Kane'ohe unveiled its new koa canoe and used it to score a dominating victory in the Adam Ahai Memorial Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Kane'ohe, the defending Hui Wa'a champion, got a near-flawless performance from its youth paddlers en route to scoring 72 points. Manu O Ke Kai placed second with 58 points and Lokahi was third with 41.

"Last year is last year," Kane'ohe head coach Clint Anderson said. "I told all our kids that this is a new year so they have to prove themselves all over again."

More than 1,500 paddlers from 17 clubs from around O'ahu participated in the day-long regatta.

Hui Wa'a is one of two canoe organizations on O'ahu. The O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association will open its regatta season on Sunday.

Hui Wa'a teams normally race in fiberglass canoes, but Kane'ohe opted to use its koa model yesterday.

"We've been a club for 31 years, and for 30 years we've always had to borrow (a koa canoe)," Anderson said. "Now that we have our own, we might as well use it."

The canoe is named Nai'a, which is the Hawaiian word for dolphin. Yesterday, the Kane'ohe kids rode it to victory early and often.

Last year, Kane'ohe emerged as the state's top youth program. If yesterday was any indication, the tradition is continuing.

In the 13 youth races staged yesterday, Kane'ohe won 11, and scored 60 out of a maximum 65 points.

"I told the kids that everybody is after them this season, so they have to work even harder," Anderson said. "This is a good start, but there's always room to get better."

Kane'ohe's final margin of victory could have been even greater had it not been penalized 10 points for various rules violations.

Manu O Ke Kai never challenged for the lead, but its runner-up finish was its best showing in several years.

Manu O Ke Kai won five adult races, including the prestigious men's senior race. The crew of Greg Wright, Robert Pactol, John Hoogsteden, Bonga Perkins, Charlie Tantog and Moku Sanborn edged Koa Kai by three seconds in the 1›-mile race.

"I think this is the first time we ever won the senior race," Sanborn said. "Going down (the course), there was some wind chop, so I was trying to get on the bumps. Then coming back up wind, we put it in second gear."

Lokahi, which owns a record 17 Hui Wa'a championships, had late-registration problems yesterday, and managed to win just two races.

The most notable victory yesterday came from the Waikiki Beach Boys in the women's senior race.

The crew of Kelsa Teeters, Erin Offenhauser, Meredith Takara, Dana Gorecki, Jennifer Bowers and Julie Shoup won the 1 1/2-mile race by a whopping 1 minute, 13 seconds. Koa Kai placed second, and Lokahi was third.

It was the first time since 1997 that Lokahi did not win the women's senior race.

"It's a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment," said Takara, who has been with the Waikiki Beach Boys for eight years. "We got closer and closer to them every week last year, so we had a feeling this day would come."

Led by its women's paddlers, Waikiki Beach Boys won the A Division for small clubs with 30 points.

Koa Kai won the AA Division for medium-sized clubs with 53 points.

"We have a lot of men, so we try to spread them out as much as we can," said Koa Kai head coach Joe Kim. "But we still need to build up other areas before we can move up to challenge the big clubs."

Hui Wa'a regattas will continue every Sunday through June and July.

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

Yesterday's results
Adam Ahai Memorial Regatta
Host: Kamehameha Canoe Club
At Ke'ehi Lagoon

Yesterday

Team

AAA Division (25+ events)

1, Kane'ohe 72. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 58. 3, Lokahi 41.

AA (13+ events)

1, Koa Kai 53. 2t, Waikiki Yacht Club, Alapa Hoe 18. 4, Kai Poha 4.

A (1-12 events)

1, Waikiki Beach Boys 30. 2t, North Shore, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 16. 4t, Windward Kai, Hawaiian Outrigger 8. 6t, I Mua, Kumulokahi Elks, Ka Mamalahoe 7. 9, Kamehameha 4, Kalihi Kai 2.

