Moku O Hawai’i Outrigger Canoe Racing Association saw its second regatta of the 2024 season last weekend in Hilo Bayfront.
Saturday’s races featured over 1,200 paddlers of all ages — ranging from eight (Gunnar-Paul Stevens, Kai Opua) to 80 (Mac Amos, Hoemana). Over 500 of the competitors were keiki. The event was sponsored by Kailana Canoe Club of Hilo.
Puna Canoe Club collected the most medals of the day with 23 — 16 of them being gold. Puna’s dominance was displayed by winning in the girls age-12 division (2:04.21), the women’s novice (2:02.30), boys 16-and-under (3:59.68), another women’s novice (4:25.71), the women’s sophomore (4:21.10), the men’s sophomore (3:41.22), the women’s junior (8:47.19), the women’s age-40 masters (4:15.69), the men’s age-40 masters (3:44.69), the women’s age-60 masters (4:47.69), the women’s age-55 golden masters (4:42.66), the senior women age-50 masters (4:27.72), the mixed age-40 masters (4:01.59), the women’s open four (4:34.82) and the men’s open four (3:49.71).
Collectively, Puna logged 230 points — the most of any team present.
Kai Opua Canoe Club finished with the second-most medals (21) and points (211). The team won five gold, including the men’s novice (1:54.53), the girls age-14 division (1:59.32), the mixed novice (1:52.25), the men’s age-65 division (4:16.25) and the age-55 mixed masters (4:15.59).
Additionally, Kai Opua’s men’s novice time was the fastest quarter-mile race of the weekend — raced by Kaleo Lee, Drew Manning, Saul Gutiennez, Ala Ablao, Joshua Gonzalez and Excel Barayuga.
Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team finished tied with the third-most medals with 19, earning seven gold to go along with 184 points. Its wins were in the boys age-12 division (2:13.55), the men’s novice (3:50.61), the men’s freshman (3:35.74), the men’s junior (7:33.16), the men’s age-60 masters (3:53.08), the men’s age-55 golden masters (3:57.49) and the senior age-50 men’s masters (3:45.28).
Kai ‘Ehitu’s men’s freshman squad of Chase VonNordheim, Trey Cox III, Ikie Sanchis, Joel Noa, Makoa Becerra and Isaac Vincent also posted the top half-mile time of the day. The squad’s junior team also logged the fastest mile time — raced by Kua Nolan, Chase VonNordheim, Trey Cox III, Makoa Becerra, Nathan Grocholski Jr and Isaac Vincent.
Keaukaha Canoe Club tied with Kai ‘Ehitu with 19 medals, but finished with one less gold. However, the club finished with the third-most points with 206. Keaukaha’s wins were in the boys age-13 division (1:54.90), the girls 16-and-under race (4:32.30), the girls 18-and-under race (4:42.17), the age-18 mixed (4:06.07), the men’s age-70 division (4:25.04) and the mixed men and women’s race (3:48.01).
To see more results from last weekend’s event, please see Page 3B. Moku O Hawai’i’s season will continue with another regatta this Saturday in Hilo Bay.