KAHULUI » After years of tinkering and toiling, Punahou boys canoe paddling coach Rocky Higgins decided to go with what he dubbed the "Bully Boy Crew," featuring the best "beef" the Buffanblu program had to offer.

The strategy worked to perfection and set the stage for Punahou to come up golden as the Buffanblu claimed their first boys state paddling title in three years at the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championship regatta in the wind-whipped waters of Maui’s Kahului Harbor on Saturday afternoon.

Punahou also won the girls and mixed races and became the second team in history — after Kamehameha in 2011 — to sweep the state championships.

Punahou’s boys crossed the line in 3 minutes, 38.82 seconds and fended off runner-up Kalaheo (3:42.69) and Kamehameha (3:44.31) — the squad that had won four of the previous five state titles.

"This means everything; Coach Rocky has been here a long time and it’s nice to win it for him and for each other," said Punahou junior stroker Ethan Lewis. "We worked really hard this season. It’s so satisfying to see the work paying off, we want to get this feeling again next year and we’ll come back even hungrier."

Lewis was joined in the winning canoe by Hunter Pflueger, Aukai Manson, Kimo Brown, Kaiko Manson and Steven Falatea.

Higgins said that he compiled the winning crew after putting the boys through "tractor pull" time trials during which the strongest sprint-style paddlers emerged after a regular season composed of long-distance races.

"Coming back (upwind), Kalaheo was leading, but we had the right amount of firepower; we need to keep coming to the outer islands!" said Higgins, who last guided the Buffanblu to state gold at Hilo Bay in 2012. "I told our guys to be one, feel the boat and just let it all hang out and this was the result."

Punahou’s girls claimed their fourth state crown in event history and first since 2009. In one of the day’s closest finishes, the Buffanblu (4:23.70) edged Seabury Hall (4:24.84) — the 2013 girls’ state champion — and Kamehameha (4:26.01) to send the throng of onlookers on the beach into a frenzy as the canoes crossed the finish line.

Steerswoman Cassie Ingram said that she took the race’s lone turn "wide and held it long, and we came out really well" as the wind essentially pushed the canoe through the turn. Emalia Eichelberger, Madison Francis, Ka‘onohi Lapilio, Bailey Monick and Daena Smith rounded out the victorious crew

"I was stoked, especially last year after coming up short (to eventual champion Kamehameha)," said Eichelberger. "It’s a different type of adrenaline, especially coming from home, bonding and being together as a team on this trip."

Paddlers from 33 schools were treated to choppy ocean conditions spurred by stiff breezes.

Competitors had to adjust to the oncoming waves, which rolled from the harbor’s mouth perpendicular to the ½-mile race course. The swells built near the finish line and made for eventful endings to races as crews attempted to remain upright.

Kamehameha entered Saturday’s regatta as Interscholastic League of Honolulu champions in both the boys and girls divisions, and as the league runner-up in the mixed behind champion Punahou. The Warriors and Buffanblu combined to win five of the six preliminary heats and were fast-tracked to the finals.

The Buffanblu ended the day with a dominant victory in the mixed race, crossing the line in 3:56.23 and finishing comfortably ahead of fellow ILH representative Mid-Pacific (4:02.90) and Konawaena. Punahou relied on Eichelberger, Lewis, Falatea and Pflueger, as well as Summer Caster and Caitlin Green to power the winning canoe and complete the sweep.

"Punahou and Kamehameha have a friendly yet competitive rivalry going on," said Kamehameha boys head coach and mixed co-head coach Napali Woode.

"We love paddling and that’s why we do it. The competition at this level is just really tough and I know we gave it our best shot. The cards fell where they did and we’re very proud of what we accomplished this year."