"It's good to win," said Lokahi head coach Robert Viernes, whose club won nine races. "We've been averaging third place at every regatta. They were more relaxed so they paddled better."

Kane'ohe's canoe was involved in a three-way collision with Imua and Kalihi Kai in the women's novice A race because of the waves. That damaged the front end of their canoe but it's nothing the club can't patch up.

Also, the damaged canoe wasn't their usual racing canoe, but the one used for distance races. After the incident, Windward Kai lent their second canoe to Kane'ohe.

"That was awesome because anything could've happened to their canoe," said Kane'ohe's Donna Aquino. "That was very nice of them. At least everybody could finish the day."

The front end of Ka Mamalahoe's canoe was damaged during a collision in the freshman women's race, forcing the club to sit out the remaining 14 races of the afternoon. In a separate accident, Imua ended up borrowing an ama, or port hull, from another club.

"On the water, all kinds of things just happen," said Russell Swaney, president of Ka Mamalahoe.

The surf either worked toward clubs' advantages or didn't. The Waikiki Beach Boys' senior women's team, which had won six races this season, was hit by the surf right before the start of their race. While all the other teams paddled out, the Beach Boys were bailing the water out of their canoe and finished second.

"Waikiki is a wave race," said Beach Boys coach Sean Monahan. "It's pretty much luck of the draw. "It can bring you from last place to first place. It can make an extremely big difference."

Laura Keaunui of Kane'ohe said it was an adrenaline rush going over the waves during the beginning stretch of the race. Coming back to the finish though, was a whole different feeling.

"I was a little bit fearful," said Keaunui, who paddled on the sophomore women's team.

While some crews were able to catch waves that carried them into the finish, other crews were pulled off course.

"We got a really good wave and then it turned us," Keaunui said. "We were in third place and because it turned us to the left, we came in last."

She said the steersman is the one who tells the crew to "paddle hard, wave coming" or to give five hard strokes.

"Once you're on the wave, you just have to keep your rhythm and keep the canoe going," Keaunui said. "We were on the wave a long time before we turned. Once it starts going, it's hard. The waves are so strong and the canoe is long and heavy so it's hard for them to keep that canoe straight."

With the conditions, the regatta allowed for any person from a club to paddle in their canoe's steersman position. That helped Lokahi win the senior women's race in 11 minutes and 49.24 seconds.

"Our coach steered us and that was a big benefit for us," Darlene Morikawa said. "It helped us out a lot so he caught everything coming back in. He has a lot of experience steering."

Koa Kai and the Beach Boys won their respective divisions yesterday to complete the regular season undefeated. Koa Kai claimed the AA division with 49 points behind five victories while the Beach Boys totaled 35 in the A division.

In its 25th running, the Waikiki regatta is considered more of a fun race with the water conditions.

Last year, the waves wreaked havoc on canoes in the first three starting lanes, breaking the paddle of a Kane'ohe paddler.

Yesterday, the waves weren't as consistent as last year but that didn't fail to leave anyone disappointed.

"It'd be nice if it was slightly more consistent so every racer will have the experience of catching a good, challenging wave," Monahan said.

Added Keaunui: "It's a very exciting race, definitely."

Reach Stanley Lee at slee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8533.

Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a
Waikiki Beach Boys Invitational Regatta
At Waikiki Beach

AAA Division

1, Lokahi 66

2, Kane'ohe 49

AA Division

1, Koa Kai 49

2, Waikiki Yacht Club 21

3, Manu O Ke Kai 17

4, Hawaiian Outrigger 17

5, Ka Mamalahoe 11

A Division

1, Waikiki Beach Boys 35

2, Windward Kai 24

3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 19

4, Kamehameha 17

5, Alapa Hoe 16

6, Kai Poha 12

7, Kalihi Kai 6

8, I Mua 5

1/4 mile

Male

12-Under: 1, Kane'ohe (Kai Leong, Isaac Cambra, TJ Awa, Mana Chang, Sean Hulihe'e, Stu Kalama) 1:28.05. 2, Kamehameha 1:28.65. 3, Ka Mamalahoe 1:29.05.

13-Under: 1, Windward Kai (Joshua Dela Cruz, Bronson Ahakuela, Calen Freil, Joe Balora, William Fault, Pali Palakiko) 1:54.77. 2, Ka Mamalahoe 1:55.63.

