As Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a member clubs competed in the unpredictable waters off Kailua Beach as part of Saturday’s Windward Kai Regatta, one aspect of the competition that remained consistent was the stellar performance of Kamehameha Canoe Club’s girls 16 crew.
The young ladies completed the ½-mile race in 4 minutes and 51.9 seconds, and fended off Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i by nearly 16 seconds to win the event for the fourth consecutive week. The winning crew included Madelyn Weaver, Kailee Jackson, Angela Pacheco, Judithanne Young, Tawnie Tran and Josh Garland, who served as the open steersman in potentially rough conditions.
David Ahia, whose grandfather started the club, coaches Kamehameha’s keiki and has steadily built a competitive program, especially within the ranks of its young women. During the winter prep season, Ahia coaches Pac-Five — he helped the Wolfpack win the girls’ state championship in 2010 and 2012.
Ahia and his paddlers make it a point to focus on technique and rhythm within the canoe before adding power. This approach has allowed Kamehameha’s girls 16 squad, which only has one 16-year-old in Tran, the regular steerswoman, to succeed with younger paddlers who hail from all over the island.
“All the girls have some past experience with racing, and our coach has us practice with different combinations so we get used to paddling with different people,” said Tran, who attends and paddles for Kalani. As the captain of the canoe via the steerswoman’s role, Tran tries to “keep everyone relaxed. If we see another boat catching up, we push it, but if we’re ahead, we race against the clock.”
This season, Hui Wa‘a changed its schedule and holds races on Saturday, a departure from the traditional Sunday race schedule. Kamehameha is one of the organization’s smaller clubs and has seen a decrease in membership by at least 30 paddlers.
Ahia notes that the teenagers he works with tend to secure summer jobs, which sometimes take a higher priority than paddling, and that the move to Saturday took some getting used to initially.
“We’ve adjusted better than I thought we would. The younger girls really stepped up, and I appreciate it because it gives everyone experience,” Ahia said.
While Ahia does coach some Pac-Five paddlers who choose to compete for Kamehameha in the summer, the crews are not set up as a Wolfpack feeder program.
“I’m hoping to help paddlers, regardless of where they go to school, to stay in paddling shape throughout the summer,” the coach said. “We tend to attract girls who are new to the sport and they’re able to gain valuable time on the water.”
Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i — winners of five of the last six Hui Wa‘a championships — claimed the AAA Division (25-42 crews entered) and amassed 77 points. Manu O Ke Kai (72 points) remained within striking distance throughout the day and Kaneohe (54 points) rounded out the large division.
The Waikiki Beach Boys, the five-time defending AA Division (13-24 crews entered) champions, claimed the regatta’s medium-sized-club trophy and also tied for the overall regatta lead (77 points), while downing Ka Mamalahoe (30 points) and I Mua (29 points).
The A Division (6-12 crews entered) went to Lokahi (18 points), while Kamehameha (15 points) and Haleiwa Outrigger (10 points) kept things close in the small division.
In addition to battling for championship hardware in individual races, crews earned points that will prove vital in qualifying for slots at the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta scheduled for Aug. 6 at Keehi Lagoon. The top two crews 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 Saturday at Keehi Lagoon for its Alapa Hoe Regatta. OHCRA continues its summer racing season today with its annual Father’s Day Regatta at Nanakuli Beach Park.
