Its name means “the life and strength of the sea,” and Keola O Ke Kai Canoe Club’s members and coaches have made it a point to bolster the organization by traveling to some of the world’s paddling hotbeds with the goal of experiencing the state sport at a global level.

Keola O Ke Kai was launched in 2001 by husband-and-wife team of Gino Dayton, the club’s head coach, and Jennifer Romano, who assists with the club’s operations while also serving as the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association’s race secretary. The club’s goal remains to grow via its youth program, and in the nearly two decades, a generation of keiki has moved from the novice ranks to the high school level, and some on to college, while continuing to paddle.

A recent trip to Tahiti for seven of Keola O Ke Kai’s paddlers who participated in Sunday’s OHCRA Waimanalo Regatta at Waimanalo Beach offered a unique perspective for the athletes.

Keola O Ke Kai took a cohort of 16 youngsters (two crews of six and two alternates) to Tahiti to compete in the talent-laden Eimeo Race, a 38-mile competition spread out over nine legs around Moorea Island. The competition took place in mid-March and the club fielded two six-person mixed crews that participated in the Taurea Division, which features paddlers ages 17-19 and is regarded as the most difficult division as the Tahitians usually dominate the proceedings.

“This particular trip was very valuable for our club and it raised the bar big time,” said Dayton, who also coaches the Radford High School program during the school year. “It presented the kids with a new way of thinking. The Tahitians paddle with lighter ‘unlimited’ canoes so we really needed to adjust, but we surprised a lot of people.”

Keola O Ke Kai notched a fifth-place finish and earned the distinction of the top team from Hawaii within the Taurea Division. The club’s two crews alternated at the completion of each leg and the first team included Chevy Villanueva, Brian Acasio, Love Ortiz, Kyle Arakaki, Alanis Pe Benito and Koa Tudela. The second squad was composed of Andrew Fiala, Shayla Kumata, Al Giro Rosario, Jordan Cabigon, Ransom Kauwe and Mele Cabato.

“It gave us a new perspective and it was really important to see how the Tahitians compete at that elite level,” said Fiala, a senior at Radford. “(The Tahitians) blew us out of the water, but it gave me an added edge when I paddle now.”

The club has also remained proactive when it comes to competing locally within both the sprint and long-distance seasons. Keola O Ke Kai helped make history in 2013 by entering one of three crews in the first-ever Molokai Hoe junior division. The paddlers completed the 41-mile trek from Molokai to Oahu with competitors under the age of 18, which had previously stood as the minimum age for the race.

This year, the club is expected to field its fourth junior crew in the Molokai race, while also attempting to be part of history again by entering a women’s junior crew in Na Wahine O Ke Kai, the women’s edition of the Molokai-to-Oahu competition.

Keola O Ke Kai has also allowed younger children an opportunity to race at the OHCRA level, something that can prove more difficult at larger clubs where spots in the six-person canoes are limited. During the Kamehameha Regatta on June 12, Kekai Dayton – Gino and Jennifer’s son – became the youngest paddler this season to race in OHCRA action and competed in the boys 13 event at just 6 years of age.

In Sunday’s action in Waimanalo, Lanikai (193 points) held off three-time defending OHCRA champion Hui Nalu (173 points) to claim the AAA division (27-42 crews entered) and overall regatta title. Kailua (155 points) and Outrigger (126 points) rounded out the large division.

Keahiakahoe (80 points) built a comfortable margin and finished ahead of runner-up Hui Lanakila (49 points) to claim the AA division (14-26 crews entered), while host Waimanalo (30 points) bested Keola O Ke Kai (20 points), Waikiki Surf Club (19 points) and six more clubs to earn the A division (1-13 crews entered) trophy.

RESULTS

OHCRA-WAIMANALO REGATTA

At Waimanalo Beach

Team

AAA—1. Lanikai 193 points; 2. Hui Nalu 173; 3. Kailua 155; 4. Outrigger 126.

AA—1. Keahiakahoe 80 points; 2. Hui Lanakila 49; 3. Healani 47; 4. Leeward Kai 22.

A—1. Waimanalo 30 points; 2. Keola O Ke Kai 20; 3. Waikiki Surf Club 19; 4. New Hope 13; .5 Anuenue 9; 6. Koa Kai 7; 7. Kai Oni 5; 8. Ewa Pu‘uloa Outrigger 3; 9. Honolulu Pearl 0.

Girls 12—1. Lanikai (Mehanaokala Leafchild, Siena Spagnoli, Halia Bruhn, Charlotte Schrader, Keaweakuikekaai Aspelund, Kate Charles) 2:17.63; 2. Outrigger 2:20.26; 3. Healani 2:24.24; 4. Hui Nalu 2:24.88.

