The Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a Organization’s first paddling regatta of the season went down to the final race Sunday.

Kaneohe won Event No. 39 — open mixed — to take the Windward Kai Regatta by three points at Kailua Beach Park.

Kaneohe finished with 74 points, followed by Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (71), Manu O Ke Kai (62) and Koa Kai (31). All four are in the AAA division for large clubs.

High winds led to bumpy rides and numerous disqualifications. The canoes raced parallel to the shoreline at Kailua Beach Park with a strong wind blowing in toward shore. Most of the disqualifications were for running starts (canoes aren’t allowed to be moving forward when the starting flag is waved). Staying in racing lanes and turning also were difficult.

"It took a lot of focus," said Kaneohe youth coach Clint Anderson. "The elements were against us … against everybody."

There were 39 total races, with points being awarded on a 5-3-2-1 basis.

"It was really difficult," said Dane Kimokeo, who steered Kaneohe’s winning open mixed crew. "The current was going the opposite way of the wind."

Kimokeo said he steered 10 crews yesterday, and he was pretty familiar with the swells by the end.

"I got a hold of the current and how it affects the boat," he said. "Earlier, I was messing up."

Kaneohe adult coach Junior Parrilla said no one knew the team standings entering the final race. Parrilla added that the boat holders and steersmen throughout the day were critical in the club’s victory.

Making its Hui Wa‘a debut yesterday was Olelo O Keola, a club based at Sand Island.

Hui Wa‘a recently changed its bylaws to allow Olelo O Keola to join as the organization’s 19th club. The club practiced last year in preparation for this paddling season.

"We’re happy to be a part of the organization," said Olelo O Keola coach Kevin Mokuahi, who paddled for Lokahi for 23 years. "We’re very appreciative of Hui Wa‘a and all the other clubs for allowing us to join."

Mokuahi also coached the Word of Life paddling team in 2008. The following year, the school closed.

He said Olelo O Keola has 80 paddlers, with about half being members of the Word of Life Christian Center. All equipment was privately donated. Mokuahi added that about 10 paddlers have previous experience with other clubs.

Pastor Chauncey Pang, also a member of Olelo O Keola, said the canoe club is a ministry of Word of Life Christian Center.

"The canoe club’s goal is to reach people and touch lives," Pang said.

Olelo O Keola entered 12 crews yesterday and scored 16 points in the A division for smaller clubs. Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club won the A division with 23 points, while Kamehameha placed third with 15.

Olelo O Keola’s men’s novice B team won its half-mile race in 4:33:09.

"I wouldn’t recommend these conditions for a new club," Mokuahi said. "But I’m proud of them (all the club’s paddlers). This is the toughest it’ll get."

The Waikiki Beach Boys men won the prestigious 1½-mile senior race.

Last week, members of the Waikiki Beach Boys men’s and women’s teams paddled from Maui to Molokai, then Molokai to Oahu.

"We haven’t practiced too much (for the regatta season)," said Patrick Switzer, a member of the Waikiki Beach Boys winning crew. "We’ve been practicing for long distance with no turning. The guys were working well together. We were catching swells along the way."

Switzer added he’s part of a veteran crew, and the turns were "like riding a bike."

The Waikiki Beach Boys women crossed the finish line first in the 1½-mile senior race, but were disqualified because of a running start.

Complete results were not reported.

Hui Wa‘a’s next regatta is Sunday at Haleiwa Beach Park.

The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, Oahu’s other paddling organization, will start its season Sunday at Keehi Lagoon.