1/4 Mile

Male

12-younger: 1, Kane'ohe (Kawela Kamakana, Kamaehu Lapilio, Mana Chang, Kai Leong, Ezikiel Marshall, Sean Hulihee) 2:28.33. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 2:50.95. 3, I Mua 3:27.67. 13: 1, Kane'ohe (Bobby Pratt, Doug Richardson, Cody Hookano, Keoni Langley, Kortney Yano, Kanoa Chang) 1:50.76. 2, Hawaiian Outrigger 1:56.06. 3, Alapa Hoe 2:04.75. 14: 1, Alapa Hoe (Herman Co, Nathaniel Nicholas, Kalani Gates, Kekoa Marinas-Bounds, Rarison Tuitama, Tyler Sanford) 2:07.28. 2, Lokahi 2:10.95. 3, Kane'ohe 2:13.32.

Female

12-younger: 1, Kane'ohe (Kree Espinda, Brandi Kaluhiwa, Kathy Sherman, Chelsea Hosino, Courtnie Lelepali, Kahea Anderson) 2:28.44. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 2:42.73. 3, I Mua 2:57.63. 13: 1, Kane'ohe (Camille Rodrigues, Cherish Hosino, Xian Pomare, Brandi Kuluhiwa, Kree Espinda, Kelia Parrilla) 2:29.47. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 2:35.44. 3, Kumulokahi Elks 2:46.11. 14: 1, Kane'ohe (Kristine Aquino, Kiana Parrilla, Brandi Hulihe'e, Camille Rodrigues, Tiana Cambra, Kelia Parrilla) 2:22.92. 2, Koa Kai 2:29.42. 3, North Shore 2:33.75. Novice B: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Christina Hoggatt, Johanna Pfannenstiel, Bobbi Pollock, Stacey Shepard, Cindy Villegas, Mayumi Villiatora) 2:15.22. 2, Koa Kai 2:23.38. 3, North Shore 2:31.25.

Mixed

12-younger: 1, Kane'ohe (Kawela Kamakana, Kamaehu Lapilio, Kathy Sherman, Chelsea Hosino, Keshy Langley, Kalaii Lee) 2:24.76. 2, Windward Kai 2:28.85. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 2:41.11. Novice B: 1, Waikiki Beach Boy (Johannes LeRoux, Michael Pisaseck, Craig Ross, Angelina Dressler, Nicole Meunier, Rosalie Paradise) 2:02.37. 2, Alapa Hoe 2:05.53. 3, Kai Poha 2:07.16.

Specials (paddlers not reported)

1, North Shore 2.40.65. 2, Hawaiian Outrigger 2:41.87.

1/2 Mile

Male

Golden: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Randy Sanborn, Ed Lemire, Lee Kakauoha, Bob Bevacqua, John Schwartz, Joe Scallon) 4:12.84. 2, Kane'ohe 4:26.16. 3, I Mua 4:31.71. Novice B: 1, Koa Kai (Ryan Saguid, David Cadavona, Lucky Williams, Beau Kassebeer, Derek Uban, Kekoa Taylor) 3:59.15. 2, Lokahi 3:59.92. 3, Windward Kai 4:17.44. 15: 1, Lokahi (Chad Kahler, Stephen Cheng, Kenny Cabacungan, Palani Caraden, Chris Delfico, Ren Kuwahara) 4:07.37. 2, Kane'ohe 4:22.12. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:38.95. 16: 1, Kane'ohe (Cory Siqueira, Sofea Kahiapo, Justin Silva, Aaron Abbey, Kamu Santoa, Keoni Anderson) 4:14.29. 2, Hawaiian Outrigger 4:28.32. 3, Kumulokahi Elks 4:31.10. Senior Master: 1, Koa Kai (Billy Rees, Joe Kim, Bill King, Colin Galang, Ben Ancheta, Dickie Chow) 3:57.50. 2, Kane'ohe 4:21.35. Open 4: 1, Ka Moi (Jason Bellefeuille, Rollen Padello, Greg Pavao, Danny Sanchez) 4:14.34. 2, Lokahi 4:20.36. 3, Alapa Hoe 4:23.21.