Boys 12—1. Lanikai (Stryder Garrett, Stryker Scales, Tyler Norr, Sam Pardini, Tristan Rizzo-Murphy, Ka‘eo Isayama) 2:11.14; .2 Outrigger 2:24.41; 3. Waikiki Surf Club 2:43.48; 4. Keola O Ke Kai 3:06.76.

Mixed 12—1. Leeward Kai (Cherish Tabag, Makoa Kekaula-Van Gieson, Micah Kaaihue, Lexsus Kotrys, Grace Olivera, Chedean Kaaialii) 2:28.88; 2. Waimanalo 2:31.68; 3. Kailua 2:33.53; 4. Lanikai 2:37.85.

Girls 13—1. Outrigger (Christina HIcks, Nanea Philpotts, Marianna Fong, Hannah Humphreys, Eliza Lewis, Mahina Akaka) 2:13.38; .2 Lanikai 2:16.73; 3. Kailua 2:19.25; 4. Hui Nalu 2:25.78.

Boys 13—1. Lanikai (Kaden Sonognini, Andre Delay, Ian Roney, Jeremy Mansell, Joseph Correa, Tony Levora) 1:59.74; 2. Hui Nalu 2:01.85; 3. Waimanalo 2:05.30; 4. Kailua 2:13.28.

Girls 14—1. Outrigger (Mimi Moody, Leana Dickhens, Kiana Yost, GG Thomas, Dillyn Lietzke, Tasia Gentry-Balding) 2:07.58; 2. Hui Nalu 2:07.77; 3. Waikiki Surf Club 2:11.25; 4. Kailua 2:13.57.

Boys 14—1. Lanikai (Kai Binney, Liam Nichols-Shipley, Cole Drake, Nalu Blair, Padgett Carpenter, Justin Myhre) 1:59.44; 2. Kailua 2:00.27; 3. Hui Nalu 2:00.36; 4. Hui Lanakila 2:02.53.

Girls 15—1. Lanikai (Shianne Pezel, Kylie Rdechor, Holland Hildebrant, Lea Seguirant, Kiani Dwight, Natalie Leitner) 4:53.41; 2. Kailua 5:07.75; 3. Hui Nalu 5:09.23; 4. Outrigger 5:14.10.

Boys 15—1. Kailua (Jeremiah Creighton, Kala‘i Sim, Campbell Duncan, Benjamin Weiss, Kava Fine, Ty Williams) 4:31.71; 2. Lanikai 4:36.18; 3. Keola O Ke Kai 4:45.28; 4. Waimanalo 4:45.72.

Girls 16—1. Waikiki Surf Club (Ka‘iulani Kamalu, Tate-Marie Shishido, Lynn Kusaka, Kamalei Marrotte, Kilinoe Kimura, Maddison Harflinger) 5:05.36; 2. Outrigger 5:06.62; 3. Hui Nalu 5:14.20; 4. Lanikai 5:32.74.

Boys 16—1. Keahiakahoe (Ethan Ho, Nick Dworshak, Iokepa Seward, Riley Lathrop, Matthew Lipscomb, Jaimin Keliihoomalu) 4:10.58; 2. Hui Nalu 4:13.67; 3. Outrigger 4:15.36; 4. Kailua 4:25.02.

Girls 18—1. Hui Nalu (Kia Hasegawa, Ohi Lapilio, Paloma Higashi, Cailey Filipo, Sierra Keolanui, Malia Mizuno) 4:59.67; 2. Lanikai 5:00.05; 3. Kailua 5:04.13; 4. Keahiakahoe 5:14.64.

Boys 18—1. Hui Nalu (Trevor Blake, Liam Namba, Nathaniel Yee, Peter Cross Jr., Ethan Siegfried, Maverick Aipa) 3:59.57; 2. Lanikai 4:02.86; 3. Keahiakahoe 4:26.67; 4. Keola O Ke Kai 4:30.38.

Mixed 18—1. Outrigger (Kai Wilding, Amber Chong, Henry Mesker, Sophia Krivatsy, Ethan Lewis, Lexi Meichtry) 4:14.45; 2. Hui Nalu 4:27.26; 3. Lanikai 4:44.74; 4. Healani 4:45.12.

Open Keiki—1. Honolulu Pearl (Carmen Segura, Raelina Werner, Carson Hatton, Brad Souza, Jace Brostrom, Ocean Asato) 2:16.25; 2. Hui Lanakila 2:20.59; 3. Keola O Ke Kai 2:24.19; 4. Outrigger 2:24.69.