14-Under: 1, Alapa Hoe (Hernan Co, Nathaniel Nicholas, Kalani Gates, Kekoa Marinas-bounds, Tyler Sanford, Daniel Sanford) 1:44.05. 2, Hawaiian Outrigger 1:49.28. 3, Kamehameha 1:49.47.

Female

12-Under: 1, Windward Kai (Caitlin Aarona, Sarah Balai, Chelsea Bizik, Kayelynn Kohatsu, Blessing Miyamoto, Pali Palakiko) 2:08.49. 2, Kalihi Kai 2:15.25. 3, Kane'ohe 2:16.19.

13-Under: 1, Lokahi (Natasha Kolo, Catherine Langinbela, Jamie Bush, Hana Allison, Kristen Delacalzad, Robert Viernes) 1:47.29. 2, Kamehameha 1:48.50. 3, Ka Mamalahoe 2:07.64.

14-Under: 1, Kane'ohe (Brandi Hulihe'e, Tiana Cambra, Leio Matsunaga, Amber Akau, Daysha Wong, Roy Anderson) 1:35.83. 2, Koa Kai 1:36.35. 3, Hawaiian Outrigger 1:56.64.

Novice B: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Nicholas Meunier, Johanna Pfannenstiel, Stacey Shephard, Pamela Staszewski, Mayumi Villatora, Guy Pere) 1:41.72. 2, Waikiki Yacht Club 1:55.77. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 1:56.07.

Mixed

12-Under: 1, Windward Kai (Blessing Miyamoto, Corey Friel, Lautoa Atisanoe, Kayelynn Kohatsu, Sarah Balai, Pali Palakiko) 1:33.09. 2, Ka Malamahoe 1:56.01. 3, Alapa Hoe 2:09.33.

Novice B: 1, Alapa Hoe (Lori Mariani, Alburta Guzman, Dave Henry, Mike Peralta, Burt Okamoto, Daniel Sanford) 1:36.49. 2, Lokahi 1:37.51. 3, Kane'ohe 1:38.42.

1/2 mile

Male

Golden: 1, Kane'ohe (Sandy Quon, Noll Andrel, Glenn Martin, Kunane Canario, Feliz Kang, Dennis Kaluhiwa) 4:16.01. 2, Lokahi 4:30.46. 3, Imua 4:32.19.

Novice B: 1, Koa Kai (Ryan Saguid, David Cadavona, Darren Kela, Lucky Williams, Mark Munneke, James Oleole III) 3:25.87. 2, Lokahi 3:46.90. 3, Waikiki Beach Boys 3:59.90.

15-Under: 1, Lokahi (Stephen Chang, Chad Kahler, Ren Kuwahara, Dean Ushijima, Chris Delfico, Mike Cushnie) 3:57.10. 2, Alapa Hoe 4:03.36. 3, Ka Moi 4:19.51.

16-Under: 1, Ka Moi (Kingston Dias, Reece Pavao, Spencer Puha, Harrison Stanley-Ham, Brandon Gonzales, Greg Pavao) 3:54.66. 2, Hawaiian Outrigger 3:57.45. 3, Kane'ohe 3:57.95.

Senior Master: 1, Kane'ohe (Nolan Kim, Charlie Akana, Doug Lee, Chico Salgado, Laredo Murray, George Waikaloa) 4:00.73.

Open 4: 1, Waikiki Yacht Club (Arthur Varady, Steve Gerwig, Keith Yamada, Greg Morris) 3:45.70. 2, Ka Moi 4:05.70. 3, Koa Kai 4:08.28.

Female

Golden: 1, Kai Poha (Chris Gaylord, Jonaire Correa, Carol Aio, Mary Winchester, Kaiulani Hess, Butch Ayau) 5:31.75. 2, Lokahi 5:46.38.

15-Under: 1, Kane'ohe (Lehua Tabadero, Shanyn Fafard, Rikki Carinio, Kiana Parrilla, Titi Kawainui, Roy Anderson) 4:00.54. 2, Kalihi Kai 4:00.84. 3, Hawaiian Outrigger 4:16.40.

16-Under: 1, Lokahi (Amanda Peralta, Jasmine Chapman, Tasha Kolo, Keakalani Yamashiro, Marissa Lee, Kevin Mokuahi) 4:23.40. 2, Kamehameha 4:39.85. 3, Koa Kai 4:42.50.

