6 in a row for Shell Va’a

Hawaii takes great pride in outrigger canoe paddling, but they apparently like to take it to another level in Tahiti.

Shell Va‘a won its sixth consecutive Molokai Hoe on Sunday, finishing the 40.6-mile race across the Kaiwi Channel in a record-setting time of 4 hours, 30 minutes, 54 seconds. Electricite de Tahiti, Air Tahiti Va‘a and Team Livestrong Tahiti — the three other Tahitian teams entered in the race — all finished in the top six.

"Unbelieveable. Tomorrow when I wake up I will realize this is something unique," said Shell Va‘a president Richel Moux.

The Molokai Hoe, in its 59th year, is considered the world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe paddling for men’s teams. There were favorable conditions for the race, which started at Hale O Lono Harbor, Molokai, and ended at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki.

Shell Va‘a and EDT (second place, 4:36:45) broke the previous race record of 4:38:35 set by Shell Va‘a in 2008.

Wailea Canoe Club-Team Primo, which finished third overall in 4:42:59, was the first crew from Hawaii to cross. The time was the fastest in history by a crew from Hawaii, breaking the previous mark by nearly 8 minutes.

Lanikai Canoe Club No. 1 (4:47:08) was fourth, Air Tahiti Va‘a (4:54:17) was fifth and Team Livestrong Tahiti (5:03:37) sixth.

"It was rougher than last year," Shell Va‘a’s Jean Manea said through interpreter Ura Quoniou. "We surfed many waves around Diamond Head, so it pulled us forward."

Members of Shell Va‘a’s winning crew were Bruno Tauhiro, Yoann Cronsteadt, Roland Tere, Laurent Paiea, Moana Mairau, David Tepava, Paia Tamairitamio, Clovis Trope and Manea.

Tauhiro and Tepava are the only paddlers who have been a part of all six of Shell Va‘a’s consecutive Molokai Hoe victories.

There were six divisions in the race: open, masters 40, masters 50, koa, masters 55 and masters 60. The open, masters 40, masters 50 and koa crews were able to rotate nine paddlers into the six seats of the canoe. The masters 55 and masters 60 crews rotated 12 paddlers. An escort boat followed each canoe and paddlers had to jump in and out on the fly during lineup changes. The race had 102 finishers.

Tahitian crews usually fare well in the Molokai Hoe because the paddlers often work for the sponsoring company.

Six of Shell Va‘a’s nine paddlers also work for the Shell station in Tahiti. Most are either drivers or gas pump attendants.

Leading up to big races, Shell Va‘a employees/paddlers have a difficult daily routine. They do weightlifting/cardio from 4:30 to 5:30 a.m., work their shifts for the oil company from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., then paddle in the canoe from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

EDT and Air Tahiti also have similar arrangements for their employees/paddlers.

"There are a bunch of professional paddlers," said Jimmy Austin of Wailea Canoe Club-Team Primo.

It also doesn’t hurt that paddling is the No. 1 sport in Tahiti, a French-speaking island 2,700 miles south of Hawaii.

"There are many competitions throughout the year and they are very competitive," said Air Tahiti Va‘a’s Maihota Manu.

EDT, the runner-up, entered the Molokai Hoe for the first time, but had three paddlers who had competed in the event with other teams.

EDT’s Hikituni Chevalier said his team led early, but was passed by Shell Va‘a about 40 minutes into the race.

"The race was hard. It’s our first time, so we weren’t used to the sea and the ocean and the waves," said Chevalier through the interpreter. "We were a little lost in the weather conditions out there."

Wailea Canoe Club-Team Primo had six paddlers from Maui, two from Oahu and one from Hawaii island. Team members are Kai Bartlett, Kekoa Cramer, Tyson Kubo, Mael Carey, Felipe Gomes, Jacob Abeytia, Scott Hendricks, Scott Gamble and Austin.

They had a mishap after making a lineup change 45 minutes into the race.

"We made that first change and closed some ground and then we ended up flipping, so that cost us a little bit," Austin said. "But that’s racing. That stuff happens. We don’t think we would’ve won, but we would have been a little closer."

Austin added he and his teammates were happy with their race.

"Just to be able to see (Shell Va‘a) for once … in years past they run away off the start and we never see them again. An hour into the race, they’re 20 yards off our bow. It’s like ‘Wow, we’re in this.’ "