Women Novice A—1. Hui Nalu 4:48.33

(Cynthia Obayashi, Karen Bond, Diana Kim, Amanda Robles, Alena Yocum, Anina Quaranto); 2. Lanikai 4:51.61; 3. Kailua 4:52.71; 4. Healani 4:56.34.

Men Novice A—1. Lanikai (Des Aki, Kenny Esquivel, Alexsandro Arasawa, TJ Barrett, Eric Olson, Keoni Kilbey III) 3:58.67; 2. Kailua 4:02.05; 3. Hui Lanakila 4:02.89; 4. Hui Nalu 4:03.98.

Women Novice B—1. Lanikai (Zulis Hunt, Stephanie Solari, Laura Simmons, Katrina Molenda, Tina Burgos, Tiffany Moore) 2:06.49; 2. Hui Lanakila 2:09.43; 3. Waimanalo 2:12.53; 4. Kailua 2:13.45.

Men Novice B—1. Kailua (Alexander Fedorovich, Erik Quinones, Pat Longley, Caesar Ruiz, Justin Marasco, Greg Wong) 4:08.97; 2. Hui Nalu 4:13.36; 3. Lanikai 4:41.94; 4. Outrigger 4:57.77.

Mixed Novice B—1. Lanikai (PJ Foehr, Liz Bills, Ohu McCabe, Victoria Grant, Jordan Gomes, Charlotte Farmer) 1:57.89; 2. Koa Kai 1:59.02; 3. Keola O Ke Kai 2:02.65; 4. Kailua 2:05.50.

Women Freshmen 1. Lanikai (Kealohi Aweau, Monica Esquivel, Vai Sunaoka, Donna Bareng, Jami Strapple Jingao, Laura Ediger) 4:30.98; 2. Kailua 4:42.26; 3. Hui Nalu 4:46.00; 4. Hui Lanakila 4:53.27.

Men Freshmen—1. Outrigger (Ryan Dolan, Patrick Dolan, Victor Bovino-Agostini, Heinere Itchner, Simeon Ke-Paloma, Andrew Glatzel) 3:34.85; 2. Hui Nalu 3:36.19; 3. Lanikai 3:49.61; 4. Healani 3:51.76.

Women Sophomore—1. Hui Lanakila (Allison Sokei, Arlene Holzman, Whitney Peapealalo, Awa Koanui-Kong, Kim Mydock, Lori Nakamura) 4:29.02; 2. Lanikai 4:35.16; 3. Healani 4:35.62; 4. Kailua 4:44.11.

Men Sophomore—1. Lanikai (Keone Joao, Kekoa Bruhn, Andreas Gaeta, Chauncey Cody, Gavin Hanoa, Matt Crowley) 3:48.81; 2. Hui Nalu 3:53.82; 3. Outrigger 3:55.84; 4. Hui Lanakila 4:11.09.

Women Junior—1. Kailua (Jessica Deery, Sarah Sur, Carolyn Fisher, Susan Maher, Leilani Loredo, Brenen Guyol) 4:41.95; 2. Lanikai 4:50.12; 3. Outrigger 4:51.62; 4. Hui Nalu 4:52.42.

Men Junior—1. Lanikai (Noah Foti, Bobby Pratt, Jesse Hampton, Alakai Freitas, Raven Pokini, Aaron Norris) 3:49.03; 2. Healani 4:04.99; 3. Hui Lanakila 4:05.59; 4. Leeward Kai 4:08.44.

Women Senior—1. Lanikai (Joey Foti, Kealohi Aweau, Vai Sunaoka, Jami Strapple Jingao, Laura Ediger, Monica Esquivel) 9:34.26; 2. Outrigger 9:35.72; 3. Hui Lanakila 9:54.01; 4. Kailua 10:12.67.

Men Senior—1. Outrigger (Simeon Ke-Paloma, Ryan Dolan, Victor Bovino-Agostini, Heinere Itchner, Patrick Dolan, Andrew Glatzel) 7:44.93; 2. Hui Nalu 7:49.82; 3. Lanikai 8:03.18; 4. Healani 8:26.56.

Women Masters 40—1. Hui Nalu (Corlyn Orr, Gwenn Daley, Rome Stein, Tiffany Arapari, Karen Droscoski, Cherene Ching) 4:52.16; 2. Hui Lanakila 4:54.95; 3. Lanikai 4:57.49; 4. Kailua 4:58.83.

Men Masters 40—1. Hui Nalu (Mike Hangai, John Wacker, Danny Loui, Yohannes Negga, Chris Ball, Nalu Kukea) 4:00.73; 2. Lanikai 4:02.84; 3. Kailua 4:04.72; 4. Outrigger 4:09.90.

