A great paddling philosopher once said, “If you can’t win the war or a regatta, at least win some battles or races.”
It was Puna’s turn to host a Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta, but Kai Opua put its hammer down and dominated the day.
Big Blue filled all 40 events with its blend of quality and quantity to blow past host Puna (36 races) 209 to 175 points on a fairly windy Saturday at Hilo Bay, starting a regatta-winning streak at one.
Kai Ehitu (33 races) was third in Division A (15-40 events) with 143 points, followed by Kawaihae (40), 123; Keaukaha (37), 115; Kamehameha (31), 96; Keauhou (26), 86; and Paddlers of Laka (17), 73.
In Division B (1-14 races), Keoua Honaunau (14) won with 55 points, followed by Waikoloa (9), 21; Hui Wa‘a O Waiakea (4), 19; Na Wa‘a Hanakahi (6), 9; Kailana (4), 9; and Miloli‘i (4), 4.
Last week at the Keaukaha regatta, which Puna won, there were two unwelcome Moku O Hawaii records set: 31 scratches and 17 disqualifications.
Mark down July 2, 2016 as a day of unwanted distinction. There was a new record established with 34 scratches, including 13 by Kawaihae; last week the club had 12 scratches.
Keaukaha’s country music band of paddlers called Bending Elbows, headed by famed author Mark Panek, was probably taking bets at Pahoa’s Lava Shack if that record of woe gets extended next week.
On the bright side, even though there was no sun with overcast conditions, there were only nine DQs.
“It ain’t over till the fat lady sings,” echoed Kai Opua chief Uncle Bo Campos and strategist Mike Atwood, with 10 races left.
Well, she was all packed up, the bus was running, and her vocal chords were ready to let loose.
Kai Opua and Puna have a very interesting rivalry. Puna won the Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championship last summer and in 2007.
In between that bookend of Puna titles, Big Blue has dominated with its depth but strategy plays a part, too.
Ideally, a club’s strongest paddlers would be in the age range of 20 to 40 years old and fill the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior races. (The 1 ½-mile senior events are only held at the championships because of its long time consumption.)
It’s somewhat interesting that the freshmen, sophomore, and junior races are all one mile and basically the same with only different names.
It’s not like high school with class-standing designations or even with good, better, best upgrades.
Paddling, at least in Moku O Hawaii, isn’t as popular as it once was. In fact, at the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state championships, the Big Island will have two lanes. The last time that happened was in 2014.
Most clubs love to chase points in full-house races. The more crews, the more points, the theory goes. Moku O Hawaii paddlers are eligible to compete in two races.
“Ideally, you would want a crew to race in the freshmen and junior, give them a break with the sophomore in between,” Atwood said. “But you might want to put paddlers in a men open four where there are more points. It’s a chess match.”
In the Moku O Hawaii point standings, Kai Opua is the only club to be either first or second in the freshmen, sophomore, and junior races for men and women.
On Saturday, Big Blue won the men and women freshmen, and men and women junior, a productive point haul that allows Atwood to assign his top paddlers where help is needed.
No doubt, Kai Opua’s big guns will be in the 1-mile mixed men and women for the last two races, including the 11th annual Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii championships on July 16.
In that last race of the day, Kai Ehitu leads with 69 points with Puna second at 62 points and Kai Opua third with 60.
On Saturday, the top three finishers went Kai Ehitu, Kai Opua, and Puna.
It’s going to be a good battle between those two rivals for the second state spot in the mixed men and women. (Keaukaha is far behind with 44 points.)
One unbeaten falls
The day started with 12 crews holding perfect records, but the Kai Ehitu boys 15 lost to Kai Opua.
In the boys 15 half-mile race, Kai Opua (Hunter Ellis, McKale Hill, Jake Honl-DeGuair, Kaipo Kam, Jack Menke-Siefkin, Orion Smith) beat Kai Ehitu, 4:10.80 to 4:16.55.
The remaining undefeated crews are Kai Opua girls 12, boys 16, women 65, men 55; Puna women novice B, women 50, men 50, mixed 55; Kai Ehitu boys 12, boys 14; and Paddlers of Laka girls 15.
Men Open Four
In 2014 and ’15, Puna beat Kawaihae every single time during the Moku O Hawaii season.
Puna didn’t go undefeated but never lost to Kawaihae.
In 2013, Kawaihae outraced Puna in the first three regattas but the East Hawaii club won the Aunty Maile/Moku O Hawaii title, starting a string of three straight.
Last week, no longer feeling like the Buffalo Bills, Kawaihae won a half-mile thriller over Puna, 4:09.00 to 4:09.28.
Alas, poor chaps, but that wasn’t Puna’s normal crew.
Jonah Kalima, Lance Oliveira, Jeremy Padayao, Kekoa Sumera-Lee were back for the second-to-last race of the day and smoked Kawaihae, 3:51.59 to 4:01.89, bringing in glory at the Puna regatta.
Last week, Padayao, Sumera-Lee and Kili Wakana were on the Puna freshmen and junior crews that won gold. Kai Opua had a DQ in the first race and was second in the latter.
At its own regatta, Puna was second to Kai Opua in both races.
“This week, Kai Opua had all their guys,” Sumera-Lee said. “They hammered it out.”
In the freshmen men standings, Puna leads Kai Opua (35-31 points), and in the junior standings, Big Blue leads (27-26).
Sumera-Lee and his fellow Puna paddlers know there are more battles in store, and a worthy foe in Kai Opua is standing in the way.
