No slowing down for veteran paddler

After competing in outrigger canoe races for more than 40 years, veteran steersman Leleo Kinimaka is well accustomed to the four-minute, half-mile races that are commonplace throughout the summer regatta season.

Kinimaka, who previously paddled in Kauai and California before joining Manu O Ke Kai two seasons ago, helps the North Shore-based club by steering in back-to-back races, as was the case midway through Sunday’s Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a Haleiwa Outrigger Regatta held in the waters off Haleiwa Beach Park.

Manu O Ke Kai won the half-mile men’s 50 and mixed 45 races in 4 minutes and 1.6 seconds and 4:23.13, posting winning margins of 18 and seven seconds, and did so with Kinimaka guiding the way from the rear of the canoe.

“It’s not too bad. The races are about four minutes long, so there’s just enough time in between to bring your heart rate back down,” Kinimaka said after congratulating teammates.

As is the case with all clubs chasing valuable race points, Manu O Ke Kai has taken advantage of the Hui Wa‘a race rule that allows paddlers to compete in up to two races per regatta as long as they qualify for that age bracket. Kinimaka was joined in the men’s 50 race by Derek Lee Loy, Greg Pavao, DJ Oga, Thomas Schlotman and Sam Alama, while Oga and Pavao also pulled double duty while being joined by Carmen Van Kralingen, Tanja Robinson and Alberta Guzman in the winning mixed 45 canoe. Lee Loy, Alama and Schlotman also “doubled up” to help Manu claim the half-mile men’s 55 race in 4:06.67 — 17 seconds ahead of runner-up Lokahi — along with Michael Coleman, John Hoogsteden and Edward Kama.

Manu O Ke Kai’s men’s 50 crew remained undefeated despite not practicing as a six-man crew during the week. Instead, the paddlers cross-trained by swimming, surfing and working out on one-man canoes then blending their talents on race day.

“It’s good for our crews because it warms everyone up and really gets the heart going,” Kinimaka said when asked about so many of his teammates competing in races with little to no rest in between. “For us to go back-to-back immediately, it’s a little tough.

“At this regatta (in Haleiwa), usually the winds are a bit tougher on us. With the calm winds today, we’re able to put up really good times. Also, it’s a lot easier to steer today because you can actually see the colors of the flags (marking each turn) — usually when the wind’s blowing out, it’s much more difficult to navigate.”

After four-plus decades of competition, Kinimaka is showing no signs of slowing down.

“It never gets old. I paddle with a great group of guys and it’s really a lot of fun,” Kinimaka said. “To perform well like this, it’s really rewarding.”

Manu O Ke Kai compiled a regatta-high 11 individual race victories, including wins in 10 of the final 19 races, and racked up 79 points to claim the AAA division (25-42 crews entered) and overall regatta title for the second consecutive week. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i, a Waianae-based club that has won four of the last five Hui Wa‘a titles, amassed 71 points and bested Kaneohe (64 points) in the race for runner-up in the large division.

Manu O Ke Kai maintained its “home surf advantage” a week after pulling an upset and claiming last week’s regatta in Ka Mo‘i’s home regatta at Maili Beach.

The Waikiki Beach Boys claimed the AA division (13-24 crews entered) for the seventh week in a row and picked up seven wins over the event’s final 14 races. Waikiki tallied 53 points and bested Ka Mamalahoe (47 points) and I Mua (24 points).

Host club Haleiwa Outrigger collected 20 points to claim the A division (6-12 crews entered) trophy ahead of Kamehameha (16 points), Windward Kai (15 points) and Lokahi (13 points).

Paddlers enjoyed calm, flat ocean conditions and steady breezes as more than 1,600 competitors ranging in age from 12-and-under to 65-and-above represented Hui Wa‘a’s 18-member clubs in 42 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 were awarded 3, 2 and 1 points, respectively.

Crews also continued earning points toward qualifying for slots in the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta scheduled for Aug. 1 at Hilo Bay. The top two teams from each Hui Wa‘a event are slated to earn automatic berths in the state race based on cumulative point standings.

