Kailana Canoe Club’s regatta on Saturday was the club’s first step in rebuilding, as well as honoring and carrying on the legacy of late longtime president Aunty Maile Mauhili.
Aunty Maile passed away at 85 years old in 2019 — and soon after, the pandemic put even more strain on the small club.
“We weren’t too focused on the paddling,” Kailana coach Jerone Mauhili, Aunty Maile’s son said. “Things just slowed down because my mom passed away, she was the head of everything. She motivated us, so we kind of took a break from it, but we’re trying to get back into it now.”
Kailana’s numbers are not what they used to be, with the club participating in just six events at this year’s regatta — down from 14 events in 2019. However, this was an increase from last year, when the club took part in just four events.
Mauhili said that increasing Kailana’s membership will be the key to getting things back to normal. The club is in the process of figuring out how to attract new bodies without Aunty Maile, who had a knack for recruiting paddlers.
“My mom was especially great with the kids,” Mauhili said. “The keiki came first as far as she was concerned.
“We’re still trying to get it together, carry on what she started,” Mauhili said “We’re gradually getting there — slowly, slowly. We ain’t going nowhere any time soon. We’ll still be here, no matter what.”
This year’s Kailana regatta was the isle’s biggest of the summer thus far, hosting 1,295 paddlers from 348 crews.
Despite some light rain before the first event, fair weather kept up throughout the day.
“Competition was fierce,” Mauhili said. “We had good conditions, so everything was great.”
Puna Canoe Club notched a hat trick, leading the pack in cumulative points (291) for the third straight regatta. Puna collected 20 gold medals, three silver and nine bronze.
Puna’s Boys 14 crew — La‘akea Kaawaloa-Okita, Ikena Kuikahi-Keolanui, Kamakana Badan-Dellomes, Robert Kalili-Burdman, ‘Iolani Rocha and Analu Kaholokai-Yockman — recorded the fastest quarter mile for the second time this summer, clocking in at 1:51.28.
Keaukaha Canoe Club grossed 236 points, the second most of the regatta. The club took home nine gold medals, eight silver and three bronze.
Fastest half-mile, 3:30.43, was clocked by Kai ‘Ehitu’s Mens Masters (40) — Eddie Hayward, Jeremy Padayao, Nathan Grocholski, Troy Parker-Bailey, Joel Noa and Lance Oliveira.
Keauhou Canoe Club’s Men Junior crew — Kua Nolan, Ka‘eo Peterson, Trey Cox III, Jose Lizardi, Makoa Becerra and Jesse Jenkins — won fastest mile (7:25.77) for the second straight time.
The fight for the lead in Division B was fierce, with Paddlers of Laka scoring 88 points in 15 events to edge Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club and Hui Wa‘a ‘0O Waiakea — who each scored 87 points in 23 and 21 events, respectively.
This weekend, paddling action will return to Hilo Bay with Keaukaha Canoe Club’s regatta.