Bringing canoes back to life

Fate or coincidence, or a combination of both, He‘eia is located between two of the sites most revered by Hawaiians both past and present on the Windward side of Oahu. Those being Kualoa and Mokapu.

It is here, where the cacophony of wind gusts and crowing roosters join the sounds of a centuries-old tradition. That of bringing koa canoes back to life.

It is under the humble tarps that Bobby Puakea continues the art he first learned when growing up on Hawaii island in the 1950s. His mentors were his father Robert Sr. and the other legendary kalai wa‘a (canoe builder) of the day such as James Kahooilihala and Charles Mokuohai.

The legacy? It’s a short drive on the gravel road off Kamehameha Highway and into He‘eia State Park. Go past the banyan tree and one has missed it, a niche of living history.

Still being restored is the "Honaunau," the pride of Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club, which suffered heavy damage at the 2011 Leeward Kai Father’s Day Regatta at Nanakuli. She will soon be joined by "Hokulele," Lanikai Canoe Club’s 46-year-old koa that was en route to Molokai for last month’s Na Wahine O Ke Kai race when run into by a forklift during a barge transfer on Lanai. (Lanikai’s new Bradley fiberglass racer was also ruined).

Heartbreak comes with tears and a price. A conservative estimate to repair what paddlers consider a member of the family is $10,000.

Puakea — known affectionately as "Uncle Bobby" — is ready. His workshop is a teaching hospital, one where students young and old help him heal the canoes that someday will be back living on the water.

Some five years ago, Kamehameha Schools donated a canoe first carved out by the late Wright Bowman Jr. Soon a program was born that allowed students hands-on experience with various techniques, old and new.

"Every part is wood, different kinds, koa, hao, balsa," Puakea said. "One of the canoes is from the 1890s. We have four, five here at a time, all in different stages so that those who work on them can see how everything progresses. The kids come and I tell them, go ahead and start sanding.

"My philosophy, my reason for my (Puakea Foundation) is to perpetuate this. I’m hoping that I’m passing it on to people who want to do this, too. It doesn’t have to be my style. Just like the logs are different, people develop their own styles of building."

Puakea turned 70 Sept. 8, coincidently the same day that he served as the Grand Marshall of the annual race from Newport Beach, Calif., to Catalina Island. His crew won the event in 1999.

Puakea has only paddled in one Molokai Hoe, that back in 1962, in his family’s koa "Hilo Boy." But he has been a part of so many other Ka‘iwi Channel crossings; for the second time in three weeks, "Ho‘ola" — the former "Hilo Boy" — will be one of two koas entered.

"We renamed ‘Hilo Boy’ after a major redesign and ‘Ho‘ola’ means ‘new life,’ " Puakea said. "That was the right name for a new canoe. Do I have a favorite? I love all of them but … really, it’s ‘Ho‘ola.’

"Kai Oni will be using her and Outrigger (Canoe Club) is taking a koa, too, so there’s only two koas for Sunday that I know of. I understand the concern the clubs have in protecting their koas and not using them in the channel races, but if I had one wish, it would be for one of the top crews in the Molokai Hoe use a racing koa and see what they can do."

The Puakea Foundation hopes to create a more secure structure to house the canoes. The organization is one of three finalists in the Natural Stone for Non-Profits contest, which is worth $10,000 in design and contraction through Bella Pietra and Build Beautiful.

Voting runs through Oct. 15 at facebook.com/bella pietra.

Puakea also offers paddle making workshops. Contact him through puakea.org.

REC CENTER

SUP World Series final at Turtle Bay

Current world-rankings leader Kai Lenny and No. 2 Connor Baxter — both of Maui — headline the packed field at Stand-Up World Series finals at the Turtle Bay Resort.

The 12.5-mile long course on Oct. 13 starts at 1 p.m. and runs from Turtle Bay to Haleiwa’s Ali‘i Beach. Hawaii’s Andrew Logreco is the defending champion.

The Oct. 14 sprint event, using a "paddlecross" triangle course, runs in the waters fronting Turtle Bay Resort. Maui’s Zane Schweitzer won last season. A live webcast of the finals will be available at finals.standupworldseries.com starting at 10:30 a.m.