Hui Wa‘a returns to action on Sunday at Waikiki Beach for the Waikiki Beach Boys Regatta, an exhibition event held in the unpredictable south shore surf. The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association also competes on Sunday with the John D. Kaupiko Regatta in Kaneohe Bay at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a

North Shore Regatta
At Haleiwa Beach Park
Sunday

AAA—1, Manu O Ke Kai 79. 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 71. 3, Kaneohe 64.
AA—1, Waikiki Beach Boys 53. 2, Ka Mamalahoe 47. 3, I Mua 24.
A—1, Hale‘iwa Outrigger 20. 2, Kamehameha 16. 3, Windward Kai 15. 4, Lokahi 13. 5, ‘Alapa Hoe 11. 6, Olelo O Keola 10. 7, Kai Poha 9. 8, Waikiki Yacht Club 8. 9, Kumulokahi-Elks 4. 10, Kalihi Kai 3. 11, Pukana O Ke Kai 2.

1/4 MILE
Specials—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (Teanna Kaopuiki, Mana Kamakele, Sasa Judd, Hannah Bradbury, Harry Reyes, Makani Kuwamura) 2:12.300; 2. Windward Kai 2:27.090. 3, Kai Poha 2:32.960.
Wounded Warriors—1. Ka Mamalahoe (Manuel Chavez-Martinez, Sarah Sherwood, Aleksander Naluai, Taliese Vivao, Daniel Moncada, Issac Floyd) 2:00.920; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 2:08.540.
Mixed 60—1. Kaneohe (Kaui Lelepali, Renee Smith, Cynthia Hopkins, Lois Lake, John Cardenas, Kimo Lake Jr.) 2:08.170; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 2:13.940; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:16.360.
Women 65—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Peggy Cutting, Dawn Peerson, Lee Higgins, Darlene Heck, Carol Hetland, Susan Luehrs) 2:45.750; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:52.700; 3. Kai Poha 3:00.310.
Men 65—1. Olelo O Keola (Billy Rees Jr., Boy Gerona, Shaka Madali, Leonard Lepine, Michael Tice, Kamu Magno) 1:55.530; 2. Lokahi 1:58.050; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:02.690.
Women 60—1. Kaneohe (Harriette Davidson, Renee Smith, KC Kaaihue, Lyn Dubbs, Lois Lake, Annette Myers) 2:15.570; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 2:32.050; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:38.320.
Men 60—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (Bruce DeSoto Sr., Tommy Kealiinohomoku, Tim Mauchly, Eric Soo, Manny DeSoto, Andrew Gilman) 1:51.890; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 1:57.010; 3. Kaneohe 2:05.020.
Girls 12—1. Windward Kai (Naomi Silva, Cydnee Anne Ajifu, Kehaulani Ng-Kalama, Katie Vasconcellos, Kishti Vasconcellos, Morgan Hardwick) 2:30.270; 2. Kaneohe 2:33.220; 3. Ka Mamalahoe 2:46.840.
Boys 12—1. Kaneohe (Troy Anderson, Keaka Kamanu, Ekolu Hussey, Taiyo Kaaialii, Kwinn Guillermo, Jesaiah Bayone) 2:34.870; 2. I Mua 2:37.500; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:39.050.
Girls 13—1. I Mua (Carly Yamada, Jasmin Uahinui, Chloe Anzai, Arianna Radona, Bree Andrade, Karysa Inafuku) 2:17.470; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:18.250; 3. Windward Kai 2:24.140.
Boys 13—1. Kaneohe (Raven Mortensen Young, Kaiya Manatad IV, ‘Ale‘a Kekauoha, Kwinn Guillermo, Diesel Pakele, Matthew Risso) 2:07.960; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:12.840; 3. Windward Kai 2:26.120.
Girls 14—1. Hale‘iwa Outrigger (Kahanu Amantiad, Maddy Walsh, Taylor Olson, Kayla Grigsby, Raleigh Tabora, Viviana Barcina) 2:21.110; 2. Kamehameha 2:26.620; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:28.890.
Boys 14—1. Kaneohe (Akamu Campbell II, Kaiya Manatad IV, Paka Robles, Diesel Pakele, Jonathan Aranton, Matthew Risso) 2:04.920; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:05.960; 3. Ka Mamalahoe 2:08.070.
Mixed 12—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (Kauka Milikaa, Hannah Bradbury, Jream Compehos, Nainoa Iokia-Smith, Jonah Hatori-Hernandez, Sasa Judd) 2:28.360; 2. I Mua 2:38.270; 3. Ka Mamalahoe 2:38.800.
Mixed Novice B—1. Kaneohe (Traceee Rose, Andrew Risteter, Danielle Real, Carli Gardner, Shawn Murphy, Gary Real) 2:09.090; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 2:09.550; 3. ‘Alapa Hoe 2:14.900.
Women Novice B—1. Hale‘iwa Outrigger (Molly Stemmler, Nancy Felz, Sarah Kendrick, Jamie Byarlay, Erika Wood, Rebecca Ribe) 2:16.310; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 2:18.860; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 2:28.530.

