After being knocked off like pawns season after season by Hawaiian Canoe Club for five straight years, Lanikai now has the competition seeing — and feeling – green as the new kings of Hawaii’s outrigger canoe paddling realm.

Lanikai made the right strategic moves, avoided debilitating mistakes and collected 10 victories en route to winning the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship on Saturday at Keehi Lagoon. The Kailua-based club finally claimed checkmate in the sport’s ultimate “chess match” and halted Hawaiian’s dynastic run of five state titles. The Maui club has amassed 15 state crowns in 19 years.

Two-time defending Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association champion Lanikai amassed 454 points to lead the AAAA Division (21-41 crews entered) ahead of Hawaiian (376 points and six race wins), Outrigger (338 points), Hui Nalu (312 points), Kailua (264 points) and Kai Opua (211 points).

In the four instances over the past decade in which Hawaiian did not win the state championship, Lanikai claimed the hardware, with victories in 2008, 2010, 2012 (shared title with Kailua) and, now, 2018. The home-water advantage has proved key for Lanikai, as its four recent state title accomplishments were all secured at Keehi Lagoon.

“With the club working so hard this year — from the kids to adults and our masters paddlers — it’s pretty cool to have a shot against Hawaiian. In the past, they clearly had the advantage, so it was great to pull it off,” said Lanikai paddler Karel Tresnak Jr.

Hawaiian head coach Diane Ho was well aware of Lanikai’s title-winning potential in the days leading up to the championship regatta, and Lanikai maximized its opportunities by qualifying a crew in all 41 races. It was the only club to do so.

“Lanikai came out to win, they won, and there are no excuses. We had a great time. Whatever happened, happened, and it’s back to the drawing board,” said Ho. “It takes a lot of work every year, and while we didn’t perform as well as we could have, I think (Lanikai) would have beaten us anyway. They were awesome today.”

Puna Canoe Club, champions from the Big Island’s Moku O Hawaii organization, claimed the AAA Division (13-20 crews entered) title with 186 points, ahead of Kihei (153 points) and Napili (113 points).

OHCRA clubs were well represented in the distribution of state title hardware, as Keahiakahoe took home the AA Division (7-12 crews) trophy with 119 points after beating Wailea (101 points), while Hui Lanakila ran away with the A Division (1-6 crews) with 72 points.

Through the first 12 races of the day, Lanikai established a slim 136-130-110 lead over Hawaiian and Hui Nalu. Hawaiian won three of the day’s first 11 races to set the tone early, and after the 24th race, it held a razor-thin 260-259 advantage over Lanikai.

For the second consecutive year, Lanikai swept the elite open men’s competitions and posted victories in the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior races. The sweep allowed the club to shift momentum away from Hawaiian, and was part of a stretch in which Lanikai won six of nine events to move ahead comfortably.

The crew of Andreas Gaeta, Matthew Mench, Jack Roney, Manny Kulukulualani, Nick Foti and Tresnak Jr. as the steersman led Lanikai to the win in the 1½-mile, five-turn senior men’s race in 11 minutes, 14.52 seconds. Lanikai, which also capped an undefeated run in the premier event, held off OHCRA rival Outrigger (11:19.38) and Wailea (11:23.28), a veteran squad from Maui.

“The power from these guys is unbelievable. They’re a bunch of animals, monsters — whatever you want to call them,” Tresnak Jr. said of his crew. “When the guys want to go, it’s one of those things where they could be out of energy, but they find the strength within to bleed for each other. We have a good group, and we support each other through paddling and life.”

Lanikai set the tone from the get-go in the senior men’s competition by blitzing off the starting line with a frenetic pace. The crew made it in and out of each turn first, and while Wailea and Outrigger remained within a canoe length of the lead for most of the race, Lanikai led wire to wire.

