After years of building on a foundation of success initially started by its women’s program, the Waikiki Beach Boys received a stellar all-around effort Saturday en route to continuing its dynastic outrigger canoe paddling run.

Wakiki head coach Sean Monahan believed his club was "peaking at the right time."

The observation proved correct as Waikiki notched a regatta-high 11 wins and ran away with the AA division (13-24 crews entered) championship for the third consecutive season at the Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a Championship regatta at Keehi Lagoon. Waikiki logged 65 points and bested Ka Mamalahoe (38 points) and Kalihi Kai (16 points) in the medium division, while also finishing third overall despite fielding 21 fewer crews than its largest foes.

The Beach Boys’ women’s novice A, novice B, freshman sophomore and senior crews completed undefeated seasons. The club won its first three races of the day, and pulled away to clinch the division trophy with a stretch of seven victories in nine races, with the remaining two crews garnering runner-up finishes during that span.

In a race that epitomized Waikiki’s seasonlong pursuit of excellence, the Beach Boys senior men’s crew fended off rivals from Manu O Ke Kai to claim the marquee 1.5-mile race in 11 minutes, 34.98 seconds. The crew of Charles Meyer, Ricky Greenleaf, Lale Turcan, Curtis Tipton, Joe Giovannini and Kulani Ryan took the lead entering the race’s second turn situated at the mile marker, and held off Manu O Ke Kai by an eventual nine-second margin after hammering a flurry of power strokes down the stretch.

"We’re having a lot of fun competing against Manu this year. They’re a tough group of talented paddlers, and it really makes racing fun," said Meyer, who steered Waikiki’s victorious men’s senior canoe. "They’re friends, but they also served as our nemesis throughout the season. Having a rival that you can chase, or be chased by, really makes all the difference."

Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i remained atop the Hui Wa‘a throne on the heels of claiming gold in six races throughout the day. Ka Mo‘i amassed 83 points to clinch the AAA division (25-39 crews entered) and held off Manu O Ke Kai (70 points) and Kaneohe (61 points). The victory was Ka Mo‘i’s fifth consecutive and seventh overall win of the summer regatta season.

The Waianae-based club has now won three Hui Wa‘a titles in four years, while also supplanting Kaneohe—which won seven consecutive and eight of nine titles during a run that ended in 2011—as the organization’s top club in the large division. Ka Mo‘i continues to thrive under the direction of head coach Lisa Ka‘aekuahiwi, whose father, Rona, started the club 37 years ago. The club went undefeated in Hui Wa‘a competition in 2012.

Besides battling for championship hardware in individual races, crews attempted to qualify for slots in the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association state championship regatta scheduled for Aug. 3 at Hanalei Bay, Kauai. The top three crews from each Hui Wa‘a event earned automatic berths in the state race based on cumulative point standings. With so many crews on the bubble of qualifying, today’s races carried dual importance. Crews were also inspired by a new rule change, which affords the winner of each Hui Wa‘a championship race a spot in the state championships regardless of their seasonlong point total.

Paddlers took advantage of clear skies, steady trade winds and calm waters as nearly 1,500 competitors ranging in age from 12 and under to 65 and above represented Hui Wa‘a’s 18 member clubs in 43 races spanning a quarter mile to 1.5 miles. Winning crews earned 5 points toward the team standings, while second-, third- and fourth-place finishers earned 3, 2 and 1 point, respectively.

Kamehameha repeated as A division (6-12 crews entered) champion by posting 24 points. The club was bolstered by its girls 18 crew that won its eighth consecutive race to complete a perfect season. Kamehameha’s girls 13 and 14 crews also picked up gold medals yesterday.

Other crews that completed undefeated seasons with victories yesterday were Kaneohe’s boys 15 and women’s 55, and Manu O Ke Kai’s men’s 50.

The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association Championship regatta will be held today at Keehi Lagoon. Defending state co-champion Kailua is aiming for a fifth consecutive OHCRA championship, while Hui Nalu, Outrigger and Lanikai are all in contention.