Brothers Patrick and Ryan Dolan came up short of qualifying for the rapidly approaching Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but the duo is still making waves when it comes to outrigger canoe paddling.
The Dolans had been training for and competing in the 200-meter kayaking event at the international level, but did not advance to the Pan-American Games in May. That represented the next step needed to potentially qualify for the 2016 Games.
“I always had my eyes on these (Rio) Olympics, but it will be a nice switch to canoe paddling again,” said Ryan Dolan. “Training for a run at the Olympics really teaches you about commitment and the amount of dedication you need to improve and succeed. The experience really exposes you to high-level training and a philosophy that opened my eyes.”
Both Patrick (28) and Ryan (26) returned to Hawaii, where they paddle for Team Primo in the long-distance season and helped that squad put together a successful run at the 20th Annual Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge in New York Harbor in June. Throughout the summer regatta season, the brothers also joined Outrigger Canoe Club after spending the majority of their sprint careers with Lanikai and competed together in the 73rd Annual Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta at Waikiki Beach on Monday.
For the Dolans, paddling has become a labor of love that spans three generations. The brothers’ grandfather Willis Rich retired in Hawaii after serving in the Navy and was introduced to Lanikai Canoe Club. While at the Naval Academy, Rich participated in crew rowing, so when he was presented with the option of paddling outrigger canoes, it became a natural progression. The activity “trickled down” through the Dolan family; Pat and Ryan have an older sister and brother who paddle as well, and the siblings began competing in the short sprints held throughout the summer regatta season from as early as 10 years old.
Since making the cross-island move this season, the Dolans have helped Outrigger begin the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association season with three victories and two runner-up finishes in the senior men’s race — one of the organization’s premier, events in which Hui Nalu and Lanikai are formidable contenders.
“It’s a way to compete during the regatta season and we felt that out of respect for Lanikai, which is building a great young program, that paddling for Outrigger made sense,” said Ryan Dolan. “Lanikai will always be our home, and I’m having a lot of fun competing with Outrigger.”
Ryan explained that both brothers now live in town and work together in Kaimuki, so the move also was made out of convenience. Outrigger coaches Guy Wilding and Jim Beaton have helped the club remain competitive in the tough OHCRA ranks, another attractive aspect for the paddlers.
“Everybody’s really motivated and Outrigger is on the verge of being a very good program again,” Ryan Dolan said.
In Monday’s action, Lanikai navigated the relatively calm waters efficiently and rode the occasional swells to an overall victory at the Macfarlane Regatta for the sixth time in seven years. OHCRA’s traditional Fourth of July event was held in the waters fronting the iconic Royal Hawaiian and Outrigger hotels as thousands of spectators looked on from the beach and surrounding hotel balconies.
The event serves as the longest continually run outrigger canoe paddling event in the world, having first been held in 1943. Outrigger and Lanikai have combined to win the last 23 Macfarlane Regattas, with Lanikai claiming 14 victories in that span.
“It’s always been a race that I looked forward to competing in,” said Ryan Dolan. “Now that I’m with Outrigger, the whole event surrounds our club during the day. It means a great deal for our guys.”
The perpetual Walter Macfarlane Memorial Trophy and Senior Women’s Bowl were awarded to the victorious crews in the men’s (Hui Nalu) and women’s (Outrigger) senior races. The winning crews were presented with the trophies in a post-race ceremony fronting Duke’s, which now stands in the area formerly occupied by the Outrigger Canoe Club’s original headquarters. Following tradition, the winning crew members took sips of champagne from the cups topping both trophies.
Lanikai claimed the AAA Division (27-39 crews entered) via 192 points and fended off host Outrigger (186 points), while three-time defending OHCRA champion Hui Nalu (159 points) and Kailua (128 points) rounded out the large division.
Healani (64 points) held off Keahiakahoe (55 points) to claim the AA Division (14-26 crews entered), while Leeward Kai took the A Division (1-13 crews entered) with 36 points.
OHCRA clubs return to action July 17 at Keehi Lagoon for the annual John D. Kaupiko Regatta. The Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a organization will hold its Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i Regatta on Saturday at Maili Beach.
PADDLING RESULTS
WALTER J. MACFARLANE REGATTA
At Waikiki
Monday
Team standings
AAA—1. Lanikai, 192; 2. Outrigger, 186; 3. Hui Nalu, 159; 4. Kailua, 128.
