Isle File
Hawai'i paddlers will compete in Tahiti races
Advertiser Staff
Two elite teams from Hawai'i will participate in the Hawaiki Nui Va'a canoe races in Tahiti this week.
The races take place today, tomorrow and Friday. More than 100 teams are expected to participate in what is considered Tahiti's largest sporting event.
Both Hawai'i teams will feature select paddlers from various clubs around the state.
The men's team will be called Team Hawai'i, and is comprised of Kai Bartlett (Lanikai), Kekoa Bruhn (Lanikai), Jim Foti (Lanikai), Mike Judd (Lanikai), Thibert Lussiaa (Kai 'Opua), Aaron Napoleon ('Anuenue), Kealii Paiaina (Team New Zealand/Hawai'i), Mike Pedersen (Lanikai), Andrew Penny (Team New Zealand/Hawai'i) and Tim Twigg-Smith (Waikiki Surf Club).
The men's competition features three long-distance races over three days to three different islands. The first race travels 27 miles from Huahine to Raiatea; the second is 16 miles from Raiatea to Taha'a; the third is 36 miles from Taha'a to Bora Bora.
The champion is determined by overall performance in the three races. No team from Hawai'i has ever won the men's title.
The women race only once — a 25-mile course from Raiatea to Taha'a. Hawai'i's entry is Kai Makana/Ruahatu, and will consist of Meghan Clark (Kailua), Ronona Della Cioppa (Kai 'Opua), Jessie Eames (Kai 'Opua), Catherine Fuller (Hui Nalu), Beth Graves (Kai 'Opua), Pauahi Ioane (Hui Lanakila), Donna Kahakui (Outrigger), Lisa Livingston (Outrigger), Nicole Montel (Tahiti), Carleen Ornellas (Kailua), Nicole Pedersen (Outrigger) and Makanani Wong (Hui Nalu). A select crew from Hawai'i won last year's women's race.
FOOTBALL
• Arena tryouts: The Hawaiian Islanders arena football team will hold tryouts for the 2001-02 season Saturday at Central O'ahu Regional Park starting at 9 a.m.
The Islanders, coached by Guy Benjamin, are the latest addition to arenafootball2, a 37-team developmental league for the Arena Football League.
For more information, call Chris Hart at 672-7362 or visit www.HawaiianIslanders.com
VOLLEYBALL
• HPU tumbles to No. 9: After falling in straight games to Brigham Young-Hawai'i Friday and beating Chaminade Saturday, the Hawai'i Pacific University women's team tumbled from fourth to ninth in the AVCA Division II Top 25 released today.
This is the first time since 1998 that the Lady Sea Warriors (15-2, 9-2 PacWest) have not been ranked in the top 5.
