HILO – The Kamehameha boys came out of nowhere, or to get technical far behind the pack, and were the surprise of the day on the calm waters of Hilo Bay.
HILO – The Kamehameha boys came out of nowhere, or to get technical far behind the pack, and were the surprise of the day on the calm waters of Hilo Bay.
The Warriors made a late powerful push to win the BIIF canoe paddling season-opening regatta Saturday on the East side, finishing in 4 minutes, 00.71 seconds to Keaau’s 4:01.87 and Waiakea’s 4:03.31.
Last year, the Waiakea boys pulled the biggest rabbit out the hat, capturing the BIIF title, the first in any division for the school. Kamehameha was fifth at BIIFs last season.
It was no surprise that the Kamehameha girls took first rather easily in 4:29.81, far ahead of Keaau’s 4:36.81.
The Warriors, with returning starters Kaiao Shine, Lahela Rosario and Wai Wichimai, are strong candidates to secure a BIIF title three-peat.
Keaau, which pocketed its first league mixed crown last year, dominated to grab the final half-mile race of the day in 4:12.72, a sizable margin over Kamehameha’s 4:22.80.
The West Hawaii schools held their own regatta at Kailua Pier, so a true measure of a pecking order can’t be established until everyone races at Hilo Bay, home of the BIIF championships, in four weeks.
Still, it’s likely one streak will continue. It’s the 17th year of BIIF canoe paddling and doubtful one school will sweep all three races. Keaau was the last to bat 2 for 3, winning the boys and girls crowns in 2014; Kealakehe snagged the mixed title.
Kamehameha senior steersman Cody Pacheco has been a four-year paddler and never reached the HHSAA state championships. The Warrior boys last advanced to states in 2010, when they also took the BIIF title. The girls also won that year.
“The team is a new crew. We wanted to feel each other’s strength,” said Pacheco, no relation to KHLO 850 AM’s Josh Pacheco. “The win itself was a positive way to end the day. We got a good start, turn and finish all the way through.”
Pacheco started paddling as a freshman and joined coach Keahi Warfield’s Keaukaha Canoe Club. He’s paddled in the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association the last two summers.
The other returning starters are Pono Mortensen and Judah Adams, both juniors. Seniors Makana Alexander and Nahi Pilago, and junior Kaulana Look are new starters, though each has paddling experience.
Pacheco, who has a 3.7 grade-point average and wants to major in either agriculture or forestry, pointed out that the crew has a simple goal.
“Overall, we want to enjoy each other and the sport,” he said. “We want to compete, but at the same time we want to have fun. There couldn’t be anything better than that.”
Cougar power
Last year, the Keaau mixed was the only BIIF crew to crack the eight-team final starting lineup at states. The Cougars finished in fourth in 3:52.08, right behind Punahou’s 3:51.10 and missed a bronze medal.
Canoe paddling has become the big-name sport at Keaau, which has the longest BIIF championship streak running. Under co-coaches Grant and Anna Kaaua, the boys won crowns from 2013 to ’15. The girls won in 2014 and the mixed last season.
“Skyden Fukunaga and May Ann Tadeo were on the crew that took fourth in the mixed last year,” Grant Kaaua said. “That was our best showing at states.
“Competing is not our main priority right now. It’s taking care of kuleana (responsibility). It’s obligations at school, academics and family,” he said.
Fukunaga, the stroker, is a junior while Ceres Lester and Zack Dorn are seniors. The girls are junior steersman Tadeo, senior Nadine Ching, and sophomore Hunter Prieto.
The Cougars have 43 paddlers. Six are in a canoe. There are three races, so competition is fierce at practice.
“The first-year paddlers understand that most are like redshirts,” said Kaaua, who added that a BIIF title sweep is high on the list of improbable feats. “It’ll be really hard to do, but it’s not impossible.”
However, who would have thought the Waiakea boys would capture the school’s first BIIF title? Or the Kamehameha boys would win the East side season-opener? Or that Keaau would turn into the league’s canoe paddling powerhouse?
That’s a good reminder as any that something really hard to do is not impossible.