AA—1. Healani, 64; 2. Keahiakahoe, 55; 3. Hui Lanakila, 52.
A—1. Leeward Kai 36; 2. Waikiki Surf Club, 26; 3. New Hope, 21; 4. Waimanalo, 14; 5. Anuenue, 12; t6. Keola O Ke Kai, 5; t6. Koa Kai, 5; t8. Kai Oni2, ; t8. Ewa Pu’uloa Outrigger, 2; 10. Honolulu Pearl, 0.
Special Military Event—1. US Pacific Command, 1:32:72; 2. US Coast Guard, 1:33:27; 3. US Army, 1:45:68.
Girls 12—1. Outrigger (Ava Kilpatrick, Kawai Hedges, Taihere Thompson, Eleanor Orr, Ariana Hunt, Karel Tresnak), 1:52.94; 2. Lanikai, 1:53.53; 3. Hui Nalu, 1:56.24.
Boys 12—1. Waikiki Surf Club (Chevas Kam, Keaupono McGee-Lee, Elijah-Noah Rodriguez, Kaikane Thatcher-West, Kalei’opua DeFries, Hanalei Fujimoto), 1:47.72; 2. Lanikai, 1:49.22; 3. Hui Lanakila, 1:49.76.
Mixed Boys and Girls 12—1. Hui Nalu (Curran Hirata, Brianna Pak, Hunter Brown, Mia Kessler, Maia Nicomedes, Jimmy Austin), 1:30.04; 2. Leeward Kai, 1:41.39; 3. Lanikai, 1:42.03.
Girls 13—1. Lanikai (Helani Aspelund, Teiana Gonsalves, Peyton Ku, Kamalani Freitas, Asia Silva, Scott Freitas), 1:46.39; 2. Kailua, 1:47.96; 3. Outrigger, 1:49.61.
Boys 13—1. Kailua (David Torres, Caleb Martin, Izaiah Abordo, Owen Wexler, Griffin Cloney, Brad Wong), 1:47.10; 2. Hui Nalu, 1:52.05; 3. Waimanalo, 1:54.36.
Girls 14—1. Lanikai (Skye Heckman, Maisie Klem, Emma Kikuchi, Shannon Kim, Piper Crabtree, John Foti), 1:44.15; 2. Leeward Kai, 1:45.80; 3. Outrigger, 1:55.61.
Boys 14—1. Lanikai (Kai Binney, Cole Drake, Nalu Blair, Liam Nichols-Shipley, Padgett Carpenter, Jim Foti), 1:42.24; 2. Leeward Kai, 1:43.09; 3. Keahiakahoe, 1:44.43.
Open Keiki —1. Honolulu Pearl (Carmen Segura, Ocean Asato, Carson Hatton, Brad Souza, Jace Brostrom, Peter Ahleong), 1:45.04; 2. Leeward Kai, 1:45.93; 3. Keola O Ke Kai, 1:45.99.
Girls 15—1. Lanikai (Olivia Klem, Lea Seguirant, Natalie Leitner, Jacquie Stark, Kylie Rdechor, Scott Freitas), 4:18.23; 2. Hui Lanakila, 4:33.21; 3. Hui Nalu, 4:34.01.
Boys 15—1. Lanikai (Saunders Taka, Joshua Gonzalez, Colin Perry, Kai Johnson, Ben Charles, Jim Foti), 3:56.58; 2. Kailua, 4:08.59; 3. Healani, 4:11.16.
Girls 16—1. Outrigger (Kiana Sandvold, Kealoha Scullion, Nicole Yarbrough, CC Konikson, Maile Heyer, Karel Tresnak), 3:42.70; 2. Kailua, 3:56.46; 3. Lanikai, 3:56.91.
Boys 16—1. Outrigger (Avi Laird, Colt Correa, Kamuela-Spencer Wallace, Wyatt Yee, Zoran Cullinan, Billy Balding), 3:47.97; 2. Kailua, 3:54.47; 3. Keahiakahoe, 3:57.68.
Girls 18—1. Outrigger (Isabella Yerton, Lauren Bloom, Yael Van Delden, Kaya Lee, Kailee Graf, Heinere Itchner), 4:04.09; 2. Keahiakahoe, 4:20.49; 3. Kailua, 4:20.99.
Boys 18—1. Hui Nalu (Liam Namba, Francesco Forti, Kala Diaz, Nathaniel Yee, Hunter Pflueger, Ethan Siegfried), 8:15.80; 2. Kailua, 8:17.18; 3. Lanikai, 8:25.08.
