Father’s Day victory for Hui Lanakila

Many dads look forward to spending Father’s Day relaxing at the beach, spending time with family and enjoying good food and company.

For Byron Martinez, the day included all that and then some.

As head and women’s coach for Hui Lanakila Canoe Club, Martinez was treated to a third consecutive victory in the AA division (14-26 crews entered) at the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association’s Leeward Kai Father’s Day Regatta on Sunday in calm waters fronting Nanakuli Beach Park. Hui Lanakila amassed 35 points to claim the medium division, and held off Keahiakahoe (31 points) and Waikiki Surf Club, Healani and Leeward Kai (22 points apiece).

The victory was extra special for the skipper, as his daughter, Whitney, was one of the paddlers in both the club’s victorious sophomore and senior women’s crews.

"It’s special for me," Martinez said. "This is one of my favorite races out here in Nanakuli — especially on Father’s Day.

"I try to get the girls in, and let them have fun and race. They all work hard, We have nine girls to work with so I just mix them up. They all enjoy paddling with each other, so I just put them together and let them go. They do their homework. I can only coach, they do the paddling."

Nearly 3,000 paddlers ranging in age from 12 and under to 65 and above represented OHCRA’s 16 member clubs in races spanning a quarter-mile to 11⁄2 miles. Winning crews earned 5 points toward the team standings, while second-, third- and fourth-place finishers earned 3, 2 and 1 points.

The race course afforded paddlers the opportunity to use the ocean to their advantage. In most races, including those held at Keehi Lagoon, canoes follow a course running parallel to the shore. However, at Nanakuli, paddlers raced away from and back to shore, and catching waves, or "bumps," became a vital aspect of race strategy.

Hui Lanakila’s sophomore women continued its undefeated season, completing the 1-mile race in 8 minutes, 47.19 seconds and holding off Hui Nalu (9:11.03) and Kailua (9:17.23). The crew included Whitney Martinez, Maheana Horner, Arlene Holzman, Pauahi Ioane, Kristi Lowry and Lori Nakamura.

The club’s senior women also maintained their unblemished record, finishing the 11⁄2-mile race in 13 minutes, 24.79 seconds — nearly 30 seconds ahead of its closest competitor, Hui Nalu (13:53.58). The lineup was nearly identical — paddlers may compete in as many as two events per regatta — with Violet Carrillo taking Horner’s spot in one of the day’s marquee events.

"We aren’t the biggest program, but everyone we have works really hard," Whitney Martinez said. "It’s hard work.

"A bunch of us have been together for at least 10 years, some even longer. We’re used to each other and the way we paddle, knowing each other and trusting that whoever is in the canoe with you is doing their job. Our goal is always (doing well in) the long-distance season, so we’re taking it one race at a time through the regatta season."

Martinez credited her father for helping the club’s women sustain success.

"He’s been coaching pretty much since I’ve been paddling, he’s always been around as a big part of Hui Lanakila and the women’s program," Martinez said. "He’s coached me all the way from high school through now. He does a lot for the program."

Last year, Hui Lanakila finished second at the state regatta championship race in both the sophomore and senior races behind the Waikiki Beach Boys of Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a. Both crews are again dominating their respective organization’s races, and appear on a crash course to meet at the state championship regatta Aug. 4 at Keehi Lagoon.

"For the majority of us, we’ve been racing together in the sophomore and senior races for the past three to four years so we already know how to interact with one another in the canoe," said Nakamura, the victorious steerswoman in both crews. "We just trust each other. You’re always looking ahead to states, but you don’t want to jump the gun. We need to take each race seriously, and as its own."

Lanikai won its third overall regatta and AAA division (27-39 crews entered), finishing with 82 points and securing the victory with a win in the day’s final race, the open mixed event. Outrigger finished second (79 points) followed by Kailua (74 points) and Hui Nalu (62 points).

Anuenue claimed its third straight A division (1-13 crews entered), finishing with nine points. Waimanalo finished second with eight points.

On Sunday, OHCRA heads to Waimanalo and Hui Wa‘a returns to Keehi Lagoon. Both races are scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m.

Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i perfect

At Kailua Beach, Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i made it 4-for-4 in this season’s Hui Wa‘a when taking the overall title of the Windward Kai Regatta in windy, choppy conditions.

Ka Mo‘i clinched the AAA title with a second-place finish in the penultimate event, mixed 40s, finishing with 92 points. Kaneohe won that last event — mixed open — to finish with 89 points.

Waikiki Yacht Club won its first AA title with 11 points while Ka Mamalahoe won its fourth A title with 30 points.