Lokahi edges Kane'ohe in Ma'ili Beach Regatta

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

The latest rival for the top canoe clubs in the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a paddling organization played a significant role again yesterday: errors.

The boys 18-and-younger crew from Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i remained undefeated this season with a victory in the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a Ma'ili Beach Regatta yesterday. The crew covered the 1-mile course in 8:08.15. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Lokahi scored 64 points in 36 races for its second regatta victory of the season.

Kane'ohe Canoe Club, which has won four regattas this season, placed second with 59 points. Kane'ohe was penalized seven points yesterday for two separate rules infractions.

"The regattas have been so close lately, it's all (coming down to) one or two points," said Lokahi head coach Robert Viernes. "Who ever makes the mistakes in the regatta, that hurts them."

Last week, Lokahi was penalized five points while finishing runner-up to Kane'ohe. Yesterday, the roles were reversed.

"They took away the seven points, we got jammed up," said Kane'ohe head coach Clint Anderson. "It's one of those things. We can live with it. Next week is another week."

Still, Lokahi showed yesterday that it may be ready to return to the championship form that has won 14 of the past 15 Hui Wa'a championships.

Lokahi's 64 points yesterday was a season-high.

"We're improving," Viernes said. "Our novices every week have been improving."

Lokahi crews won seven races yesterday: mixed 12-younger, women novice B, men novice B, women freshman, women sophomore, women senior and women 55-older.

As has been the case all season, Lokahi's strength was its women. The crew of Theresa Gerry, Nalyne Harada, Kanesa Duncan, Jennifer Thompson, Dy Valdez and Iwa Bush won the prestigious women's senior race, completing the 1 1/2-mile course in 13 minutes, 43.14 seconds.

It was the 44th consecutive Hui Wa'a victory for Lokahi in the senior women's race, a streak dating to 1997.

"They dominate," Viernes said. "They make most of our points."

Kane'ohe's own dominating force — its youth crews — also did its share, accounting for 37 of the team's 59 total points.

Of Kane'ohe's regatta-high nine race victories, five came from its youth crews (boys 12-younger, boys 13-younger, girls 14-younger, boys 14-younger and boys 15-younger).

However, Kane'ohe's girls 16-younger crew was disqualified for a false start, resulting in a loss of two points.

Even more costly, Kane'ohe was penalized five points for turning in a late lineup for the men's novice B race.

"It's the first time it happened to us," Anderson said. "We made the argument that we had the papers in. When you take away five points, that hurts because between us and Lokahi, it's always going to be (close)."

What's more, Lokahi won the men's novice B race, resulting in five points of its own, and a 10-point swing in the overall standings.

Lokahi also gained two points in the women's 55-older race when Waikiki Yacht Club was disqualified for a false start.

"It's like between us and (Kane'ohe), whoever runs the cleaner regatta wins," Viernes said.

The host club, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i, had its best showing of the season, placing third overall with 54 points. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i crews accounted for eight race victories, including the prestigious men's senior race ... twice.

Due to a protest, the men's senior race was run twice. The Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i crew of Jason Bellefeuille, Greg Pavao, William Anderson, Rolly Padello, Danny Sanchez and Fats Kahoalii won both heats convincingly.

"This is our water," Kahoalii said. "We practice in this area every day, so that helped big-time."

Waves were almost non-existent yesterday, but a strong current was running along the deep end of the course.

"Everybody was drifting all over the place," Kahoalii said.

"You have to know how to read the swells or you end up in the next lane."

Koa Kai won just two races, but scored 35 points to win the A division for smaller clubs. Koa Kai is the only club to win the A division this season.

Koa Kai will play host for the next Hui Wa'a regatta on Sunday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

• OHCRA: The O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association did not hold a regatta yesterday.

OHCRA's next regatta is the Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta, scheduled for July 4 at Waikiki Beach.

Three clubs have already won OHCRA regattas this season: Hui Nalu twice, and Lanikai and Outrigger once each. Lanikai is the four-time defending champion of the Macfarlane Regatta.

Na Ohana O Na Hui Waa, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i Canoe Regatta
At Ma'ili Beach

Team
Divison AA: 1, Lokahi 64. 2, Kane'ohe 59. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 54. 4, Manu O Ke Kai 41. 5, Waikiki Yacht Club 20.
Division A: 1, Koa Kai 35. 2, Koa Kai 23. 3, Windward Kai 22. 4, Kai Poha 14. 5, Kalihi Kai 14. 6, Waikiki Beach Boys 14. 7, Kumulokahi Elks 7. 8, Hawaiian Outrigger 6. 9, Alapa Hoe 5. 10, I Mua 1.

