Moku O Hawai’i Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (HCRA) hosted its fourth regatta of the paddling season this past Saturday in Hilo Bay. Puna Canoe Club took home the most medals (26) and points (229) for the third regatta of 2024.
Over 1,200 paddlers competed, including 500 keiki. There were 325 total crews. Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team’s Onyx Kawaauhau, age 9, was the youngest paddler at the event. Keaukaha Canoe Club’s George Thomas was the oldest at age 86.
Kawaihae Canoe Club’s race team of Edison Dela Cruz, Keahi Esquerra, Jordon Lagaret, Charlie Lee, Charles Clifford Dahlton Franco logged the fastest quarter-mile time of the day in the men’s novice — racing in 1:43.62. Keaukaha Canoe Club’s core of Kama Leeloy, Spencer Kamauoha Smith, Tyler Makaiwi, Mario Mausio, Jose Lizardi and Rusty Crabbe raced the fastest half-mile, finishing in 3:26.74 in the men’s freshmen division. The fastest mile of the regatta was from Kai ‘Ehitu’s men’s junior team of Eddie Hayward, Kua Nolan, Chase VonNordheim, Trey Cox III, Makoa Becerra and Toa Bertaina — posting a time of 7:32.31.
Of Puna’s 26 medals, 10 were gold. Its wins were in the boys age-15 division (3:54.54), the boys 16-and-under division (3:54.05), the women’s novice (4:28.29), the women’s sophomore division (4:21.09), the women’s junior division (9:03.21), the women’s age-40 masters (4:22.45), the women’s age-60 masters (4:48.81), the women’s open four (4:31.83), the men’s open four (3:45.09) and the mixed men-and-women’s division (3:44.09).
Kai ‘Ehitu came in second with 25 total medals and 223 points. Despite coming in the No. 2 spot, Kai ‘Ehitu collected the most gold medals with 12. The club’s victories were in the boys age-12 division (2:10.93), the mixed novices (2:00.78 and 3:48.14), the boys 18-and-under division (3:40.03), the men’s sophomore division (3:44.46), the men’s junior division (7:32.31), the men’s masters age-40 division (3:44.30), the men’s masters age-60 division (3:51.20), the men’s age-55 golden masters (3:58.60), the senior women age-50 masters (4:26.73), the senior men age-50 masters (3:42.73) and the age-40 mixed masters (3:51.62).
Kai Opua Canoe Club came in third with 21 total medals and 203 points. Its six gold medals were in the girls age-15 division (4:36.29), the women’s freshman division (4:18.66), the men’s age-65 division (4:17.05), the women’s age-55 golden masters (4:33.33) and the age-55 mixed masters (4:13.07).
To read more results from last weekend’s races, please see Page 3B. HCRA’s next regatta will take place this upcoming Saturday in Hilo Bay, scheduled to be sponsored by Kamehameha Canoe Club – Hilo.