After decades of waiting, Kaiser finally earned its first outrigger canoe paddling title last year by racing to victory in the mixed-gender division.
With the addition of Saturday’s triumphs, the Cougars will now need to make room for two more championship trophies.
Kaiser doubled up on last season’s success, as both its boys and mixed crews notched Oahu Interscholastic Association paddling championships in the calm waters of Keehi Lagoon.
Four-time defending champion Kalaheo and Radford entered the boys race undefeated, having run through the OIA East and West divisions unscathed. But the Cougars found a way to come up golden in what coach Tina Roque confirmed will be her final season at the helm.
The Mustangs — who were forced to reshuffle their lineup due to a last-minute illness of senior stroker Talus Carpenter — reached the halfway turn of the 1/2-mile race first. But Kaiser rallied down the stretch and upped their stroke rate to key the upset. The Cougars crossed the line in 3 minutes, 43.85 seconds and fended off Kailua (3:47.13), Kalaheo (3:47.70) and Radford (3:48.26).
“It’s the first time we’ve won a race all season, and to finally get first over Kalaheo feels great,” said Kaiser senior Sinjin Bradley. “Coming in second place (so often) gets boring. It’s great to get another paddling trophy for our school.”
Bradley was joined in the winning canoe by Levi Richards, Alexander Look, Micah Nakamoto, Kamuela Wallace and Carter Matson.
“I told the boys that if they want it, it’s theirs,” said Roque after taking a moment to let the accomplishment set in. “It’s the little things that matter: technique and efficient paddling.
“Now, I have two weeks (to prepare for the state title race), so we’ll see where we go.”
Richards, Bradley and Look also helped buoy Kaiser in its second consecutive mixed division championship along with Dakota Girdley, Kia Hasegawa and Raquel Robello. As was the case in the boys race, the Cougars remedied a slow start that included some miscues in the first quarter-mile by picking up the pace over the event’s final 30 yards.
Kaiser (4:12.50) held off hard-charging Kalaheo (4:13.51) to post the day’s slimmest margin of victory, while Kapolei (4:18.33) and Waianae (4:19.17) could not make up enough ground to upend the defending champions.
“Going down to the (turn) flag we were third, but we kept fighting for it and picked it up to the end — we never stopped,” said Richards, who has been a part of all three Kaiser championship crews.
“We’ve got to practice hard in the coming weeks and focus on facing some of the private schools, (including perennial state championship favorites) Kamehameha and Punahou.”
Castle claimed its first OIA girls title since 2007 and led its race wire to wire, posting a time of 4:25.50. Kalani (4:28.31), Leilehua (4:28.83) and Moanalua (4:30.82) remained within striking distance, but could not catch the Knights.
“We were going up against some tough crews, and I’m so proud (of my team) and what we accomplished today,” said Kalia Malama, the winning crew’s lone senior. “Now we go back to practice and put in the hard work.”
The other Castle paddlers were Shaienne Estepa, Harlee Jay Pedro, Kaitlyn Kona, Sarah Lee and Shainna Estepa.
The three victorious squads earned coveted slots in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Paddling Championships scheduled for Feb. 7 at Maui’s Kahului Harbor and should receive favorable seeds behind the Interscholastic League of Honolulu representatives, which will be determined next week. Based on league allotments for the state races, the OIA will send its top six teams each from the boys, girls and mixed divisions.
Castle coach Kalei Kahookele noted that, while his squad’s victory was impressive, the crew will now have to prepare to face the state’s best crews in two weeks.
“Confidence-wise, it’s a big boost for sure,” Kahookele said. “But I told them after the race to make sure and soak it all in now because it’s going to be a hard couple weeks of practice before states.
“We have to keep that confidence and bond, and hopefully we can click again.”
For the second consecutive season, Waianae was awarded the Tesoro Hawaii Cup after amassing the highest cumulative point total over all three events throughout the six OIA regattas. The Seariders racked up 127 points and edged Radford (125 points) and Kalaheo (111 points) to retain the perpetual trophy.
OIA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday
Keehi Lagoon
1/2-mile course with one turn
The top six teams from each race qualified for the state championship regatta on Feb. 7 at Maui’s Kahului Marbor.
Varsity boys
1. Kaiser, 3 minutes, 43.85 seconds (Sinjin Bradley, Levi Richards, Micah Nakamoto, Kamuela Wallace, Carter Matson and Alexander Look); 2. Kailua, 3:47.13; 3. Kalaheo, 3:47.70; 4. Radford, 3:48.26; 5. Kalani, 3:52.46; 6. Waianae, 3:56.70; 7. McKinley, 3:58.14; 8. Waialua, 4:01.27; 9. Pearl City, 4:03.58; 10. Campbell, 4:06.42; 11. Roosevelt, 4:06.91; 12. Mililani, 4:07.76.
Varsity girls
1. Castle, 4:25.50 (Shaienne Estepa, Harlee Jay Pedro, Kaila Malama, Kaitlyn Kona, Sarah Lee and Shainna Estepa); 2. Kalani, 4:28.31; 3. Leilehua, 4:28.83; 4. Moanalua, 4:30.82; 5. Kaiser, 4:31.57; 6. Kalaheo, 4:32.37; 7. Pearl City, 4:33.58; 8. Mililani, 4:34.19; 9. Waianae, 4:35.13; 10. McKinley, 4:36.76; 11. Kapolei, 4:48.30; 12. Radford, 4:48.80.
Varsity mixed
1. Kaiser, 4:12.50 (Sinjin Bradley, Levi Richards, Alexander Look, Dakota Girdley, Kia Hasegawa and Raquel Robello); 2. Kalaheo, 4:13.51; 3. Kapolei, 4:18.33; 4. Waianae, 4:19.17; 5. Nanakuli, 4:22.67; 6. McKinley, 4:23.47; 7. Kalani, 4:23.80; 8. Kailua, 4:25.71; 9. Pearl City, 4:27.26; 10. Leilehua, 4:34.27; 11. Moanalua, 4:38.56; 12. Radford, 4:45.95.
TESORO HAWAII CUP
Based on cumulative points from all six OIA events
1. Waianae, 127 points; 2. Radford, 125; 3. Kalaheo, 111; 4. Kaiser, 100; 5. McKinley, 96; 6. Kapolei, 90; 7. Leilehua, 90; 8. Kalani, 90; 9. Moanalua, 88; 10. Pearl City, 87.
