PHOTOS: BIIF paddling kicks off in Hilo Bay

Team Waiakea races toward the finish line during Saturday's All Schools Paddling Event at Hilo Bay. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today & Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

Team St. Joseph congratulates Yuriy Russo at Saturday's All-Schools Paddling Event at Hilo Bay. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today & Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

The Parker School team races out of Hilo Bay during Saturday's All Schools Paddling Event. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today & Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

The Kamehameha girls' team churns up Hilo Bay at the start of their race during Saturday's All Schools Paddling Event. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today & Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

Kea‘au High School paddling coach Amy McBride corrals her Cougars for a team photo during Saturday's All Schools Paddling Event at Hilo Bay. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today & Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

Hilo High demonstrated perfect form at the finish line, securing second in its heat during Saturday's All Schools Paddling Event at Hilo Bay. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

Kea‘au's Lakotah Prudholm powers forward as his team approaches the finish line during Saturday's All Schools Paddling Event at Hilo Bay. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

Team Waiakea races toward the finish line during Saturday's All Schools Paddling Event at Hilo Bay. (Tim Wright/Special to West Hawaii Today & Hawaii Tribune-Herald)