The Van Gieson family founded the Leeward Kai Canoe Club in 1967. The next year, they agreed to host the Father's Day Regatta for the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association — the state's largest paddling organization with more than 3,000 members.

They have been hosting it every year since, including yesterday's event at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"This is the only way we know how to do it," said Edie Van Gieson, president of the club. "Everybody has their own way to celebrate Father's Day. This is ours."

Edie Van Gieson and her husband, Henry, are recognized as the club's founders. Their two sons, Myron and Ryan, took over coaching duties after Henry died in 1995.

Ryan Van Gieson, the youngest of three siblings, is now the head coach of Leeward Kai Canoe Club.

"This is not just a sport for me and my family," said Ryan, 32. "This is a lifestyle. When my dad passed, I took it upon myself to help the club. I was only a young adult at the time, and I knew how much work was involved, but it was like I was born into it."

Now, he's bringing the rest of his family into it. His wife, Shannon, paddles for the club as does their oldest son, Dayne. Three other children are waiting to become old enough.

"I'm fully expecting my kids to grow up in this club," Shannon said. "I want them to realize how much their dad and uncles and grandparents did for this club."

Dayne is only 11, but he said he already has an appreciation for his father.

"I told him happy Father's Day this morning, that's all," Dayne said. "He was happy, but I know he's so busy helping the club do stuff."

Per family tradition, the only physical gifts exchanged yesterday between the Van Giesons were flower lei.

"Watching the kids get in and out of the boat smiling, that's the best present for me," Ryan said. "That's what Father's Day was for my dad and that's what it is for me."

Ryan's nephew, Alfred Van Gieson, is also sticking with the tradition. He is only 23, but already has assumed duties as an assistant coach for the club.

"I actually expressed to my family that I thought I wasn't ready to coach," Alfred said. "But now that I'm doing it, I enjoy it."

Alfred is also a father, which now makes him part of the Father's Day tradition.

"My wife and kids are here playing and that's good enough for me," he said.

Rena Rzonca, the only daughter of Edie and Henry, is also active in the club as a paddler. Her two sons, Daniel and Paul, are also paddlers.

The only break from tradition yesterday was the venue. Leeward Kai is based at Nanakuli Beach, and the Father's Day Regatta is normally held there. But because of construction in Nanakuli, the regatta was moved to Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Because of that, the Van Giesons had to take a one-year break from another Father's Day tradition — scattering flowers off Nanakuli Beach to honor the past fathers of the club.

Several deceased members of Leeward Kai have had their ashes scattered off Nanakuli Beach.

"I actually went down to (Nanakuli Beach) early this morning to apologize to my dad," Ryan said. "I told him that we weren't going to celebrate with him today, but we'd be back next year. Knowing him, he would fully understand because it was for the club."

For so many reasons, the regatta has become the event of the year for the Leeward Kai paddlers. Yesterday, they set up food booths and sold T-shirts.

"We look forward to this every year," Edie Van Gieson said. "We don't make a lot of money off it. But it brings our whole club together. You see, it's not just my family. It's a lot of families that make this work."

As Shannon Van Gieson put it: "It's hard to explain because this is the only way we know how to celebrate Father's Day. We would be lost if we tried to have a nice dinner or something like that. I think the whole family being here together is more meaningful than any gift."