Mixed 18—1. Lanikai (Alia Wallenstrom, Jeremy Markowski, Shianne Pezel, Bobby Phelps, Izzy Wexler, Cheyne Mench), 3:46.96; 2. Kailua, 4:01.16; 3. Hui Nalu, 4:01.71.
Women Novice A—1. Lanikai (Meg Murphy, Cheryl Harden, Chris Tomlinson, Ariana Sikorski, Lisa Cowan, Gavin Hanoa), 4:07.22; 2. Outrigger, 4:09.50; 3. Kailua, 4:21.88.
Men Novice A—1. Outrigger (Taelson Larrow, Michael Fine, Jonathan Everest, Tanner Paultz, Wilson Lau, Simeon Ke-Paloma), 7:51.44; 2. Healani, 7:54.42; 3. Lanikai, 7:54.63.
Women Novice B—1. Lanikai (Zulis Hunt, Tiffany Moore, Laura Simmons, Katrina Molenda, Stephanie Solari, Gavin Hanoa), 1:42.24; 2. Hui Nalu, 1:51.48; 3. Waimanalo, 1:51.90.
Mixed Novice B—1. Kailua (Kimberly Castle, Justin Marasco, Melissa Hamacon, Josh White, Leisl White, Michael Willett), 1:45.39; 2. Outrigger, 1:45.66; 3. Waikiki Surf Club, 1:48.91.
Men Novice B—1. Hui Nalu (Josh Lorge, Chad Godfrey, Paul Lum, Andrew Moats, Monty Panui, Kekoa Kahookele-Santos), 3:45.50; 2. Lanikai, 3:52.19; 3. Hui Lanakila, 3:55.92.
Women Freshmen—1. Lanikai (Brittney Keith, Tracy Kane, Michelle Campillo-Peters, Ingrid Seiple, Donna Bareng, Alakai Freitas), 8:29.64; 2. Healani, 8:34.06; 3. Hui Nalu, 8:34.77.
Men Freshmen—1. Lanikai (Makena Fernandez, Keanu Kuna, Keone Joao, Nick Foti, Tapa Worthington, Gavin Hanoa), 7:37.75; 2. Hui Nalu, 7:38.33; 3. Healani, 7:42.31.
Sophomore Women—1. Outrigger (Amy Lawson, Mary Smolenski, Traci Phillips, Karin Del Rey, Angie Dolan Giancaterino, Marc Haine), 7:58.85; 2. Hui Lanakila, 8:13.68; 3. Lanikai, 8:26.79.
Sophomore Men—1. Healani (Landon Opunui, Brandon Winslow, Lance Broussard, Vincent Rapoza, Noel Tadeo, Antoni Valenti), 7:16.04; 2. Lanikai, 7:16.61; 3. Outrigger, 7:17.30.
Women Junior—1. Lanikai (Tori Martin, Sarah Sonognini, Jiny Kim, Charissa Ono, Nicole Bareng, Cheyne Mench), 8:24.46; 2. Kailua, 8:36.63; 3. Healani, 8:37.16.
Men Junior—1. Outrigger (Max Solmssen, Ryan Woodward, Indar Lange, Ikaika Harbottle, Neal Hafner, Heinere Itchner), 7:33.60; 2. Hui Nalu, 7:36.02; 3. Leeward Kai, 7:51.04.
Women Senior—1. Outrigger (Amy Lawson, Traci Phillips, Angie Dolan Giancaterino, Jennifer Fratzke, Mary Smolenski, Marc Haine), 12:17.45; 2. Healani, 12:49.92; 3. Lanikai, 12:50.17.
Men Senior—1. Hui Nalu (Brandon Woods, Travis Grant, Kekai Kamakawiwo’ole, Mario Mausio, Hayden Ramler, Jimmy Austin), 10:41.24; 2. Outrigger, 10:46.29; 3. Lanikai, 11:23.91.
Women Masters 40—1. Hui Nalu (Corlyn Orr, Gwenn Daley, Mikala Bradley, Tiffany Arapari, Karen Droscoski, Jimmy Austin), 8:00.53; 2. Healani, 8:39.02; 3. Hui Lanakila, 8:51.67.