After the winning crew emerged from the victory tunnel formed by teammates, coach Karel Tresnak Sr. received hugs from the paddlers, whom he implored to “bring out the brooms” for a second consecutive year. And the group accomplished the feat without one of its top performers, Igor Sobreira, who did not paddle due to illness.

“It’s so cool to see what (Tresnak Sr.) does teaching us, and he puts in so much time – we bust our ass, and put in the work, and that seems to be working more often than not and we’re very happy,” said Tresnak Jr. “We weren’t looking for the sweep, but today with the elevated competition, it makes things even sweeter.”

Outrigger, which won eight races throughout the day, dominated the senior women’s race in 13 minutes, 2.24 seconds — nearly 27 seconds ahead of runner-up Hui Lanakila. The winning crew included Shannon O’Neill, Anella Borges, Hoku Keala, Angie Dolan, Amy Woodward and Kahala Schneider.

Lanikai cemented its victory with a gold-medal performance in the mixed 55 race, and completed the ½-mile course in 4 minutes, 9.06 seconds to edge Kihei (4:09.84) and Hawaiian (4:11.32). Bruce Lukas, Gio Camuso, Kelly Smith, Lisa Sauer, Ke‘ani Hardy and steersman Scott Freitas powered the winning canoe, and helped propel Lanikai ahead of Hawaiian by 65 points with three races to go.

“What we were looking at was to stay within 50 points of Hawaiian after the kids’ races in order to have a chance,” said Freitas, who also coaches at Lanikai. “A lot of our strength starts when the freshman men paddle, so we needed to weather the storm. After watching all the chess pieces move into place, we were looking for that checkmate.”

More than 3,000 paddlers ranging in age from 12-and-younger to 65-and-older representing 56 clubs from six outrigger canoe paddling organizations competed in the regatta’s 41 races ranging in length from ¼- to 1½-miles. Competitors enjoyed steady breezes, a strong downwind current and a light layer of cloud cover that made the summer heat manageable.

Winning crews earned 15 points, with 13 points going to second place, 12 for third and continuing on in descending order with last place earning one point. The scoring system rewarded clubs for consistently placing high and scoring points across the board, a practice that Hawaiian and Lanikai have mastered over the years due to ample participants and refined strategy.

Paddlers will now shift their attention to the long-distance season, which runs from mid-August through the Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe — the 41-mile Molokai-to-Oahu championship events slated for Sept. 23 and Oct. 7.

STATE PADDLING RESULTS

Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association
State Championship Regatta
Saturday at Keehi Lagoon
Overall Team Standings