Mixed Masters 40—1. Kailua (Chris Forster, Ken McGuire, Debbie Solis, Rob McOwen, Lida Morgado, Eric Lentz) 4:41.84; 2. Keahiakahoe 4:42.10; 3. Hui Nalu 4:46.47; 4. Lanikai 4:50.94.

Women Senior Masters 50—1. Hui Nalu (Heather Cottrell, ML Reilly, Bozo Vierra, Norma Santiago, Lisa Ah Sing, Katie Stephens) 4:56.03; 2. Kailua 4:56.42; 3. Lanikai 5:13.52; 4. Outrigger 5:13.80.

Men Senior Masters 50—1. Lanikai (Philip Binney, Kanai Kauhane, Eric Levora, Chauncey Wallwork, Michael Hall, John Foti) 3:57.27; 2. Keahiakahoe 4:00.21; 3. Hui Lanakila 4:02.38; 4. Kailua 4:11.35.

Women Golden Masters 55—1. Kailua (Cindy Cobb-Adams, Jane Mckee, Torrey Goodman, Carleen Ornellas, Lois Hewlett, Catherine Bender) 4:48.55; 2. Hui Nalu 4:49.06; 3. Lanikai 5:01.30; 4. Outrigger 5:19.25.

Men Golden Masters 55—1. Lanikai (Richard Ulmer, Gordon Nakachi, Bill Oliver, Scott Freitas, Carl Evensen, David Smith) 4:02.29; 2. Keahiakahoe 4:06.20; 3. Kailua 4:12.81; 4. Hui Nalu 4:25.31.

Mixed Masters 55—1. Hui Nalu (Patsy Vasquez, Greg Poole, Brigitta Osterholt, Jeff Cummings, Melinda Clark, Smitty Smith) 4:37.92; 2. Keahiakahoe 4:45.56; 3. Kailua 4:48.80; 4. Lanikai 4:51.64.

Woman Masters 60—1. Keahiakahoe (Gayenell Kalama, Lee Miller-Kalama, Nani Ornellas, Audrey Lee, I`olani Kassebeer, Cookie Baudrau) 5:40.42; 2. Outrigger 5:43.98; 3. Hui Nalu 5:44.78; 4. Kailua 5:46.62.

Men Masters 60—1. Kailua (Pat Erwin, Mike McCue, Walter Hamasaki, Benny Quitevis, Kamoa Kalama, Nyle Warinner) 4:24.43; 2. Keahiakahoe 4:25.87; 3. Outrigger 4:45.37; 4. Hui Nalu 5:07.94.

Women Masters 65—1. Hui Nalu (Lita Blankenfeld, Katie Scott, Mary Fern, Cynthia Sharp, Elizabeth Sutter, Diane Warncke) 5:57.52; 2. Keahiakahoe 5:58.56; 3. Kailua 6:03.31; 4. Waimanalo 6:58.07.

Men Masters 65—1. Hui Nalu (Kenny Bailey, Bernie Paloma, Robert Rocheleau, Glen Fujihara, Jerry Yoshida, Dennis Fern) 4:45.05; 2. Keahiakahoe 4:47.08; 3. Lanikai 4:58.89; 4. Waimanalo 4:59.67.

Women Master 70—1. Keahiakahoe (Yvonne Keahi, Joy Schoenecker, Thelma Madali, Sarah Jane Watson, Paddy Dunn, Margee Ralston) 5:48.72; 2. Hui Nalu 6:32.38; 3. Kailua 6:34.56.

Men Master 70—1. Keahiakahoe (Mike Watson, Clayton Kaichi, Shaka Madali, Edward Mckeon, Glenn Perry, Tay Perry) 4:58.50; 2. Anuenue 5:16.92; 3. Outrigger 5:17.59; 4. Lanikai 5:33.16.

Women Open Four—1. Hui Nalu 5:46.41

(Tatum Shimabukuro, Lorey Bode, Mahina Kamakawiwo‘ole, Maggie Twigg-Smith); 2. Kailua 5:58.84; 3. Kai Oni 6:21.95; 4. Outrigger 6:31.88.

Men Open Four—1. Keahiakahoe (Kamu Lau, Ty Fu, Jace Faufata, Nathan Loyola) 4:12.60; 2. Outrigger 4:14.12; 3. Leeward Kai 4:18.24; 4. Kailua 4:39.49.

Mixed Men and Women—1. Outrigger (Michael Beyer, Katy Bourne, Neal Hafner, Karin Del Rey, Karel Tresnak, Angie Dolan Giancaterino) 4:16.88; 2. Waimanalo 4:34.30; 3. Kailua 4:36.32; 4. Healani 4:41.64.