Defending champs repeat in Lili'uokalani long distance races

Advertiser Staff

The defending champions paddled to convincing victories in the 30th annual Queen Lili'uokalani Long Distance Canoe Races over the weekend at Kailua, Kona.

The Team New Zealand/Hawai'i men and Kai 'Opua women repeated as champions in what is considered the largest long-distance canoe race in the world. More than 250 crews and 2,000 paddlers participated in the two-day event.

In the main women's race, which was held Saturday, the hometown Kai 'Opua crew led from start to finish, completing the 18-mile course from Kailua Bay to Honaunau in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 15 seconds. Outrigger, which paddled in a koa canoe, was a distant second at 2:12:23. Surfers Paradise from Australia also used a koa canoe and placed third at 2:12:58.

"We got up about two (canoe) lengths within the first few miles and then just kept walking," said Kai 'Opua's Carrie Hendricks. "It was really calm, really flat. But it's our water, so that's to our advantage."

Members of the winning crew were Hendricks, Cheryl Villegas, Jessie Eames, Cherisse Kelii, Patty Eames and Jackie Taylor. Most of the crews paddled "iron," meaning no relief changes were allowed.

The main men's race traveled 18 miles from Honaunau to Kailua Bay. Team New Zealand/Hawai'i also led from start to finish, completing the course in 1:58:38.

Lanikai was second at 2:01:06, and Kai 'Opua third at 2:03:46.

The winning crew was comprised of three paddlers from New Zealand (Maui Kjeldsen, Andrew Penny and Rob Kaiwai) and three from Hawai'i (Kea Paiaina, Raven Aipa and Karel Tresnak Jr.).

Yesterday, 5 1/2-mile races were held for one-person, two-person and 12-person canoes.

Kai Bartlett of Lanikai won the solo men's race; Cheryl Villegas from Kai 'Opua won the individual women's race.

Saturday's top finishers

Female OC-6 (18 miles)

Open iron (six paddlers): 1, Kai 'Opua-5, 2:07:15. 2, Hawaiian Eyecatcher, 2:13:04. 3, Hanohano-1, 2:13:18. 4, Hawaiian-1, 2:13:47. 5, Nga Hoe Horo, 2:15:00. 6, Wailea-1, 2:15:33. 7, Lokahi-1, 2:16:25. 8, Kai 'Opua-4, 2:19:28. 9, Kailua-3, 2:20:25. 10, Lokahi-2, 2:21:45. 11, Laeula O Kai-2, 2:22:29. 12, Hawaiian-2, 2:23:03. 13, Outrigger-3, 2:23:37. 14, Outrigger-2, 2:24:37. 15, Waikiki Beach Boys, 2:24:53. Koa canoe iron (six paddlers): 1, Outrigger-2, 2:12:23. 2, Surfers Paradise-1, 2:12:58. 3, Puna-4, 2:21:34. 4, Kahana-2, 2:25:03. 5, Keauhou-1, 2:33:00. Masters iron (six paddlers): 1, Keaukaha-4, 2:17:31. 2, Outrigger-4, 2:22:14. 3, Waikoloa-2, 2:25:23. 4, Sydney Outrigger-2, 2:28:31. 5, North Shore-2, 2:31:48. Masters koa canoe iron (six paddlers): 1, Surfers Paradise-2, 2:32:02. 2, Hong Kong Island Paddle, 2:35:46. 3, Kawaihae-2, 2:39:17. 4, Kalihi Kai-2, 2:50:53. Senior masters iron (six paddlers): 1, Huinalu Hoaloha, 2:29:38. 2, Kihei-2, 2:35:31. 3, Pu'uwai-2, 2:39:55. 4, North Shore-3, 2:47:38. 5, Waikiki Yacht-1, 2:52:53. Masters (nine paddlers): 1, Kailua-5, 2:18:19. 2, Hui Lanakila-2, 2:20:49. 3, Ho'opili-3, 2:22:40. 4, Lanikai-5, 2:25:02. 5, Hanalei-3, 2:28:03. Senior masters (nine paddlers): 1, Kai 'Opua-7, 2:27:03. 2, Keoua-3, 2:39:17. 3, Waikoloa-1, 2:48:13. 4, Keaukaha, 2:54:08. Golden masters (nine paddlers): 1, Hawaiian-6, 2:47:26. 2, Keauhou-2, 2:51:18. Malia canoe (nine paddlers): 1, Kaiola-2, 2:21:55. 2, Kai 'Opua-9, 2:30:33. 3, Hanalei-6, 2:32:19. 4, Koa Kai-6, 2:33:03. 5, Kamehameha-Hilo, 2:33:40.

Male OC-6 (18 miles)

Open iron (six paddlers): 1, Team New Zealand/Hawai'i, 1:58:38. 2, Lanikai-1, 2:01:06. 3, Kai 'Opua-1, 2:03:46. 4, Wailea-2, 2:04:39. 5, Hui Nalu-2, 2:05:27. 6, Waikiki Surf-5, 2:05:46. 7, Kailua-6, 2:05:59. 8, Kawaihae-1, 2:06:28. 9, Hawaiian-7, 2:06:52. 10, Puna-1, 2:08:36. 11, Hui Lanakila-4, 2:08:41. 12, Anuenue-2, 2:09:07. 13, Kahana-1, 2:10:32. 14, Kai 'Opua-2, 2:10:48. 15, Hanalei-1, 2:11:27. Koa canoe iron (six paddlers): 1, Kai 'Opua-6, 2:09:22. 2, Hui Nalu-1, 2:17:46. 3, Keoua-2, 2:21:09. 4, Puna-3, 2:21:38. 5, Pu'uwai-3, 2:22:41. Masters iron (six paddlers): 1, Waikiki Surf-3, 2:12:59. 2, Pao Pao-3, 2:16:50. 3, Presidio Yacht, 2:20:32. 4, Ocean River, 2:20:45. 5, Keoua-1, 2:21:31. Masters koa canoe iron (six paddlers): 1, Kailua-1, 2:18:20. 2, Kona Athletic-2, 2:26:54. 3, Kahana-6, 2:31:13. Senior masters iron (six paddlers): 1, Kai 'Opua-10, 2:19:06. 2, Lokahi-6, 2:26:02. 3, I Mua, 2:27:30. 4, Kaiola-3, 2:28:55. 5, Kai Oni-2, 2:32:06. Golden masters iron (six paddlers): 1, Anuenue-1, 2:25:17. 2, Keauhou-3, 2:39:20. 3, Waikinikona, 2:42:54. 4, Kona Athletic-3, 2:49:50. 5, Keaukaha-5, 2:55:06. Masters (nine paddlers): 1, Hanalei Poi Boys, 1:59:51. 2, Team California, 2:00:24. 3, Lanikai-3, 2:03:49. 4, Hui Lanakila-7, 2:07:33. 5, Ho'opili-2, 2:10:35. Senior masters (nine paddlers): 1, Keauhou-8, 2:04:47. 2, Kona Athletic-1, 2:09:11. 3, Hanalei-4, 2:11:49. 4, Hui Lanakila-9, 2:11:59. 5, Hawaiian-5, 2:21:42. Golden masters (nine paddlers): 1, Kailua-2, 2:10:41. 2, Keauhou-5, 2:17:07. 3, Hui Nalu-3, 2:37:51. Malia canoe (nine paddlers): 1, Napili-1, 2:15:28. 2, Hanalei-5, 2:16:51. 3, Lanikai-4, 2:18:54. 4, Koa Kai-3, 2:20:36. 5, Kawaihae-4, 2:22:44.