Outrigger paddlers save best for last

The Outrigger men's freshman crew, foreground, pushes for the lead in the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association Championship Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon. Outrigger won the 1-mile race in 7 minutes, 14.08 seconds. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

If it's the time of year to pass out championship trophies, then it must be the time of year for the Outrigger Canoe Club to turn it on.

Proving that you can never count out the most successful canoe club in history, Outrigger won the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association Championship Regatta for the third consecutive year yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"We're really happy and proud with this," said Outrigger head coach Anthony Hunt. "Given the way our year went, winning the OHCRA is a great feeling."

One month ago, Outrigger placed fifth in a regular-season regatta with 48 points.

Yesterday, Outrigger scored a season-high 75 points for its first victory of the season. Kailua was second with 73, followed by Hui Lanakila (69), Lanikai (62) and Hui Nalu (45). Waikiki Surf Club won the A division for smaller clubs with 18 points.

Although unexpected this year, winning the OHCRA championship is nothing new for Outrigger.

Since 1985, Outrigger has won 15 OHCRA titles. With close to 3,000 registered paddlers, OHCRA is the largest canoe-paddling organization in the state.

"Basically, we went all out to win this," Hunt said. "We had a slow start this season, and we looked at this as a way to salvage the year."

Outrigger won a regatta-high nine races, with contributions coming from all facets of the club.

"At the start of the year, only our kids were looking strong," Hunt said. "It took a while, but the adult program started to come around."

The Outrigger women were particularly impressive, winning the junior, senior and open-4 races.

Crews in the women's freshman 1-mile race are off and stroking at Ke'ehi Lagoon. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We just started our training late and kind of eased into it," said John Puakea, the Outrigger women's coach. "Our target all season long was to turn it around at the end."

A victory by Outrigger's mixed 40-and-older crew in the 34th race of the day all but clinched the overall win.

"We have a lot of paddlers who have been paddling for many years," said Keoni Kino, who steered the mixed 40 crew. "Sometimes, it's just a matter of time to convince them to come out."

Kailua came up two points short of Outrigger, but still wound up as OHCRA's strongest entry for the Aug. 2 state championship regatta based on its consistency throughout the year.

"We qualified around 30 crews, which is what we wanted," said Kailua head coach Jimmy Bruhn. "We hoped to win the regatta, too, but Outrigger was too tough."

Penalties could have played a role in the final tally, but Outrigger and Kailua neutralized each other with one costly penalty each. Kailua lost three points for a false start; Outrigger was deducted five points for a similar violation.

Hui Lanakila got a strong showing from its men's paddlers, winning the men's novice B, novice A, sophomore and senior races, and placing second in freshman and junior.

In the prestigious senior race, Hui Lanakila beat perennial power Lanikai by eight seconds.

"The men's races are so hard now — there's so much competition," said Hui Lanakila men's coach Jon Coito. "So overall, we're happy with how we did."

Lanikai placed fourth overall but tallied the most points (33) in the youth races.

Yesterday was the last chance for crews to qualify for the Aug. 2 state championships, which will also be held at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association Championship Regatta
At Ke'ehi Lagoon

AA Division

1, Outrigger 75. 2, Kailua 73. 3, Hui Lanakila 69. 4, Lanikai 62. 5, Hui Nalu 45. 6, Keahiakahoe 30. 7, Healani 21.

A Division

1, Waikiki Surf Club 18. 2, Anuenue 7. 3, Leeward Kai 4. 4, Waimanalo 3. 5, New Hope 1. T6, Honolulu, Makaha, Pu'uloa 0.

• 1/4-mile

Female

12: 1, Kailua (Brittani Morse, Dominique Kalale-Webster, Cortney Singlehurst, Skye Cameron, Elina Bee, Dani Hazama) 2:23.92. 2, Keahiakahoe 2:27.42. 3, Leeward Kai 2:29.75. 13: 1, Lanikai (Gina Coscina, Gabrielle DeHeart, Claire Dewey, Elizabeth Hawkins-Mahaulu, Meghann Lau, Zoe Tomar) 2:16.40. 2, Keahiakahoe 2:21.93. 3, Outrigger 2:33.39. 14: 1, Outrigger (Jessica Cleghorn, Amanda Harris, Jessica Lunt, Abbie Lin, Noelle Fowler, Amy Wessberg) 2:08.10. 2, Keahiakahoe 2:09.37. 3, Kailua 2:13.36. Novice B: 1, Kailua (Steph Pratt, Ann Zeigler, Leyla Samimi, Odessa Daniel, Collete Ching, Kelehua Kawai) 2:12.19. 2, Healani 2:13.17. 3, Hui Lanakila 2:14.99.