1/2 MILE
Men Novice B—1. Ka Mamalahoe (Stu Ledesma, Reid Cummings, Jared Haddock, Chris White, Darryl Estrada, Jay Kitashima) 4:02.730; 2. Kaneohe 4:08.520; 3. Waikiki Beach Boys 4:09.500.
Girls 15—1. Hale‘iwa Outrigger (Taylor Olson, Maddy Walsh, Alyssa Yamada-Barretto, Kayla Grigsby, Ava Countryman, Grace Rittenhouse) 4:40.330; 2. Kamehameha 4:47.030; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 4:50.180.
Boys 15—1. Ka Mamalahoe (Makana Spencer, Romio Saena, Everett Wilmarth, Michael Caravalho, Ama Kikila-Debibar, Keola Job); 2. Kumulokahi-Elks; 3. Kaneohe.
Girls 16—1. Windward Kai (Katie Filiai, Tess Almeida, Mady Ajifu, Shailah Gauthe, Morgan Hardwick, Darian Akui) 4:54.950; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 4:56.190; 3. Kamehameha 4:57.700.
Boys 16—1. Waikiki Yacht Club (Nicholas Wong, Josh Nichols, Kadon Nakano, Tylor Mariano, Michael Liu, Ethan Jung) 4:03.970; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 4:09.980; 3. I Mua 4:17.160.
Girls 18—1. Ka Mamalahoe (Brianna Ninomoto, Hunter Tam, Caitlyn Milare, Kayli Loo, Kanoe Ellis, Kaitlyn Bonn) 4:50.830; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 4:51.250; 3. Pukana O Ke Kai 5:12.250.
Mixed 18—1. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (Kapu Raposas-Mamala, Kuhio Kaaekuahiwi, Michaela Daguro, Jeizelle Iokia-Thompson, Leigh-Ann Kapihe, John Ganer Jr.) 4:26.690; 2. ‘Alapa Hoe 4:27.180; 3. Ka Mamalahoe 4:27.720.
Women 55—1. Kaneohe (Joanie Ishiki, Harriette Davidson, KC Kaaihue, Lei Cunningham, Lyn Dubbs, Beryl Parrilla) 5:14.850; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 5:16.010; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 5:31.160.
Men 55—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Thomas Schlotman, Michael Coleman, John Hoogsteden, Derek Leeloy, Edward Kama, Sam Alama) 4:06.670; 2. Lokahi 4:23.930; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 4:24.620.
Women 50—1. Hale‘iwa Outrigger (Nancy Budd, Deidre M. Erickson, Folly Murdock, Chana L. Dimmitt, Jane Duncan, Kimberly Walsh) 4:48.770; 2. Ka Mamalahoe 4:51.970; 3. Kaneohe 4:58.800.
Mixed 55—1. Manu O Ke Kai (John Hoogsteden, Faith Craycroft, Michael Coleman, Cindy Broc, Edward Kama, Manu Anana-Okamura) 4:33.000; 2. Olelo O Keola 4:49.680; 3. Ka Mamalahoe 4:50.080.
Men 50—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Derek Leeloy, Leleo Kinimaka, Greg Pavao, DJ Oga, Thomas Schlotman, Sam Alama) 4:01.600; 2. Kaneohe 4:19.990; 3. I Mua 4:20.590.
Mixed 45—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Carmen Van Kralingen, Tanja Robinson, Greg Pavao, Leleo Kinimaka, Alberta Guzman, DJ Oga) 4:23.130; 2. Kai Poha 4:30.080; 3. Ka Mamalahoe 4:34.110.
Women Novice A—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (T. Alana, Karen Royer, Alyssa Gundersen, Rebecca Charlton, Tiffany Fox, Natalie Wallsgrove) 5:02.180; 2. Kaneohe 5:04.680; 3. Lokahi 5:07.700.
Women 40—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Anuschka Faucci, Sue Brown, Alyssa Gundersen, Karen Royer, Alexia Lopez, Simina Van Clief) 4:37.600; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 4:44.980; 3. Kaneohe 5:03.430.
Women Open Four—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Napualani Lealaimatafao, Chelsea Bizik, Maria Alexandratos, Jessica Kaawa) 5:00.190; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 5:09.190; 3. Kamaha‘o 5:21.210.
Men Open Four—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Matt Gordon, Cody Reis, Micheal Witt, Paki Lagunte) 4:17.620; 2. I Mua 4:26.900; 3. Kamehameha 4:27.380.
Mixed 40—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Doug Osborn, Makana Clarke, Tim Vierra, Gordean Kaluahine, Rick Cretsinger, Barbara Souki) 4:14.110; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 4:21.390; 3. Kaneohe 4:24.990.
Mixed—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Jen Polcer, Filippo Viola, Shaun Hennings, Eko Lapp, Shir Suez, Tyler Jaggers) 4:05.670. 2, Ka Mamalahoe 4:16.790. 3, Kamehameha 4:17.300.

