KAILUA-KONA — Splashers young and old converged on Kailua Pier on Friday for the inaugural Royal Splashfest, which is part of the Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Race week.
KAILUA-KONA — Splashers young and old converged on Kailua Pier on Friday for the inaugural Royal Splashfest, which is part of the Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Race week.
The cannonball competition was added to infuse a little more fun into race week, while also honoring the Hawaiian tradition of Lele Pahu — plunging feet first with a great splash — into the water.
The competition had several divisions, including splashers as individuals and teams, and medals were given out to the top three cannonballers in each category.
“I think it is awesome that we are able to gather everyone here, allowing us to bond together,” said Kimokeo Kapahulehua, who competed in the Splashfest. “We are all here for the Queen Liluokalani Race and having family events like this allow us to share a little happiness together before we gather to compete against each other.”
Kapahulehua was able to make it to the Splashfest despite paddling from Hilo to Kailua-Kona on Thursday.
“We do that to honor the queen and to come to the race in a canoe from Hilo,” Kapahulehua said. “We also do it in honor of our non-profit foundation called Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyages Society. We continue to educate and preserve our culture through paddling.”
Diane Labelle came from Kahnawake, Canada to support a team from Onake Canoe Club in the Wa’a Kaukahi (single-hull) race on Saturday. But Friday’s Splashfest was all about fun and team building.
“Being able to have this for fun before you get into all the tension on race day is perfect,” said Labelle, who won the women’s division in a splash-off. “I was surprised. I did not think I was going to win.”
For Walter Wasserman and his club Shakabuku Big Splash, who are competing in this year’s race for the first time, entering the Splashfest seemed only fitting because of their team name.
“It was neat that the inaugural event was happening on the year we came to the race,” Wasserman said. “There are a lot of events to make friends here and that is what this is about for me.”
While the Splashfest got off to a rocky start due to boats coming to dock at the pier, the event ended on a high note, literally, as Body Glove decided to donated two free tickets in a last minute splash competition from the upper-deck of their boat.
Splashers raced from the edge of the pier after the awards ceremony to the boat and Round 2 was just as entertaining as the first round, wrapping up an interesting day for the inaugural competition.