Male

12: 1, Lanikai (Mina Gould, Kyle Landers, Cody Meek, Ryan Murphy, Max Rausch, Taylor Vitale) 2:10.45. 2, Hui Nalu 2:13.48. 3, Kailua 2:20.32. 13: 1, Keahiakahoe (D.J. Silva, Kawika Sayers, Lionell Garcia, Lyle Kitagawa, Kapili Olson, Laakea Kahokele) 2:06.53. 2, Lanikai 2:11.24. 3, Kailua 2:23.64. 14: 1, Keahiakahoe (Kawika Vierra, Dustin Hauki, Kapili Kalahiki-Anthony, John Kupau, Charles Ulmer, Daniel Estacado) 1:52.64. 2, Lanikai 1:56.53. 3, Waikiki Surf 2:01.18.

Mixed

12: 1, Lanikai (Julia Anderson, Marlie Long, Hannah Smith, Jason Campbell, Ryan Dolan, Caton Smith) 2:15.98. 2, Hui Lanakila 2:17.40. 3, Leeward Kai 2:24.20. Novice B: 1, Healani (Kristi Burris, Sarah Blane, Jon Borr, Brad Baker, Philip Maderni, Becky Gardner) 1:55.10. 2, Hui Nalu 1:55.36. 3, Hui Lanakila 1:58.37.

• 1/2-mile

Female

15: 1, Waikiki Surf (Waianuhea Lyau, Kehau Meyers, Raeanne Cobb-Adams, Leanne Pratt, Reya Liilii, Awapuhi Kalauli) 4:35.14. 2, Healani 4:36.51. 3, Lanikai 4:43.13. 16: 1, Outrigger (Halli Van Lier Ribbink, Ginger Lunt, Kellen Fletcher, Sarah Harris, Dena Cassela, Meleana Carr) 4:22.03. 2, Healani 4:34.25. 3, Hui Lanakila 4:34.96. 18: 1, Waikiki Surf (Kanani Souza, Angie Chong, Kahana Naauao, Krystal Timsing, Tristen Kumashiro, Lori Nakamura) 4:22.22. 2, Kailua 4:32.30. 3, Lanikai 4:32.67. Novice A: 1, Kailua (Lisa Barney, Drae Kahae-Clemens, Kathy Novack, Dale Omohundro, Sara Yaeger, Jeanette Bean) 4:20.50. 2, Hui Lanakila 4:24.07. 3, Hui Nalu 4:24.59. 55: 1, Kailua (Sarah Jane Watson, Yvonne Keahi, Nani Olds, Shelly Gilman, Judy Thurston, Mary Martin) 4:56.94. 2, Hui Nalu 5:01.06. 3, Outrigger 5:01.72. 50: 1, Hui Nalu (Nani Akea, Patricia Chun, Nancy Rocheleau, K.T. Scott, Debbie Kasnetz, Lita Blankenfeld) 4:55.42. 2, Lanikai 5:01.53. 3, Waimanalo 5:02.60. Fours: 1, Outrigger (Sarah Rosa, Amy Lawson, Alicia Arnott, Kai Bourne) 4:49.49. 2, Kailua 4:55.70. 3, Keahiakahoe 4:56.44.

Male

Novice B: 1, Hui Lanakila (Kalai Fernandez, Craig Colburn, Kaleo Cambra, Thomas Sedeno, Lance Takara, Sydney Kinimaka) 3:47.57. 2, Anuenue 3:48.00. 3, Healani 3:48.44. 15: 1, Lanikai (Kai Aluli, Ben Creps, Geoffrey Long, Sevren Smith, Dane Sultzer, Myles Vogelgesang) 3:48.45. 2, Kailua 3:51.25. 3, Keahiakahoe 3:59.27. 16: 1, Kailua (Thomas Chang, Kaipo Chong, Nainoa Chong, Bandon Lima, Kalani Kaanaana, Andrew Aiu) 3:53.06. 2, Outrigger 3:55.09. 3, Lanikai 3:55.76. 55: 1, Hui Lanakila (Eugene Albinio, Billy Awa, George Haberman, Sword Murakami, Rodney Romans, Yama Yamasaki) 4:03.41. 2, Keahiakahoe 4:11.68. 3, Outrigger 4:14.44. 50: 1, Kailua (Hank Leandro, Charles "Boy" Kalama, Harold Akeo, Ed Chung, Bob Thurston, Tom Conner) 3:55.80. 2, Hui Lanakila 3:59.04. 3, Outrigger 3:59.90. Fours: 1, Kailua (Mareus Souza, Dustin Dawson, Lyle Nicely, Kekama Akana) 4:00.47. 2, Lanikai 4:05.08. 3, Keahiakahoe 4:06.22.

