Crew travels to Tahiti to re-establish pride in paddling

What is legacy?

Is it a promise to perpetuate the past?

A promise to the future, mostly unknown?

A hope from the present that will be the present, the gift, to those who came before and those who come after?

For the Hui Nalu boys crew that is competing in this week’s inaugural IVF Va’a World Distance Championships it is all of the above, as well as an homage to the tradition established 65 years ago with the first Molokai Hoe race from Molokai to Oahu.

It’s not so much for the 18-and-under juniors to reclaim the success that once belonged to Hawaii canoe clubs, although it is irritating to many that Tahitian crews have won the past 11 men’s races. The goal is more to re-establish the pride in the state sport of Hawaii … and done with ha’aha’a, a humility, as the paddlers travel to Tahiti, where canoe racing is the national passion.

“We want that Hawaiian pride back in the paddling world,” Noa Kerner said. “I wouldn’t call us the future of paddling here but that we’re the hope of paddling. We are going to go and do the best that we can and be competitive.

“We’re very grateful for the opportunity and hope to make Hawaii proud.”

Competition in 16 outrigger events began Tuesday on Taaone Bay with the master women’s 16.8-mile V6 race. (Results were unavailable). There are 33 countries and five continents represented among the 181 entries, with Hawaii and California the lone U.S. states in the mix.

The official entry had Australia with the most entries (16), followed by host Tahiti (15) and California (13). Hawaii had seven entries, including V1 solo paddlers Riley Kawananakoa and Kai Bartlett.

The Hui Nalu boys crew is one of five selected through the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association’s criteria, the qualification being finishing as the top Hawaii crew in the men’s Molokai Hoe or the women’s Na Wahine O Ke Kai Molokai Channel races. The others are Lanikai (junior girls), Team Primo (open men), Team Bradley (open women) and Team Revolusun (masters women).

The Hawaii crews have been practicing for some nine months. The regimen for Hui Nalu has included being trained by some of Hawaii’s top senior male paddlers, trips to the Big Island to train with Red Bull Va’a as well as being coached by Cowan Tuarongo, whose deep family legacy with Shell Va’a includes 10 of the past 11 Molokai Hoe titles.

“It’s like having Elvis in Hawaii, having Tuarongo here,” Hui Nalu coach Alan Pflueger said. “To have him paddling with them is amazing. He made the commitment and it’s exciting.

“I was a part of Outrigger’s boys that were undefeated in the 16s and 18s back in the day. These guys are way better than we were.”

“But if people know anything about our program, it’s that we’re not just being given things,” Pflueger’s son, Hunter, said. “We are working hard for it.

“Everyone has the same goal and they are willing to put in the work. Everyone wants to improve themselves as paddlers.”

It’s the same focus for Lanikai, a core group that has been together since age 10 and coached by Dana Miller.

“The girls have been training with our open women since their (high school) season ended in February,” Miller said. “We’re expecting them to do well, and they’re expecting to do well. We want to win it.

“In a way, these juniors are the pioneers. It wasn’t until last year that there was a junior division for the (Na Wahine O Ke Kai). Most of the crew is headed to college this fall. What we want is for them to come back and be the next generation. They are the future.”

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HAWAII CREWS

V6

Junior men — Hui Nalu: Maverick Aipa, Pono Auld, Harrison Deisroth, Kala Diaz, Nacho Forti, Riley Kawananakoa, Noa Kerner, James Morris, Hobey Moss, Hunter Pflueger, Ethan Siegfried

Junior women – Lanikai: Emily Ahlgren, Emmy Amelia, Ophelia Brouard, Mikaela Foehr, Morgan Louis-Soares, Caroline Romo, Elizabeth Rooks, Alia Wallenstrom

Open men — Team Primo: Mael Carey, Patrick Dolan, Kekoa Cramer, Ryan Dolan, Kai Bartlett, Travis Grant

Open women — Team Bradley: Cherisse Agorastos, Noelani Auger, Lori Nakamura, Andrea Moller-Bouwens, Nicole Pedersen, Lauren Spalding

Masters women — Team Revolusun: Michelle Bradley, Denise Darval-Chang, Theresa Felgate, Marjorie Kawaiaea, Pauahi Ioane, Katie Stephens

V1

Junior men: Riley Kawananakoa. Open men: Kai Bartlett