1 MILE
Boys 18—1. ‘Alapa Hoe (Jared Tangonan, Luciano Caraang III, Primo Mateo, Diego Delormier-Guzman, Jeremy Berano, Ryan Sanford) 8:29.600; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 8:31.990; 3. Waikiki Yacht Club 8:51.280.
Men Novice A—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Johnny Agoo, Rick Cretsinger, Gavin Matutino, Thomas Rubel, Darryl Ah Mau, Michael Kauakahi) 8:34.040; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 8:41.030; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 8:45.430.
Women Freshman—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Amber Fischer, April Nakayama, Kelly Godwin, Lauren McDowell, Krista Galaida, Sandra Vajcs) 9:41.670; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 10:25.030; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 10:44.320.
Men Freshman—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Bob Dunn, Christian Whittaker, Scott Vierra, Tavita Maea, David Fuga, Cito Bortolai) 8:13.110; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 8:17.720; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 8:33.010.
Women Sophomore—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Carla Houser, Erin Gerwig, Valerie Wong, Lisa Kopacz, Carissa Rosenbohm, Dana Gorecki) 9:48.430; 2. Manu O Ke Kai 10:19.690; 3. Kamehameha 10:31.540.
Men Sophomore—1. Ka Mamalahoe (Eli Nakahara, TJ Harvest-Silva, Chad Butler, Loren Pabila, Justin Fujimoto, Kai Kaikaka) 8:05.700; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 8:22.410; 3. Kai Poha 9:02.060.
Men 40—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Johnny Agoo, Moku Sanborn, Tim Vierra, Darryl Ah Mau, Charley Tantog, Glenn Williams) 8:29.700; 2. Waikiki Beach Boys 8:41.040; 3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 8:43.120.

1 1/2 MILE
Women Senior—1. Waikiki Beach Boys (Alexia Lopez, Chelsea Bizik, Eko Lapp, Dana Gorecki, Jen Polcer, Jessica Kaawa) 13:50.050; 2. Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i 15:13.700; 3. Manu O Ke Kai 15:11.330.
Men Senior—1. Manu O Ke Kai (Glenn Williams, Moku Sanborn, Paki Lagunte, David Fuga, Tavita Maea, Cito Bortolai) 12:17.800; 2. I Mua 13:19.770; 3. Lokahi 13:27.870.