Posted on: Sunday, February 29, 2004

STATE PADDLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kamehameha girls three-peat; Iolani boys repeat

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

The HHSAA/First Hawaiian Bank State Canoe Paddling Championship perpetual girls trophy will remain with Kamehameha for the third consecutive year.

But for one Warrior it means more than bragging rights —Êit's a way of perpetuating her heritage.

"It feels awesome, just proud to be Hawaiian," said Kehau Meyer, a junior at Kamehameha, a school created to education children of Hawaiian ancestry. "You do it with your heart and fire and that's the most important thing. It just makes you feel more whole and one with your native culture."

In the other races, Iolani used an all-senior crew to repeat as boys champion and King Kekaulike won the mixed division (three boys, three girls) for its first state title in any team sport.

The three winning teams each won all three races — trials, semifinals and finals — yesterday.

The 69-team, 24-race regatta was held yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park after being postponed the previous day because of inclement weather. All races were a half-mile long and included a turn at the midway point.

"We were very fortunate the weather held out," said Iolani boys coach Brian Yee, who added everyone was "blessed" by the occasional light showers which hit halfway through the regatta. "Compared to (Friday) it was night and day."

The Kamehameha girls completed the final in 4:17.72. Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival Punahou was second in 4:21.64 and the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Anuenue was third in 4:27.34.

Members of the winning crew were Elena Bryant, Makana Recea, Makana Bruhn, Meyer, Pua Reis-Moniz and Lori Nakamura.

"I'm just bursting with pride more so for the girls than myself because they worked so hard to get here," Kamehameha coach Rosie Lum said.

In the boys race, Iolani finished the final in 3:45.63, followed by ILH rival Kamehameha in 3:47.62 and the Maui Interscholastic League's King Kekaulike in 3:55.16.

Members of the winning crew were Landen Buckley, Peter Van Lier Ribbink, Ian Smith, Zach Okemura, Matt Sullivan and Robert Wada.

"It was because of the hard work, teamwork," Sullivan said. "We all work together really well and we're all really good friends and that really helps."

Depth was the key, according to Yee.

"We were fortunate we're a little bit deeper this year," he said. "We had eight in our crew and we rotated for every single race since the preliminaries."

David Stanton and Mike Self also paddled for Iolani yesterday.

"It feels good to be able to take it one more time as seniors," Buckley said. "Last year we were all juniors and knew this year people were chasing us and it felt better to pull it off."

The ILH competed in 3- and 5-mile races during its season, but the league's representatives yesterday weren't affected by the shorter course, qualifying all three boys and all four girls teams for their respective 8-team finals.

The Kamehameha girls lost to Punahou for the ILH championship, but Lum said the state regatta favored her team because they have a "faster stroke rate" than their competitors and "in the states, it's all about speed."

King Kekaulike's mixed team completed the final in 4:04.75. The OIA's Kaimuki was second in 4:10.12 and Castle third in 4:17.04.

Members of the winning crew were Kekupa'a Nae'ole, Tyler Lausten, Marci Ono, Keali'i Forsberg, Liann Marks and Nohelani U'u.

"No other feeling like it," Forsberg said. "It's awesome."

King Kekaulike opened in 1995.

"To get the first (championship) in our school's history is just an honor for me, the staff at the school, all the coaches," coach Paul Luuwai said. "I'm just really stoked for our crew."

Notes: The HHSAA/First Hawaiian Bank State Canoe Paddling Championships has been held for the past three years. ... The Honoka'a boys and mixed teams didn't compete yesterday because they had to travel back to the Big Island after Friday's postponement. ... The ILH doesn't compete in the mixed division. ... The Anuenue girls team did a Hawaiian chant before the regatta started. Anuenue is a Hawaiian language immersion school.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.