AAAA

Lanikai Canoe Club…………………………….454

Hawaiian Canoe Club…………………………376

Outrigger Canoe Club………………………..338

Hui Nalu Canoe Club………………………….312

Kailua Canoe Club………………………………264

Kai Opua Canoe Club………………………..211

Manu O Ke Kai…………………………………….136

Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i ……………………………..103

AAA

Puna Canoe Club ……………………………….186

Kihei Canoe Club………………………………..153

Napili…………………………………………………….113

Kahana Canoe Club………………………………97

Healani Canoe Club…………………………….. 83

AA

Keahiakahoe Canoe Club…………………..119

Wailea ………………………………………………….101

Kai ‘Ehitu……………………………………………….. 82

Lae’ula O Kai………………………………………….76

Kawaihae Canoe Club…………………………..74

Na Kai Ewalu………………………………………… 65

Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club……………. 61

Waikoloa Canoe Club …………………………..57

Niumalu Surf & Outrigger Canoe ……….. 52

Waikiki Beach Boys……………………………… 45

Waikiki Surf Club…………………………………..36

New Hope Canoe Club ………………………. 14

A

Hui Lanakila Canoe Club………………………72

Paddlers of Laka……………………………………46

Keaukaha Canoe Club …………………………40

Waikiki Yacht Club………………………………..36

Waimanalo Canoe Club………………………. 32

Kamehameha ……………………………………….. 32

Lahaina………………………………………………….. 32

Ka Mamalahoe 29, Kaneohe 28, Leeward Kai 26, Keauhou 25, I Mua 24, Hale’iwa Outrigger 24, Lahui O Ko’olau 24, Kilohana 24, Wa’akapaemua 21, Koa Kai 20, ‘Alapa Hoe 15, Kai Poha 15, Kamehameha 15, Hanalei 12, Koloa 12, Olelo O Ke Ola 11, Hui Wa’a O Waiakea 10, Hana 9, Hui Mana O Puuwai 8, Lokahi 7, Kailana 5, Ewa Pu’uloa Outrigger 1, Makaha 1, Kamaha’o 1

Individual Standings

Boys 12

1. Lahaina 2:19.05 (Rieley Holder, Kalaeloa Tancayo, Lio Vehikite, Xander Moffett, Shadd Blando, Leo Vehikite)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 2:22.25

3. Hale’iwa Outrigger 2:23.60

Boys 13

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 2:05.74 (Luke Kaminskas, Logan Lefforge, Spencer Niemann, Marcus Webster, Tristan Rizzo-Murray, Stryker Scales)

2. Outrigger Canoe Club 2:07.97

3. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:10.22

Boys 14

1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:01.66 (Tristen Matsuura, Jaden Givensel, Kana’i Fisher, Kaehukai Molitau, Brock Lovell, Nainoa Riglos)

2. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 2:03.92

3. Kailua Canoe Club 2:04.74

Boys 15

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 3:56.05 (Hobey Moss, James Morris, Jack Maurer, Izzy Ady, Evan Lee, Max Pflueger)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 3:58.24

3. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:06.53

Boys 16 & Under

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 3:48.63 (Vinny Ako, Adam Krivatsy, Kaimana Drago, Aukina Hunt, Punia Pale, Parker Murray)

2. Hui Lanakila Canoe Club 3:53.78

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:59.15

Boys 18 & Under

1. Keahiakahoe Canoe Club 8:17.54 (Iokepa Seward, Matthew Lipscomb, Reign Hoban, Jaimin Keliihoomalu, Riley Lathrop, Kainalu Chee)

2. Kailua Canoe Club 8:17.79

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 8:48.05

Men Open Four

1. Leeward Kai Canoe Club 3:55.68 (Keola Wright, Po’okela Van Gieson, Ikaiklii Smith, Alfred Van Gieson)

2. Napili 3:56.13

3. Outrigger Canoe Club 3:56.55

Men Masters 40

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 7:42.25 (Carson Perry, Brett Fillmore, Tapa Worthington, Kekoa Bruhn, Skozilla Pecora, Jim Foti)

2. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 7:49.25

3. Kai ‘Ehitu 8:00.12

Men Masters 50

1. Puna Canoe Club 3:45.15 (Terry Andrade, Troy Parker-Bailey, Kevin Thompson, Dave Okita, Afa Tuaolo, Louie Mendonca)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 3:45.88

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 3:48.86

Men Golden Masters 55

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 3:41.92 (Guy Wilding, Gio Camuso, Jeff Cummings, Philip Binney, Bill Oliver, Scott Freitas)

2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 3:50.75

3. Manu O Ke Kai 3:51.17

Men Masters 60

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 3:54.57 (Jon Coito, Fredrick Marumoto, Sam Alama, Peter Roney, Bruce Lukas, Guy Wilding)

2. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 3:55.66

3. Hawaiian Canoe Club 3:56.06

Men 65

1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:02.46 (Lance Cushenberry, Biggie Lara, Lou Dionese, Wendall DeVera, Pia Aluli, Jack Dyson)

2. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 4:09.11

3. Keahiakahoe Canoe Club 4:13.09

Men Novice A

1. Puna Canoe Club 8:23.45 (Jonathan Peralto, Neemia Pola, Justin Yeh, Sherman Kaopua, Mike Abraham, Bernard Flowers)

2. Kailua Canoe Club 8:24.03

3. Lanikai Canoe Club 8:27.24

Men Novice B

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 3:54.85 (Maverick Carey, Micah Aiu, James Stewart, Jared Yuen, Jared Meers, Dylan Ojeda)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 4:03.68

