When Kalaheo head coach Julian Wicker moved to Florida to pursue his college education, Chelsea Kahalepauole-Bizik took over the outrigger canoe paddling program this season with the ultimate goal of making a splash at the annual state championship regatta.
The former Mustangs paddler and assistant coach is well on her way to leading Kalaheo in that direction after guiding the program to berths in the boys, girls and mixed (three boys, three girls) divisions with strong finishes across the board at the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s championship regatta Saturday at Keehi Lagoon. The windward school won the boys title, finished second in the mixed competition and fifth in the girls event en route to garnering berths in the upcoming state championship regatta.
"I’m so proud, our girls, boys and mixed crews all qualified for states," said Kahalepauole-Bizek. "When I was in high school, it would usually be just the boys, or just the mixed (crew) that would qualify. Now we’ve done it in every (event), and get to compete against teams from the ILH and other islands. It’s going to be tough, but our boys and girls push each other equally. I love it."
Crews competed on a half-mile course that ran parallel to shore, and canoes were slotted in lanes according to their finishes within the league’s five preceding races. The paddlers also contended with stiff breezes out of the southwest, which made the Lagoon course run in the opposite direction, similar to the way a golf course plays differently when the prevailing winds change direction. Competitors had the wind at their backs as they pushed toward the finish line.
Kalaheo coasted to victory in the boys race, and posted an event-leading mark of 3 minutes, 43.16 seconds. The crew of Zac Vollert, Vincenzo Kahalepauole-Bizek, Talus Carpenter, Michael Mitchell, Christian Johnston and Lokahi Barbieto sprinted to the day’s largest margin of victory, and fended off Kaiser (3:50.34) and McKinley (3:51.61).
In the girls race, Waianae completed an undefeated season as the OIA West representative scooted by Anuenue, Nanakuli and Kaiser, which all finished within 3 seconds of the Seasiders’ winning pace of 4 minutes, 25.71 seconds. The victory was monumental for Waianae, which picked up the first canoe paddling title in school history.
"This was very special because we made Waianae history for going undefeated and winning the OIA championship, and last year we ran over the flag (in the state championships) so we’re looking forward to doing better in states this time" said Kiana Kaaekuahiwi, a senior who was joined in the winning canoe by Jazmyne Borge, Ariani Kaawa, Leigh-Ann Kapihe, Briahna Rivera and Jezra Yomes.
Moanalua barely got by Kalaheo to claim the mixed division crown, crossing the line in 4 minutes, 7 seconds — 0.4 seconds ahead of the Mustangs.
The three victorious squads earned coveted slots in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA state paddling championships scheduled for Feb. 1 at Keehi Lagoon, and should receive favorable seeds behind Interscholastic League of Honolulu representative Kamehameha, which earlier in the day clinched championships in all three races. Based on league allotment for the state races, the OIA sends its top seven girls finishers and top six teams in both the boys and mixed divisions.
"After these OIA championships, we want to become one and represent the OIA," said Chelsea Kahalepauole-Bizik, in anticipation of the state races, at which Kalaheo last won a title in 2010 in the mixed event. "In the end, we all want to come together and put an OIA crew at the top."
