HONOLULU – After a four-year hiatus, the O‘ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA) is proud to announce the return of the Moloka‘i Channel World Championships: Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Moloka‘i Hoe presented by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Registration is now open to all eligible paddling divisions from the junior level to 70 years and over.
The Na Wahine O Ke Kai Championship race kicks off a two-week stint of inter-island paddling as the top female paddlers from across the globe take on this grueling inter-island challenge on Sept. 29 The Moloka‘i Hoe follows on Sunday, Oct. 13, celebrating the 72nd crossing of the Ka‘iwi Channel. Both races will start at Hale O Lono on Moloka‘i, symbolizing the beginning of a challenging 41-mile journey across the Ka‘iwi Channel to Waikiki on O‘ahu. OHCRA welcomes the community to participate in family-friendly festivities at the finish line, including an awards ceremony located at the Hilton Hawaiian
Village Lagoon.
“Over the last 70 plus years, the crossing of the Ka‘iwi Channel has become the cornerstone of achievement in the wa‘a community,” Luana Froiseth, Race Director of OHCRA said. “This time-honored showcase of commitment to the preservation of Hawaiian canoe racing culture honors the rich heritage while uniting paddlers from around the world.”
The Moloka‘i Hoe World Championship has become one of the longest running annual team sporting events in Hawai‘i. This prestigious race serves as the men’s world championship event attracting over 1,000 of the world’s top paddlers from Hawai‘i, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond because of the challenging conditions. Now under the stewardship of OHCRA, the Na Wahine O Ke Kai continues its own legacy as one of the most iconic and beloved events in Hawaiian canoe racing. The unpredictable ocean conditions and strong currents make this race course one of the most formidable, testing the skills and endurance of participants.
Together, both races perpetuate one of Hawaii’s and Polynesia’s most important and historic cultural traditions, while honoring outrigger canoe paddlers around the world. OHCRA is committed to producing the 2024 Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Moloka‘i Hoe in a way that respects the community of Moloka‘i. Through partnerships with airline carriers, OHCRA has made it a priority to bolster flight options for the full week of travel leading up to each race while ensuring flight availability for community travel needs. All race participants are asked to plan in advance of the race to coordinate logistics with air travel and boat transport. By respecting the community’s needs, OHCRA aims to ensure that both channel races are not only thrilling sporting events but also celebrations of our shared Hawaiian community, culture, and traditions. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the races will be dedicated to supporting The Friends of Moloka‘i to make a tangible difference in the lives of the Moloka‘i community beyond the race itself.
This year, OHCRA has partnered with Salt and Air Studios and Nexstar Media Inc., owner of Hawaii’s TV Stations KHON2 and KHII Channel 5, to produce and air both LIVE events on September 29 and October 13. Salt and Air Studios is known for their broadcast of The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay and their recent Primetime Emmy Award for the series “100 Foot Wave” which aired on HBO. Nexstar Media Inc will broadcast the LIVE Event on KHII Channel 5 and livestream on www.khon2.com. This exclusive partnership provides an opportunity for supporters to be part of this exciting live event and Hawaii’s most important canoe race.
In a joint statement from Mike Prickett of Salt and Air Studios and Kristina Lockwood of Nexstar Media Inc and KHON2 said, “We are more excited than ever before to partner with OHCRA and bring these iconic events to viewers statewide and around the world. We want to share every moment and highlight of these important races to help perpetuate Hawaiian culture and the sport of canoe racing. In addition, we look forward to highlighting the host island of Molokai and the legacy of this historic race.”
OHCRA is proud to welcome international paddlers to Hawai‘i, the home of outrigger canoe racing. Registration and race information can be found at www.ohcra.com. To learn more, follow @OHCRAHawaii, @molokaihoe and @nawahineokekai on social media.
About OHCRA
OHCRA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to perpetuating the original sport of Hawaiian Koa canoe racing. OHCRA is made up of 18 active outrigger canoe paddling clubs from the Island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, with a membership of over 3,000 active paddlers. OHCRA hosts 20 official canoe races every year including the acclaimed Molokai Hoe Men’s Moloka‘i to Oahu canoe race. The Moloka‘i Hoe is regarded as the premier outrigger canoe event in the world with more than 1,000 canoe paddlers from around the globe. To learn more, visit www.ohcra.com.