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:09.62

Men Freshmen

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 7:24.75 (Levi-Jordan Goeas, Matthew Mench, Jack Roney, Cheyne Mench, Alakai Freitas, Chauncey Cody)

2. Wailea 7:27.88

3. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 7:30.09

Men Sophomore

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 7:28.16 (Karel Tresnak Jr., Andreas Gaeta, Manny Kulukulualani, Matt Crowley, Nick Foti, Tiloi Alapa)

2. Outrigger Canoe Club 7:30.87

3. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 7:38.15

Men Junior

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 7:21.30 (ron Norris, Cheyne Mench, Noah Foti, Matt Crowley, Tiloi Alapa, Levi-Jordan Goeas)

2. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 7:30.58

3. Outrigger Canoe Club 7:30.88

Men Senior

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 11:14.52 (Karel Tresnak Jr., Matthew Mench, Jack Roney, Nick Foti, Andreas Gaeta, Manny Kulukulualani)

2. Outrigger Canoe Club 11:19.38

3. Wailea 11:23.28

Girls 12

1. Manu O Ke Kai 2:30.05 (Keegan Williams, Roma Lerner, Avalon Horne, Hayley Littlejohn, Taite Leinau, Alohi Garcia)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 2:31.22

3. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:33.78

Girls 13

1. Napili 2:25.66 (Shyla Rodrigues, Tiana-Rose Naki, Taimane Cajudoy, Puliki Rogers, Quinsea Loft, Maile Cacal)

2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:25.96

3. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 2:27.19

Girls 14

1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:10.81 (Kahealani Haupu, Maile Turley, Keani Artates-Kahui, Kuaola Emmsley, Kawaiola Hookano, Kailia Purdy)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 2:14.59

3. Koloa Canoe Club 2:21.19

Girls 15

1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:34.07 (Skyler Sands, Melina Perez, Gabriella Pacheco, Skyla Adriano-Howard, Amber Proctor, Tehani Santos)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 4:35.32

3. Hanalei Canoe Club 4:48.76

Girls 16 & Under

1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:32.97 (Olivia Delaney, Nohealani Ledesma, McKenna Kanekoa, Tatiana Soon, Rose Delaney, Kuaola Emmsley)

2. Kamehameha 4:43.05

3. Outrigger Canoe Club 4:45.27

Girls 18 & Under

1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:27.30 (Kaya Givensel, Kaysha Terry-AhKui, Rose Delaney, Makanahele Emmsley, Olivia Delaney, Hiilei Luuwai)

2. Kamehameha 4:32.68

3. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 4:39.26

Women Open Four

1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:54.36 (Theresa Felgate, Margie Kawaiaea, Barbara Querry, Theresa Gerry)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 4:56.12

3. Na Kai Ewalu 5:06.41

Women Masters 40

1. Healani Canoe Club 9:02.32 (Celeste Paiaina, Violet Carrillo, Myrna Resep, Pauahi Ioane, JoJo White, Shannon Van Gieson)

2. Kailua Canoe Club 9:07.63

3. Lae’ula O Kai 9:20.13

Women Masters 50

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 3:45.15 (Deborah Deshais, Paula Crabb, Marcie Nowack, Lisa Livingston, Lindsay Shinall, Karin Hansen del Rey)

2. Puna Canoe Club 3:45.88

3. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 3:48.86

Women Golden Masters 55

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 4:28.07 (Barrie Morgan, Susan Butterbaugh, Ke’ani Hardy, Lisa Barney, Melanie Bailey, Kelly Smith)