• 1/4 mile
Male
12-younger: 1, Kane'ohe (Keoni Anderson, Bobby Pratt, Poela Silva, Micah Peterson, Kanoa Chang, Diane Kimokeo) 2:19.84. 2, Windward Kai 2:24.21. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo"i 2:32.86.
13: Kane'ohe (Bryce Calpito, Keola Kamakana, Keali'i Frank, Nainoa Hopkins, Kamu Santos, Safea Kahiapo) 1:58.41. 2, Kumulokahi-Elks 1:58.78. 3, Windward Kai 2:03.43.

Female
12-younger: 1, Windward Kai (Tuesday DeRego, Haunani Cervantes, Kulia Kualapai, Kamaile Menza, Jessica Edwards, Chani Bautista, David Pagen) 2:20.08. 2, Na Keiki O ka Mo'i 2:28.85. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 2:29.32.
13: 1, Hawaiian Outrigger (Alyson Ayers, Malia Samson, Shanadee Canon, Briane Villarosa, Monica Shiroma, Halialoha Travis) 2:19.97. 2, Kane'ohe 2:22.83. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 2:25.45.
14: 1, Kane'ohe (Lehua Tabadero, Precious Vincent, Mari AuBuchon, Angela Oka, Kawena Kawainui, Titi Kawainui) 2:03.13. 2, Kamehameha 2:06.35. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 2:07.92.
Novice B: 1, Lokahi (Christina Clinton, Lolly Russell, Carol Silverio, Jennifer Roberts, Jamie Johnson, Lindsay Treska) 2:16.62. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 2:21.23. 3, Koa Kai 2:24.26.

Mixed
12-younger: 1, Lokahi (Jeffrey Kahler, Hana Allison, Andrew Palakiko, Iris Tobias, Kanoa Goo, Kuulei Chapman) 2:19.56. 2, Kamehameha 2:23.98. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 2:28.51.
Novice B: 1, Kane'ohe (Ian Masterson, Clark Abbey, Nicole McInerny, Robert Pratt, Audrey Titus-Luciano, Jess Ofoia) 1:59.12. 2, Kalihi Kai 2:00.09. 3, Kai Poha 2:07.08.

Specials
1, Hawaiian Outrigger (Patty Wilczynski, Ramond Rodriguez, Earl Matsuura, Roberta Kahihikolo, Randy Perez, Hilary LeeLoy, Kenneth Cagata, Karen Laba, Joshua Ho, Ginger Brewer, Mariah Murdock, Joey Mohica) 2:20.67. 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 2:31.45. 3, Kalihi Kai 2:31.80.

• 1/2 mile
Male
14: Kane'ohe (Aaron Abbey, Bryce Calpito, Niko Holler, Jared Ferrer, Keola Kamakana, Safea Kahiapo) 1:59.53. 2, Lokahi 2:03.71. 3, Kamehameha 2:04.90.
15: 1, Kane'ohe (Seth Ramolete, Kawika Kahiapo, Chase Silva, Gabe Tafadero, Jonathan Ukauka, Keoni Anderson) 3:54.79. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 3:58.36. 3, Kumulokahi-Elks 4:18.23.
16: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Jericho Leedy, Chase Kaliipaakauka, Dustin Basconis, Sam Kapoi, Chad Brown, Baba Holbron) 3:57.07. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:07.53. 3, Windward Kai 4:16.55.
Novice B: 1, Lokahi (Alex Tiedemann, Pio Jimenez, Jon Bretschneider, Rodney Cain, Randy Taylor, Jason Tangalin) 3:50.54. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 3:53.87. 3, Koa Kai 4:01.46.
Senior Masters (45-older): 1, Koa Kai (Dan Gagich, Ben Ancheta, Ron Ogino, Colin Galang, Joe Kim, Dickie Chow) 4:09.57. 2, Kalihi Kai 4:18.71. 3, Lokahi 4:19.04.
Golden Masters (52-older): 1, Kai Poha (Hank Taufaasau, Charley Kamai, Albert Apo, Butch Ayau, Jim Meier, Ralph Hanalei) 4:31.60. 2, Lokahi 4:38.17.
Open 4: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Jason Bellefeuille, BJ Bagood, Kahele Anderson, Greg Pavao) 3:59.50. 2, Koa Kai 4:16.30. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 4:17.28.

