While each of the 41 races that make up the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta at Hilo Bay offers varied levels of excitement, the men’s 50 event will showcase an intriguing rivalry as the summer outrigger canoe paddling season culminates on Saturday.

Lanikai Canoe Club’s men’s 50-and-older crew enters the regatta as the race’s four-time defending champion but will face noteworthy competitors throughout the half-mile race. Lanikai, which saw its undefeated run through Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association competition end earlier this summer after nearly four years, is expected to make the “drive for five” thanks to the talents of veteran paddlers Gio Camuso, Scott Freitas, Kanai Kauhane, Bruce Lukas, Bill Oliver and Chauncey Wallwork.

However, Manu O Ke Kai’s men’s 50 crew is also hungry for gold after completing a fourth straight undefeated campaign within Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a competition. Manu’s crew, which is slated to include DJ Oga, Sam Alama, Thomas Schlotman, Derek Lee Loy, Greg Pavao and Leleo Kinimaka, finished behind Lanikai in the 2013 and 2014 state title races — including last year’s runner-up finish decided by nine-tenths of a second.

“We’ll continue to train individually and keep our cardio up,” Kinimaka said in advance of the state race. “It’s about remembering the spirit of the sport — the culture and camaraderie. Being able to lose as gracefully as you win is really important.”

The men’s 50 crews from Kihei (Maui) and Puna (Big Island) also enter the race after completing undefeated regular seasons and, depending on how the unpredictable Hilo Bay waters are flowing, could pose threats of an upset for Lanikai and Manu O Ke Kai.

Months of practice, weekends racing at regattas and countless hours spent conditioning and cross-training have led up to the conclusion of the summer paddling season, as nearly 3,500 paddlers representing 52 clubs from five islands and six outrigger canoe paddling organizations will compete in 41 events ranging in length from a quarter-mile to one and a half miles.

Hawaiian qualified 39 crews for the state competition — the highest mark among all participating teams — and is the favorite to claim a third consecutive title and 12th state crown in 15 years. Hawaiian has dominated the competition over multiple generations as the dynastic club has won the Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association championship for 31 consecutive years.

If Saturday’s results follow a recent trend, Hawaiian will again be the team to beat thanks to its unparalleled success at neighbor island venues. In the 2009, 2011 and 2013 state championship regattas held at Hilo Bay; Hanakao‘o Beach in Lahaina; and Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaiian tallied comfortable victories with winning margins of 60, 59 and 24 points.

In the 2008, 2010 and 2012 editions of the state regatta — all held at Keehi Lagoon — Lanikai won the first two instances by a combined four points and shared the title with Kailua three years ago. Last season at the state championships held in Keehi Lagoon, Hawaiian broke through with a 48-point win over runner-up Kailua.

Three-time defending OHCRA champion Hui Nalu qualified 38 crews for Saturday’s competition, while league rivals Lanikai (38 crews), Kailua (37 crews) and Outrigger (36 crews) attempt to stack up with Hawaiian in the AAAA Division (21-40 crews entered).

Hui Nalu coach Denise Darval-Chang noted that bringing home a state title to match the club’s OHCRA crown — it has been more than two decades since the Hawaii Kai-based club won both in the same season — would represent an immense accomplishment for its members.

“When you go to states, it’s never as it is here (on Oahu) because you don’t know what (the competitors including outer-island clubs) are bringing to the table,” Darval-Chang said. “The only things we can control are what our paddlers do and strategize in terms of where we position our people. It’s always tough and (the OHCRA clubs in particular) are all strong.”

The logistics associated with moving paddlers, coaches, supporters, canoes and equipment create a unique set of challenges for participating clubs even before competitors take to the water. Fortunately for those traveling to Hilo, flights to and lodging on the Big Island are easier to come by than was the case in 2013 when the state races were held on Kauai. Flights to Kauai on Hawaiian Airlines that year were quickly sold out — prices for round-trip tickets to Lihue climbed higher than a flight to the West Coast at one point — and smaller carriers could not pick up the slack. The shortage resulted in many paddlers not making the trip and clubs forfeiting valuable lanes in the competition.

In the weeks leading up to Saturday’s state championships, prices for round-trip airfare from Honolulu to Hilo were in the $250-$350 range. Some clubs, including Hui Nalu and Hawaiian, chartered entire flights to make the travel experience a bit easier to manage, while other teams chose to fly to Kona and make the drive to Hilo from there.

Keauhou (18 crews) of the Big Island’s Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association looks to repeat as AAA Division (13-20 crews entered) champion, while island rivals Puna and Kai ‘Ehitu lead the division with 20 crews entered apiece. OHCRA member Keahiakahoe (17 crews) will look to win its second divisional crown in three years, while Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a member Kaneohe (17 crews) is also expected to make a run at the title.

The AA Division (7-12 crews) is headlined by Hui Wa‘a rivals Waikiki Beach Boys and Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i, along with Kihei (Maui) and OHCRA’s Hui Lanakila (12 crews apiece). The Beach Boys’ women’s novice A, freshman, sophomore and senior crews all completed undefeated seasons at the Hui Wa‘a Championships two weeks ago; the senior women’s crew from Waikiki is aiming for its seventh consecutive state championship in the marquee event.

The A Division (1-6 crews) is wide open, as 24 clubs compete for the championship hardware.