Australian paddling team breezes to crown

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

A wonder team from Down Under stole the thunder during the 25th annual Hawaii Modular Space Na Wahine O Ke Kai yesterday.

Mooloolaba team members pass through the victory tunnel (top) after paddling (bottom) to first place in a time of 5 hours, 26 minutes, 37 seconds.

Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Mooloolaba completed the 41-mile course from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, in 5 hours, 26 minutes, 37 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in race history, and 1 minute, 55 seconds short of the record set by OffShore in 1995.

"It costs us about $30,000 to make the trip," said Mooloolaba captain Lisa Curry-Kenny. "There were a lot of sacrifices made to come here. But the prestige of winning this race makes it worth it. I started crying once I realized we were going to win."

Hawai'i's Outrigger Canoe Club finished a distant second in 5:36:20. It was the largest margin of victory since 1991.

"We paddled the best race we could have," said Outrigger coach John Puakea. "That tells you something about (Mooloolaba)."

From the start, Mooloolaba left little doubt. As soon as the starter's horn sounded at 7:30 yesterday morning, the Australians shifted into sprint mode.

"It's pretty simple, really — you go as fast as you can," Curry-Kenny said. "There's no reason to hold back at any time in a race like this. I think we learned that last year."

Last year, Mooloolaba placed third after a self-described bad start. Yesterday, it got ahead by a half-mile before the race was even an hour old.

Conditions were not ideal, yet not atrocious. Light winds and tiny swells made it tough across the Kaiwi Channel, but longer swell rides were on offer off East O'ahu.

"There wasn't too much surf, but what little there was, we were able to find," Mooloolaba steerswoman Kirsty Holmes said. "We have a lot of paddling power, and we had to use all of it just to get on some of those (swell) runners."

Jasmin Cohen, who alternated in the steering position with Holmes, added: "It was the kind of race where you had to make the most of the ocean."

Four of the Australian paddlers — Curry-Kenny, Cohen, Holmes and Sedgeman — were on the Panamuna Riggeroos team that won the Na Wahine O Ke Kai in 1997 and '98. No other international team has ever won the Moloka'i-to-O'ahu women's race.

Outrigger had its best showing since winning the race in 1992. Members of its crew: Diana Allen, Mahealani Batlik, Paula Crabb, Kisi Haine, Jennifer Horner, Megan Jones, Donna Kahakui, Malia Kamisugi, Traci Phillips and Mary Smolenski.

"We felt like we had a great race," Haine said. "Like (Phillips) said, if Australia didn't show up this year, we would have won."

Puakea added: "We heard stories about how good this team from Australia was. I think we all found out it was true."

Masters record

Overshadowed by Mooloolaba's overall victory was a record-breaking performance by the Kai 'Opua masters (35 and older) crew.

Kai 'Opua finished third overall in 5:44:31. It was the fastest time ever by a masters crew as well as the highest finish.

The crew actually featured seven paddlers from last year's Kai 'Opua crew that won the Na Wahine O Ke Kai, and five paddlers from Kailua. Masters crews are allowed to rotate 12 paddlers into the canoe.

"No complaints," said co-steerswoman Carleen Ornellas. "We were in the hunt for second (overall) and won the masters. That's a pretty good day."

Wailua Kayak & Canoe, featuring paddlers from various clubs around the state, battled with Kai 'Opua/Kailua down the stretch and placed fourth overall in 5:44:39.

OffShore of California placed fifth overall and second in the masters 35-older division in 5:49:58.

Onipa'a, also a collection of paddlers from around the state, won the masters 45-older division and finished 38th overall in 6:27:04. Cancer survivor Susan Heitzman paddled in the crew.

Lanikai was the only team to paddle a koa canoe, finishing 41st overall in 6:30:11.

JoJo Toeppner paddled in the Newport Aquatic Center/Off Shoot crew that placed 22nd overall. She has competed in every Na Wahine O Ke Kai since the first one in 1979.

"The first one, I remember everyone being a little scared," said Toeppner, 49. "Now, there's a respect for the sea and also a love for the sea. It's what keeps us coming back."

A record 72 crews participated in yesterday's race.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.