Female
15: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Bernadette Ortiz, Lynn Marie Rodrigues, Terann Pavao, Jessica Tolentino, Kaleka Haia, Falynn Mederioa) 4:30.29. 2, Kane'ohe 4:43.09. 3, Kamehameha 4:45.44.
16: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Aleta Corpuz, Robyn Smith, Christy Mongarro, Corey Arashiro, Shaina DePrizio, Lahela Lorenzo) 4:40.40. 2, Kamehameha 4:45.69. 3, Lokahi 4:57.52.
18: 1, Alapa Hoe (Chandra Chinaka, Trisha Mejia, Mallory Crisologo, Christina Post, Cherana Bajarin, Nicole Mejia) 4:33.58. 2, Kamehameha 4:40.03. 3, Kane'ohe 4:41.72.
Novice A: 1, Waikiki Yacht Club (Carrie Plath, April Sasse, Nikki Thompson, Annie Riesewitz, Andrea Winter, Erin Chappelear) 4:33.09. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:36.81. 3, Koa Kai 4:53.34.
Senior Masters (45-older): 1, Kalihi Kai (Mary Jo Buell, Mary Dubiel, Dara Fairchild, Linda Tseu, Rebecca Gonzales, Debi Kelly) 4:45.49. 2, Lokahi 5:07.16. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 5:12.00.
Golden Masters (52-older): Lokahi (Meredith Miller, Barbara Keenan, Nina Brunski, Valerie Mikaelsen, Darrah Lau-Anderson) 5:42.75.
Open 4: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Chrystal Haia, Ann Johns, Linda Wakatake, Nani Haia) 5:00.43. 2, Koa Kai 5:02.52. 3, Kane'ohe 5:19.64.

Mixed
Golden: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Randy Sanborn, Joe Scallon, Thomas Clarke, Marilyn Schoenke, Peggy Cutting, Kay Bauman) 4:33.50. 2, Windward Kai 4:39.16. 3, Kane'ohe 4:46.22.
Masters (40-older): 1, Kane'ohe (David Aquino, Beryl Porrilla, Jr. Porilla, Wanda Brown, Tweetee Anderson, Cory Fukushima) 4:21.37. 2, Windward Kai 4:23.83. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:36.24.
Senior Masters (45-older): 1, Kamehameha (Sandy Carvalho, Diane Hieb, Barb Vasold, Sandy Quon, Sam Roberts, Owen Cenal) 4:34.80. 2, Kalihi Kai 4:37.37. 3, Kane'ohe 4:37.79.
Open 6: 1, Kane'ohe (Philip Kaniho, Dominic Henriques, Hosanna Folk, Kai Kaniho, Sunnie Hess, Tehani Wong) 4:08.62. 2, Windward Kai 4:10.67. 3, Kai Poha 4:22.57.

• 1 mile
Male
18: Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Keoni Kahakelii, Aaron Birn, John Correa, Donald Napierala, Clint Adams, Baba Holbron) 8:08.15. 2, Kane'ohe 8:18.66. 3, Lokahi 8:36.29.
Novice A: 1, Koa Kai (Jeff Guthrie, Scott Siegfried, Sekai "Bo" Samuelu, Justin Pelant, Neil Ceberano, Weylin Hokutau) 7:44.89. 2, Lokahi 7:50.59. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 8:04.22.
Freshmen: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Danny Sanchez, Jim Johns, Rolly Padello, Mike Yomes, Nelson Dorwelo, Fats Kahoalii) 7:43.15. 2, Koa Kai 7:43.58. 3, Lokahi 8:02.55.
Sophomore: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Moku Sanborn, Robert Pactol, Mariano Larghi, Bobo Tantog, Brian Amantiad, Blake McElher) 7:38.34. 2, Kai Poha 7:57.11. 3, Kamehameha 8:04.95.
Masters (35-older): 1, Kane'ohe 7:48.85. 2, Waikiki Yacht Club 7:49.37. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 8:03.46.

Female
Freshmen: 1, Lokahi (Nalyne Harada, Jennifer Thompson, Darlene Morikawa, Carol Jaxon, Annette Viernes, Dy Valdez) 8:51.34. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 9:12.07. 3, Koa Kai 9:28.43.
Sophomore: 1, Lokahi (Theresa Gerry, Heidi Guth, Kanesa Duncan, Kini Neal, Faith Saito, Iwa Bush) 9:00.90. 2, Waikiki Yacht Club 9:29.08. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 10:03.30.
Masters (35-older): 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Tammy Texeira, Julia Tuinei, Lisa Kaaekuahiwi, Gail Lovediro, Christy Ariola, Allyn Momoa) 9:11.83. 2, Koa Kai 9:52.21. 3, Lokahi 10:06.72.

• 1 1/2 miles
Male
Senior: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Jason Bellefeuille, Greg Pavao, Rolly Padello, Kahele Anderson, Danny Sanchez, Fats Kaho) 11:30.05. 2, Koa Kai 11:50.74. 3, Lokahi 12:19.87.

Female
Senior: 1, Lokahi (Theresa Gerry, Nalyne Harada, Kanesa Duncan, Jennifer Thompson, Dy Valdez, Iwa Bush) 13:43.14. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 14:10.47. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 15:04.96.