The competition on the water was nearly as scalding as the heated westside sand as Manu O Ke Kai beat the heat to maintain its undefeated season at Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a’s Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i Regatta at Ma‘ili Beach on Saturday.

Paddlers, spectators, bodyboarders and barbecue aficionados alike sought out shade, and ditching one’s slippers was not an option – the piping hot sand sent those trying to traverse it scrambling for relief.

Manu O Ke Kai, the club from Haleiwa, remained red hot, as the two-time defending Hui Wa‘a AAA Division (25-plus events) champion held on to the large division trophy with 97 points, and outdueled host Na Keiki O Ka Mo‘i (67 points) – winners of six of the past nine Hui Wa‘a championships – and ‘Alapa Hoe (57 points).

Manu O Ke Kai built a slim 49-48 advantage over an energized Ka Mo‘i squad through 28 races stemming from four victories during that stretch, and widened the lead as the regatta progressed with a total of 12 race wins. Manu has won all six Hui Wa‘a regattas throughout the summer season, and extended the club’s undefeated run to 20 consecutive regatta victories dating back to 2017.

“This was big as we continue to help our club and build the lead,” said Manu O Ke Kai steersman Tavita Maea, who guided the club’s men’s open 4 crew to a dominant victory. His crewmates Mo DeFreitas, Thomas Pule and David Fuga completed the ½-mile course in 3 minutes, 59.69 seconds, and claimed the win over Kaneohe (4:08.50).

“As far as our crew goes, we’re still trying to finalize the group that we will take to states,” said Maea. “We’ll continue to train, do what we need to do in the water and make sure everyone keeps coming to practice. Our club has come a long way to be where we’re at today, and our kids and women’s paddlers have really stepped up to help us continue this run we’re on.”

Kaneohe dominated the AA Division (13-24 events) with 51 points and held off Ka Mamalahoe (28 points), Haleiwa Outrigger (17 points), I Mua and Lokahi (12 points each).

Waikiki Yacht Club took home the A Division (1-12 events) title with 28 points and topped Kai Poha (13 points) and the neighboring Waikiki Beach Boys (12 points).

Nearly 1,400 paddlers raced in flat ocean conditions and braved the sweltering heat on the beach as the competitors ranging in age from 12-and-under to 65-and-above represented Hui Wa‘a’s 19 member clubs in 43 races spanning a quarter-mile to 1½ miles. Winning crews earned 5 points toward the team standings, while second-, third- and fourth-place finishers were awarded 3, 2 and 1 points.

Unlike races held at Keehi Lagoon, where paddlers race parallel to the shore, Saturday’s event was set up perpendicular to the sand as crews started just off the beach, raced straight out to the ¼-mile flags and turned back to finish at the original starting line. The course allowed crews to use occasional ocean swells and varying currents to their advantage – a change of pace from races in the stagnant lagoon waters.

The home water advantage came in handy for Ka Mo‘i’s men’s 40 crew, which won its ½-mile race in a swift 3 minutes, 53.25 seconds by holding off the Waikiki Beach Boys (3:57.07). The victorious crew of Jason Bellefeuille, Matt Vossen, Peter Fano, Mana Kamakele, Keli‘i Keawe‘ehu and Kahele Anderson Jr. showed its familiarity with the currents and officially locked up a state championship race berth.

“It’s always good to win at home in our race,” said Kamakele. “We paddle in this water every day, and it was a bit more choppy than usual, and we love it that way. There are some improvements to be made, and things we can brush up on to be ready for states.”

In addition to competing for championship medals in individual races, crews tallied points necessary to qualify for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship regatta on Aug. 3 at Kauai’s Hanalei Bay. The top three crews from each Hui Wa‘a event are slated to earn automatic berths in the state competition based on cumulative point standings.

Hui Wa‘a paddlers return to action on Saturday at Waikiki Beach for the Waikiki Beach Boys Regatta, an exhibition contest preceding the organization’s championship regatta scheduled for July 20 at Keehi Lagoon.

Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association crews continue their season on July 14 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii with the John D. Kaupiko Regatta.