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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, July 27, 2003

Maui club has 36 crews for state

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

HCRA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA

Who: More than 3,000 paddlers representing 50 clubs

What: Sprint races in Hawaiiankoa outrigger canoes for various age divisions

When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. start; finish around 6 p.m.

Where: Ke'ehi Lagoon
With the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta still one week away, two Neighbor Island clubs jumped into the early lead yesterday.

Hawaiian Canoe Club of Maui registered a record 36 crews yesterday to become the odds-on favorite to three-peat as state champion. The state regatta, which will feature 50 clubs and more than 3,000 paddlers, will be held Saturday at Ke'ehi Lagoon

The regatta consists of 37 races, meaning Hawaiian will enter all but one. Since the inception of the current scoring system in 1998, the club with the most entries has always ended up winning the regatta.

Hawaiian, which won its first-ever state title in 2001 and then repeated last year, won its 19th consecutive Maui championship last week.

"You can still say it's anybody's race because you still have to go out there and perform," said Hannie Anderson, president of the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. "But the O'ahu teams are behind, no question about that. Looking at the way (registration) went, Hawaiian and Kai 'Opua are the teams to watch."

Big Island champion Kai 'Opua registered 34 crews — the largest contingent ever for a Big Island club. Kai 'Opua, which placed second to Hawaiian last year, is seeking to become the first Big Island club to win the state championship.

In the current scoring system, every crew in every race scores at least one point. The first-place crew gets 15 points, second place 13, third place 12 and so on down the line to one point for 14th place.

Because Hawaiian and Kai 'Opua dominated the competition on their respective islands this season, they were able to qualify more crews than the O'ahu clubs.

Only the top crews on each island from the regular season qualify for spots in the state regatta. According to Anderson, the parity in OHCRA this season ultimately played a role in the final numbers.

"The OHCRA teams were knocking each other off all year, so there was no one team that dominated," Anderson said.

Among the O'ahu powers, Kailua registered 31 crews, Lanikai 29, Outrigger 27, Hui Lanakila 23 and Hui Nalu 22.

Kihei from Maui, which upset Hawaiian during a regatta in June, registered 31 crews.

"We start out from behind, but that's the way the system works so you have to go with it," said Kailua head coach Jimmy Bruhn. "We have to reassess some of our plans, but the bottom line is, you have to win on the water."

Perhaps making matters more difficult for the O'ahu clubs, Bruhn said there should be no home water advantage at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"Of all the sites in the state, Ke'ehi is the most fair," Bruhn said. "You can be in any lane and still have a shot at winning."

Kaua'i champion Hanalei and Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a powers Kane'ohe and Lokahi opted to enter the AA Division for medium-sized clubs. Big Island runner-up Kawaihae is also expected to challenge for that title.

The A Division for small clubs will feature 35 teams, and at least half can claim to have a legitimate shot at winning.

"There's no more shuffling (paddlers) around now," Bruhn said. "You put your best in there and see what happens."

The breakdown of clubs (with number of crews entered in parentheses):

AAA Division (18 or more crews): Hawaiian (36); Kai 'Opua (34); Kailua (31); Kihei (31); Lanikai (29); Outrigger (27); Hui Lanakila (23); Hui Nalu (22).

AA Division (9 to 17): Hanalei (17); Kawaihae (17); Kane'ohe (17); Lokahi (17); Puna (14); Kahana (12); Lae'ula O Kai (9).

A Division (8 or fewer): 'Anuenue (8); Healani (8); Keahiakahoe (8); Koa Kai (8); Wa'akapaemua (8); Waikiki Surf (8); Wailea (8); Kai E Hitu (7); Keaukaha (7); Manu O Ke Kai (7); Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (7); Kaiola (6); Lahaina (6); Mana'e (6); Napili (6); Niumalu (6); Waikiki Beach Boys (6); Kamehameha-Hilo (5); Leeward Kai (5); Moloka'i (5); Hawaiian Outrigger (4); Keauhou O Kona (4); Pu'uwai (4); Keoua (3); Waikiki Yacht Club (3); Hana (2); Kamehameha-O'ahu (2); Waimanalo (2); Windward Kai (2); Alapa Hoe (1); I Mua (1); Kailana (1); Kukui O Moloka'i (1); Na Wa'a Hanakahi (1); New Hope (1).