18-Under: 1, Kamehameha (Daniele Akana, Abigail Lee, Emma Dacalio-Spencer, Casey Edboi, Nicole Trost, Bridgette Adam Ahai) 4:28.76. 2, Kane'ohe 4:31.43. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:36.36.

Novice A: 1, Koa Kai (Sharoness Quinta, Polly Eldred, Kehan Ching, Janelle Kalawe, Wendy McLain, Dave Randal) 4:22.50. 2, Imua 4:23.87. 3, Lokahi 4:26.19.

Senior Master: 1, Kai Poha (Nani Uehara, Dee Myers, Margaret Lee, Tala Suafai, Lei Endo, Butch Ayau) 4:01.57. 2, Kane'ohe 4:19.80. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 4:33.15.

Open 4: 1, Lokahi (Christina Clinton, Carol Jaxon, Diana Valdez, Mike Cushnie) 4:21.91. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:32.73. 3, Koa Kai 4:39.63.

Mixed

Golden: 1, Kane'ohe (Dickie Abbey, Bobby Perreira, Lorea Andrell, Pua Kaiama, Juju Takano, Joseph Kalama) 4:36.98. 2, Hawaiian Outrigger 5:15.78.

Master: 1, Ka Moi (Jim Johns, Ann Johns, Glenn Freitas, Joe Momoa, Shelly Freitas) 4:00.05. 2, Windward Kai 4:00.99. 3, Koa Kai 4:37.65.

Senior Master: 1, Koa Kai (Billy Reese, Colin Galang, Audry Lee, Teresa Lee, Karen Nishimura, Dickey Chow) 3:43.30. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 3:57.69. 3, Kane'ohe 4:11.74.

Open 6: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Dana Gorecki, Valerie Hershey, Rachel Schackelton, Andrew Roth, Cory Beall, Eric Chun) 3:52.50. 2, Koa Kai 3:52.95. 3, Lokahi 3:53.40.

1 mile

Male

18-Under: 1, Koa Kai (Makana Ciotti, Joey Miller, Kyle Meheala, Corey Mallen, Guy Goya, Abe Kumanao) 7:14.56. 2, Lokahi 7:30.25. 3, Kane'ohe 7:49.47.

Novice A: 1, Koa Kai (David Fuga, Kaleo Schoening, Erik Kingma, Dan Reed, James Oleole III, Dave Randall) 7:23.05. 2, Kane'ohe 7:48.53. 3, Kai Poha 8:17.67.

Freshman: 1, Lokahi (Mike Chandler, Cyril Dela Cruz, David Shambun, Mark Inouye, Robert Walker, Robert Viernes) 7:49.04. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 7:52.71. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 8:01.36.

Sophomore: 1, Lokahi (Alex Tedimann, Eddie Davis, John Kaaialii, Robert Viernes, Makena Fernandez, Kevin Mokuahi) 7:34.35. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 7:35.34. 3, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:05.86.

Master: 1, Lokahi (Walter Oshiro, Felix Berzabel, Rodney Ouchi, Earl Cobb, Rudy Briones, Lance Ponce) 7:24.08. 2, Koa Kai 7:49.84. 3, Ka Moi 7:50.80.

Female

Freshman: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Jennifer Bowers, Kathleen Grubbs, Jill Harding, Erin Offenhauser, Fern Yoon, Guy Pere) 8:16.90. 2, Lokahi 8:18.48. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 9:18.72.

Sophomore: 1, Lokahi (Jennifer Thompson, Bozo Vierra, Darlene Morikawa, Mary Carney, Sue Lutfy, Mike Cushnie) 8:50.45. 2, Waikiki Yacht Club 8:56.24. 3, Koa Kai 9:20.65.

Master: 1, Waikiki Yacht Club (Lorna Ka'aloa, Merrie Chung, Gail Suke, Claire Simpliciano, Iris Ishii, Steve Gerwig) 9:08.02. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 9:51.77.

1 1/2 mile

Male

Senior: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Andrew Roth, Cory Beall, James Richmond, Scott Hall, Mike Beason, Owen Cenal) 11:42.55. 2, Windward Kai 11:43.43. 3, Ka Moi 11:46.47.

Female