Posted on: Sunday, January 4, 2004
Lokahi plays it safe to win race in Brazil
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Lokahi Canoe Club is still celebrating its Christmas present.
Lokahi won the Rio Va'a 2003 outrigger canoe race in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Dec. 21. The Lokahi paddlers returned to Hawai'i last week with a first-place trophy, commemorative medals, and a bunch of Brazilian T-shirts.
"We were the first ones from Hawai'i to do it," said team organizer Rudy Briones. "Some (Hawai'i) teams are already talking about going next year, but nobody can take this one away from us."
Although it did not field a full-Hawai'i crew, Lokahi was the first club from Hawai'i to enter the race. The winning crew consisted of four paddlers from Lokahi (Briones, David Shamblin, Clayton Kaichi and Keone Pasion) and two from Brazil's Rio Va'a Hui Hoe club.
They completed the grueling 28-kilometer course in 3 hours, 14 minutes, 8 seconds. All teams had to race "iron," meaning there were no relief changes for the six paddlers in the canoe.
According to Briones, conditions off Rio de Janeiro were "kind of rough, like Moloka'i."
It worked to Lokahi's advantage. Brazil's two strongest teams took an early lead, but both those canoes swamped in the rough water.
Pasion, Lokahi's steersman, took a safer course closer to shore and it paid off.
"We didn't know what happened to the other teams," Briones said. "When we crossed the finish line, they said we were first and I couldn't believe it.
"After the race, all the Brazilian paddlers wanted to trade T-shirts with us. I guess that's their custom."
The event is only in its second year, but is already considered the largest outrigger canoe race in Latin America. Because Lokahi was the first Hawai'i team to enter, race officials created a new canoe for them and named it "Lokahi."
Prior to the race, the canoe was blessed. The Lokahi paddlers brought ti leaves and ocean water from Hawai'i for use in the blessing.
"It was just a really impressive experience from beginning to end," Briones said. "It was definitely worth it."
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