Men Masters 40—1. Leeward Kai (Tako Lono-Soares Jr., Jason Bellefeuille, Darius Antonio, Norm Bradley, Derek Ahrens, Alfred Van Gieson), 6:59.60; 2. Outrigger, 7:31.82; 3. Hui Nalu, 7:37.39.
Mixed Masters 40—1. Lanikai (Jennifer Bager, Joey Sonognini, Janice Smith, Bruce Stewart, Joey Foti, Jim Foti), 3:59.89; 2. Hui Lanakila, 4:00.12; 3. Waikiki Surf Club, 4:10.47.
Senior Women Masters 50—1. New Hope (Jade Lee, Bernie Moniz, Lisa Onaga, Timi Leopoldo, Karen Cheatham, Ray Koki Jr.), 4:13.11; 2. Lanikai, 4:13.44; 3. Hui Nalu, 4:13.69.
Senior Men Masters 50—1 Outrigger (Ruben Cabaniero, Marcel bekers, Al Darling, Kalei Miyachi, Gunner Schull, Billy Balding), 3:31.20; 2. Lanikai, 3:44.44; 3. Hui Lanakila, 3:45.15.
Women Golden Masters 55—1. Hui Nalu (Terry Malterre, Celeste Aoyama, Pono Tuinei, Erin Williams, Shelley Fey, Travis Grant), 4:03.84; 2. Lanikai, 4:15.16; 3. Outrigger, 4:17.03.
Men Golden Masters 55—1. Outrigger (Karl Heyer, Chris Kincaid, Matthew Esecson, Vik Watumull, Robert Linn, Heinere Itchner), 3:50.50; 2. Lanikai, 3:56.71; 3. Hui Nalu, 3:58.08.
Mixed Masters 55—1. Lanikai (Kathy Mcgovern-Hopkins, Carl Evensen, Ann Dewey, Gordon Nakachi, Cindi Chess, Adam Treinen-Aea), 4:06.22; 2. Hui Nalu, 4:07.71; 3. Outrigger, 4:10.71.
Woman Masters 60—1. Outrigger (Paula Crabb, Kaiulu Downing, Laurie Lawson, Wendy Wichman, Alice Lunt, William Philpotts), 4:10.65; 2. Keahiakahoe, 4:20.82; 3. Kailua, 4:33.28.
Men Masters 60—1. Outrigger (Murray Hixson, Thomas Mc Tigue, Michael Tosaki, William Meheula, Barney Robinson, Simeon Ke-Paloma), 3:50.25; 2. Kailua, 3:50.81; 3. Keahiakahoe, 3:52.15.
Women Masters 65—1. Outrigger (Marilyn Kiner, Tiare Richert-Finney, Susan Heitzman, Ann Buck, Stephanie Reynolds, Heinere Itchner), 4:30.37; 2. Hui Nalu, 4:40.15; 3. Kailua, 4:51.37.
Men Masters 65—1. Outrigger (William Mowat, Derrick Wong, Willilam Johnson, Chris Crabb, Darryl Wong, Karel Tresnak), 4:00.67; 2. Keahiakahoe, 4:08.07; 3. Hui Nalu, 4:08.59.
Women Master 70—1. Keahiakahoe (Sarah Jane Watson, Margee Ralston, Paddy Dunn, Joy Schoenecker, Thelma Madali, Kamu Lau), 4:31.02; 2. Hui Nalu, 4:32.25; 3. Anuenue, 4:32.62.
Men Master 70—1. Outrigger (Michael Clifford, Allan Maddalena, Ronald Hochuli, John Finney, Uli Klinke, Simeon Ke-Paloma), 4:17.31; 2. Lanikai, 4:25.38; 3. Anuenue, 4:25.65.
Women Open Four—1. Outrigger (Rachel Kincaid, Kahala Schneider, Leigh Cullinan, Heinere Itchner), 4:20.50; 2. Hui Nalu, 4:29.20; 3. Lanikai, 4:29.48.
Men Open Four—1. Hui Nalu (Bobby Cuadra, Jared Washkowitz, Dominic Rattley, Jimmy Austin), 3:45.50; 2. Outrigger, 3:45.78; 3. Lanikai, 3:46.58.
Mixed Men and Women—1. Outrigger (James Donovan III, Colleen Hall, Karel Tresnak, Bonnie Brayton, Tucker Siegfried, Amy Lawson), 3:42.37; 2. Lanikai, 3:42.61; 3. Waimanalo, 3:55.39.