Waiakea.
Kekaualua did promotional work for Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, before becoming a truck driver.
Like most of the old-timers in Hilo, he got his start in paddling with the Kamehameha Canoe Club, which was founded in 1947.
Kekaualua’s coach was Robert Puakea Sr., who helped reorganize Kamehameha in 1954. The club was reorganized again in 1975.
It took seven weekend trips to find the perfect koa log that became Kekaualua’s premium canoe Waiakea, named after the club and built by Joseph Kaho’ohilihala at Waiakea Villas.
Waiakea will be put to good use at the HCRA state championships. Milolii, of Moku O Hawaii, has been borrowing the canoe since an auto accident in June damaged Keahonui, built by Kekaualua’s cousin Bill Rosehill. Milolii will have crews in the men’s and women’s novice B races.
Kekaualua, Kawaihae’s Manny Veincent, 82, and Mauhili, 81, from Kailana, are the last of the old guard still running their canoe clubs in Moku o Hawaii.
John Kekua Jr. was the Kamehameha president, who passed away in 2010. His wife Gwen paddled as a keiki and is still with the club, and references the influence of the golden trio.
“They’re the forerunners of the new era as we know paddling today,” Gwen said. “When I started I looked up to every one of them.”
When Kekaualua started his club, his philosophy was a simple one.
“I wanted the kids to know the art of paddling,” he said. “It’s the only Hawaiian sport in existence today. With canoe paddling, I wanted to teach the kids to become outstanding citizens and learn about Hawaiian culture.”
When old Ira speaks, that gruff voice resonates, and his feisty spirit fills the room. But you can’t judge a book by its cover, his son pointed out.
“He’s a big Teddy bear. He may look mean, but on the inside he’s all heart,” Ira Jr. said.
His wife and longtime boss had an even better description.
“He’s one of a kind,” Barbara said.