2. Kailua Canoe Club 4:35.18

3. Kai Opua Canoe Club 4:43.76

Woman Masters 60

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 4:40.16 (Linda Fernandez, Anne Perry, Sandra Haine, Katy Bourne, Tana Feeley, Kaiulu Downing)

2. Keahiakahoe Canoe Club 4:41.68

3. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 4:44.98

Women 65

1. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 4:45.45 (Lurline Mcgregor, Mary Fern, Iris Mountcastle, Dee Sawyers, Katie Scott, Lita Blankenfeld)

2. Keahiakahoe Canoe Club 4:48.23

3. Kihei Canoe Club 4:53.03

Women Novice A

1. Puna Canoe Club 4:29.40 (Elise Martin, Marni Rem-McGeachy, Amber Waracka, Mary-Beth Young, Trisha Olayon, Lehua Hauanio)

2. Outrigger Canoe Club 4:30.22

3. Kahana Canoe Club 4:30.63

Women Novice B

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 2:19.68 (Brittany Johnston, Olivia Schubert, Jessica Katinszky, Elaina Olson, Devon Roney, Beata Cseke)

2. Na Kai Ewalu 2:19.91

3. Manu O Ke Kai 2:20.13

Women Freshmen

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 8:38.25 (Hoku Keala, Angie Dolan, Amy Woodward, Anella Borges, Shannon O’Neill, Rachel Bruntsch)

2. Lanikai Canoe Club 8:54.69

3. Hui Nalu Canoe Club 8:57.54

Women Sophomore

1. Hui Lanakila Canoe Club 8:57.38 (Whitney Peapealalo, Mahealani Botelho, Kaulu Luuwai, Lori Nakamura, Allison Sokei, Arlene Holzman)

2. Outrigger Canoe Club 9:05.44

3. Kihei Canoe Club 9:07.66

Women Junior

1. Kai ‘Ehitu 9:15.20 (Kayti-Ann Bowman, Tatiana Tan, Tiapepe Ulufaleilupe, Leann Alani, Dondi Dawson, Darcy Daniel)

2. Waikiki Beach Boys 9:16.13

3. Hui Lanakila Canoe Club 9:36.96

Women Senior

1. Outrigger Canoe Club 13:02.24 (Shannon O’Neill, Anella Borges, Hoku Keala, Angie Dolan, Amy Woodward, Kahala Schneider)

2. Hui Lanakila Canoe Club 13:29.41

3. Lanikai Canoe Club 13:30.21

Mixed Boys and Girls 12

1. Lahui O Ko’olau 2:21.56 (Wailau Enesa, Violet Hebenstreit, Zahria Bell, Kanae Tyrell, John Tamura, Kahiwalani Kahalepuna)

2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:24.10

3. Lanikai Canoe Club 2:25.92

Mixed Men and Women

1. Kamehameha Canoe Club 3:51.70 (Teon Simmons, Kepa Weller, Lehua Grant, Derek Gagnon, Aaron Makaimoku, Jolyn Takeya-Whitney)

2. Napili 3:56.92

3. Hawaiian Canoe Club 3:57.22

Mixed Masters 40

1. Wailea 3:58.88 (George Dagan, Pete Gapero Jr, Marjie Kahookele-Pea, Robin Wainui, Melanie King, Tyson Kubo)

2. Kailua Canoe Club 3:59.81

3. Na Keiki O Ka Mo`i 4:02.94

Mixed Masters 55

1. Lanikai Canoe Club 4:09.06 (Bruce Lukas, Scott Freitas, Gio Camuso, Kelly Smith, Lisa Sauer, Ke’ani Hardy)

2. Kihei Canoe Club 4:09.84

3. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:11.32

Mixed Novice B

1. Waikoloa Canoe Club 2:03.24 (Alli Gray, Tammy Ganancial, Joshua Michels, Cavin Yap, Gilberto Gonzales, Monica Tarver)

2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:03.67

3. Kihei Canoe Club 2:05.53