Mixed

55: 1, Hui Nalu (Ann Bowen, Maureen Kilcoyne, Patty Mowat, Mike Clifford, Mike Town, John Finney) 4:35.16. 2, Lanikai 4:39.88. 3, Keahiakahoe 4:53.36. 40: 1, Outrigger (Laurie Lawson, Rina Pan, Linda Fernandez, Jim Cavanah, Keoni Kino, Marc Haine) 4:04.18. 2, Hui Lanakila 4:05.51. 3, Kailua 4:06.82. Men/Women: 1, Hui Nalu (Tracy Hollum, Emmaly Parker, Irene Curren, Chris Schlarb, Danny Loui, Bruce Blankenfeld) 3:59.36. 2, Kailua 4:03.92. 3, Hui Lanakila 4:10.02.

• 1-mile

Female

Freshmen: 1, Waikiki Surf (Mahealani Batlik, Leigh Lasher, Tia Ikeno, Arlene Holzman, Kelly Cluney, Maile DeMello) 8:33.92. 2, Hui Lanakila 8:44.12. 3, Lanikai 8:45.29. Sophomore: 1, Hui Lanakila (Michelle Arnold, Vi Coito, Pauahi Ioane, Gina Johnson, Deborah Roseenblum, Katie Slocumb) 8:19.59. 2, Outrigger 8:25.46. 3, Kailua 8:26.01. Junior: 1, Outrigger (Traci Phillips, Paula Crabb, Lisa Livingston, Malia Kamisugi, Ine Miller, Missy Mowat) 8:28.75. 2, Kailua 8:31.07. 3, Hui Nalu 8:40.74. 40: 1, Hui Nalu (Gail Ka'aialii, Patsy Vasquez, Marcia Omura, Kerina Salazar, Terry Bruesehoff, Denise Darval-Chang) 8:28.09. 2, Kailua 8:39.74. 3, Outrigger 9:19.34.

Male

18: 1, Outrigger (Peter Van Lier Ribbink, Cutter Rolles, Robby Field, Kapono Brown, Darragh O'Carrol, Billy Lawson) 7:17.75. 2, Kailua 7:23.54. 3, Hui Nalu 7:37.07. Novice A: 1, Hui Lanakila (Robert Keller, Mark Riegel, Byron Martinez, Keoni Kuoha, Kekoa Lopez, Adam Terinen-Aea) 7:28.71. 2, Healani 7:44.00. 3, Lanikai 7:49.88. Freshmen: 1, Outrigger (Mike Nakano, Mike Kane, John Wacker, Brady Jencks, Robi Solmssen, Zach Payne) 7:14.08. 2, Hui Lanakila 7:15.75. 3, Kailua 7:19.36. Sophomore: 1, Hui Lanakila (Sam Alama, Jed Gushman, Mike Hangai, Kalama Heine, Manny Kulukulualani, Tomas Schlotman) 6:54.38. 2, Outrigger 7:02.02. 3, Kailua 7:47.64. Junior: 1, Outrigger (Tim Twigg-Smith, Jim Austin, Jim Beaton, Jeff Brown, Mike Beyer, Scott Hendricks) 7:03.73. 2, Hui Lanakila 7:10.44. 3, Lanikai 7:17.20. 40: 1, Hui Lanakila (John Chang, Brad Cole, Jim Hewitt, Stephen Holbrook, Leighton Look, Greg Poole) 7:08.48. 2, Outrigger 7:21.40. 3, Lanikai 7:29.94.

• 1 1/2-mile

Female

Senior: 1, Outrigger (Mary Smolenski, Lisa Livingston, Malia Kamisugi, Traci Phillips, Donna Kahakui, Kisi Haine) 13:05.92. 2, Hui Nalu 13:18.10. 3, Hui Lanakila 13:22.68.

Male

Senior: 1, Hui Lanakila (Raven Aipa, Mike Hanagai, Manny Kulukulualani, Leighton Look, Mel Puu, Tomas Schlotman) 11:01.18. 2, Lanikai 11:09.22. 3, Outrigger 11:10.33.