A prone paddleboard division is available for both the long-distance and sprint races. Also, the Na Kama Kai Challenge for youth under 15 will be held on Oct. 13. Competitors will use the new Naish "One," and inflatable paddleboard on a figure-8 course starting at 8:30 a.m.

For information, go to standupworldseries.com.

Israeli team at lacrosse event

Jerusalem Lacrosse Club, two-time defending champions of the Israel Lacrosse Association, will make its debut in the Hawaii Invitational Lacrosse Tournament, Oct. 26-28 at Kapiolani Park. Jerusalem LC is looking to add Jewish players from Hawaii to the playing roster. For information, contact Chaka Bainbridge at chaka@lacrosse.co.il. For information, go to hawaiilacrosse.com.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Saturday, Oct. 6

AUTO RACING

Sand Drags: 2 p.m. gates open, 6 p.m. racing. Kalalaeloa Raceway Park. kalaeloaracewaypark.com

BMX

Island BMX: State championship final, 2 p.m. registration, 3 p.m. racing. Sandbox track, Sand Island. islandbmx.com

BOXING

Pearl Side BC: Match event, 6 p.m., Momilani Rec Center. amateurboxingofhawaii.com.

FUTSAL

Hawaii Street Soccer: Pick-up games, 5 p.m., Ala Wai Park. hawaiistreetsoccer.com.

KAYAKING

Hui Wa’a Kaukahi: Malaekahana to Haleiwa. 18 miles. huiwaa.org.

LAWN BOWLING

Honolulu Lawn Bowls Club: 10 a.m., Ala Moana Park. honolululawnbowls.com.

RODEO

20th HWRA All-Girls Rodeo: 8:30 a.m., Kualoa Ranch. rodeooahu.com.

HHSA Hunter Show: 8 a.m., Maunawili. rodeooahu.com.

ROLLER DERBY

PRD Fun Day: New skater training, Kamiloiki Park. pacificrollerderby.com.

Sunday, Oct. 7

AUTO RACING

HulaCross: 10 a.m., gates open. Noon, racing. Kalalaeloa Raceway Park. kalaeloaracewaypark.com

CRICKET

Honolulu Cricket Club: Inter-club match, 10 a.m., Kapiolani Park. honolulucricketclub.org.

CYCLING

IT&B Beginner’s Clinic: 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Kapiolani Community College parking lot. itbhawaii.com.

FUTSAL

Hawaii Street Soccer: Pick-up games, 5 p.m., Sunset Beach Elementary School. hawaiistreetsoccer.com.

MOTOCROSS

HMA: Round 3, 8 a.m., Kahuku Motocross Park. ridehma.com

PADDLING

61st Molokai Hoe: Men, 8 a.m., Hale O Lono, Molokai, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu. molokaihoe.com.

POLO

Hawaii Polo Club: vs. China, 2 p.m., Mokuleia Polo Grounds. hawaii-polo.org.

Honolulu Polo Club: 3 p.m., Waimanalo Polo Grounds. honolulupolo.com.

RUNNING

ING Direct 25K: 5:30 a.m., Kailua Beach Park. 808racehawaii.com.

Wiki Wiki 5K & 10K: 7:30 a.m., Lahaina. islandtrish@hotmail.com.

Honolulu Marathon Clinic: 7:30 a.m., Kapiolani Park. Free. honolulumarathonclinic.org.

Sign Me Up

RUNNING

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure: 7 a.m. Oct. 21, Kapiolani Park. komenhawaii.org.

Michael Doran Memorial Scholarship 5K Fun Run: 7 a.m. Nov. 17, Kalani High School. $25. Proceeds to the Doran Scholarship Foundation. Optional literary character costume contest. http://www.edline.net/pages/Kalani_High_School/News/MDFunRunWalkform

SOFTBALL

Kaikamahine Girls Fastpitch Softball Club: Seeking players for 12U travel team. Year-round practices and games, and 2013 summer play on mainland. Information: John S. Lee, 398-4109 or kaikamahine.softball@gmail.com.