Final results

Overall

1, Mooloolaba (Lisa Curry-Kenny, Jasmin Cohen, Kirsty Holmes, Carolyn Mood, Melinda Salmond, Cassandra Sedgeman, Robyn Saultry, Leanne Doherty, Leigh Townsend, Andrea Polkinghorne), 5:26:37. 2, Outrigger, 5:36:20. 3, Kai 'Opua, 5:44:31. 4, Wailua Kayak & Canoe, 5:44:39. 5, OffShore, 5:49:58. 6, Jericho Outrigger, 5:51:54. 7, Kailua-1, 5:54:45. 8, Outrigger, 5:55:26. 9, Hui Lanakila-1, 5:56:05. 10, Lokahi-1, 5:56:22. 11, Waikiki Beach Boys, 5:56:48. 12, Kai 'Opua, 5:57:53. 13, Pirae, 5:58:17. 14, Wailea, 6:00:33. 15, Lanikila, 6:01:31. 16, Hui Nalu-1, 6:02:19. 17, Puna, 6:03:05. 18, Lae'ula O Kai, 6:06:13. 19, Kaiola, 6:06:59. 20, Hawai'i Canoe & Kayak, 6:09:27. 21, Waikiki Surf Club, 6:09:31. 22, NAC/Off Shoot, 6:10:53. 23, Lanikai-1, 6:13:54. 24, Hui Nalu-2, 6:16:23. 25, Pu'uwai, 6:16:32.

26, Healani-1, 6:16:33. 27, Hui Lanakila-2, 6:16:40. 28, Keahiakahoe, 6:18:44. 29, Kihei, 6:18:51. 30, North Shore, 6:21:01. 31, Mississauga, 6:21:52. 32, Kailua-2, 6:22:54. 33, Kihei, 6:25:26. 34, Kamehameha-Hilo, 6:25:43. 35, Hui Nalu-3, 6:26:04. 36, Waikiki Yacht Club, 6:26:26. 37, Kawaihae, 6:26:43. 38, Onipa'a, 6:27:04. 39, Pu'uwai, 6:28:53. 40, Waikiki Surf Club, 6:28:58. 41, Lanikai-2, 6:30:11. 42, Namolokama O Hanalei, 6:30:38. 43, Lanikai-4, 6:31:49. 44, Koa Kai-1, 6:32:00. 45, Waikiki Beach Boys, 6:32:51. 46, NCAWPA, 6:34:05. 47, Washington CC, 6:34:31. 48, Hui Pakolea, 6:35:09. 49, Healani-2, 6:36:14. 50, Koa Kai-2, 6:36:38.

51, Kailua-3, 6:37:00. 52, Hawaiian, 6:37:11. 53, Lokahi-3, 6:37:25. 54, Kamamalahoe, 6:38:47. 55, Waikiki Yacht Club, 6:39:30. 56, Pupu O Hawai'i, 6:40:48. 57, Niumalu, 6:41:39. 58, 'Anuenue, 6:41:43. 59, Kilohana, 6:43:06. 60, Lokahi-2, 6:43:38. 61, Hui Lanakila-3, 6:44:38. 62, Waikiki Beach Boys, 6:45:46. 63, Alapa Hoe, 6:47:08. 64, Kai Poha, 6:48:06. 65, Kent Island, 6:49:02. 66, I Mua, 6:50:23. 67, Keaukaha, 6:51:32. 68, New Hope-1, 6:51:46. 69, New Hope-3, 6:54:44. 70, Lanikai-3, 6:57:04. 71, Mamala Hoe, 6:59:54. 72, New Hope-2, 7:09:08.

Masters 35-older

1, Kai 'Opua (Beth Cooper, Ronona Della Cioppa, Patty Eames, Jymi Friday, Torrey Goodman, Viv Griffin, Nicki Lacey-Enos, Donna Meyer, Carleen Ornellas, Cindy Razga, Cheryl Villegas, Amy Young), 5:44:31. 2, OffShore, 5:49:58. 3, Kihei, 6:18:51. 4, North Shore, 6:21:01. 5, Mississauga, 6:21:52. 6, Hui Pakolea, 6:35:09. 7, Alapa Hoe, 6:47:08. 8, Lanikai-3, 6:57:04. 9, New Hope-2, 7:09:08.

Masters 45-older

1, Onipa'a (Amy Crews, Susan Heitzman, Susan Hoerner, Camie Kimball, Kathleen Leahy, Mary Martin-Goldstein, Penny Martin, Donna Paoa, Louann Reyes, Peggy Spencer, Judy Waite, Sarah Jane Watson), 6:27:04. 2, Pu'uwai, 6:28:53. 3, Lanikai-4, 6:31:49. 4, Pupu O Hawai'i, 6:40:48. 5, Mamala Hoe, 6:59:54.

Koa canoe

1, Lanikai-2 (Juanita Beck, Cindi Chess, Allison Freitas, Carmin Kimes, Amber Kuhlman, Keppi Lichota, Pomai Lancaster, Dana Miller, Madeline Murphy-Lopez, Emily Waters), 6:30:11.