Female

Golden: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Donna Machado, Kay Bauman, Peggy Cutting, Anita Kelly, Grace Dixon, Carol Green) 5:50.26. 2, Lokahi 5:56.02. 15: 1, Kane'ohe (Lehua Tabadero, Shanyn Fafard-Kaaihue, Heidi Jones, Kristine Aquino, Brandi Hulihe'e, Titi Kawainui) 4:46.76. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 5:06.11. 3, Kumulokahi Elks 5:06.77. 16: 1, Kane'ohe (Precious Vincent, Kawena Kawainui, Jess Aquino, Kiana Parrilla, Heidi Jones, Titi Kawainui) 4:37.97. 2, Lokahi 4:39.42. 3, Kamehameha 4:43.42. 18: 1, Kane'ohe (Lehua Tabadero, Precious Vincent, Kawena Kawainui, Jess Aquino, Shanyn Fafard-Kaaihue, Courtnie Tokuda) 4:44.24. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:46.81. 3, Ka Mammalahoe 5:02.13. Novice A: 1, Koa Kai (Kehau Ching, Hilarie Keehne, Wailani Ceberano, Polly Eldred, Sharoness Quinata, Cherle Lee) 4:36.43. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:54.56. 3, North Shore 4:56.08. Senior Master: 1, Waikiki Yacht Club (Joyce Aton, Dianne Harrison, Marian Crocco, Patti Dupuis, Jo Kerns, Linda Nishimura) 5:20.85. 2, Kane'ohe 5:27.21. 3, Kai Poha 5:44.66. Open 4: 1, Lokahi (Tammie Picklesimer, Darlene Morikawa, Barbora Locquaio, Diana Valdez) 5:09.59. 2, Alapa Hoe 5:20.61. 3, Ka Moi 5:26.31.

Mixed

Golden: 1, Kane'ohe (Dickie Abbey, Bobby Perreira, Pam Solow, Pua Kaiama, Juju Takano, Stubby Kalama) 4:50.30. 2, Kai Poha 5:11.19. Masters: 1, Koa Kai (Tambry Young, Stephanie Reyes, Bev Kim, Neal Ceberano, Paul Amoy, Bill Waters) 4:10.14. 2, Ka Moi 4:10.73. 3, Kane'ohe 4:34.61. Senior Master: 1, Kane'ohe (Naomi Higuchi, Tootoo Faauuga, Jonel Smith, Woody Kahiapo, Rene Smith, George Waikaloa) 4:49.77. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:56.29. 3, North Shore 4:58.41. Open 6: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Francis Arango, Dana Gorecki, Scott Hall, James Malary, Julia Shoup, Meredith Takara) 4:14.03. 2, Koa Kai 4:21.27. 3, Kamehameha 4:30.60.

1 Mile

Male

18: 1, Kane'ohe (Seth Ramolete, Kawika Kahiapo, Chase Silva, Gabe Tabadero, Aaron Abbey, Keoni Anderson) 7:59.96. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 8:15.03. 3, Koa Kai 8:40.68. Novice A: 1, Koa Kai (Brett Saguid, Justin Oleole, Eric Kingma, David Fuga, Kelii Ross, James Oleole III) 7:29.93. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:19.99. 3, Alapa Hoe 8:28.51. Freshman: 1, Koa Kai (Abe Kamano, Sekai Samuelu, James Kane, James Digloria, Henry Leoiki, Dave Randall) 7:39.79. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 7:41.00. 3, Lokahi 8:04.15. Sophomore: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Moku Sanborn, John Hoogsteden, Robert Pactol, Darrell Naeole, Julian Tyrell, Jere Saiz) 7:53.18. 2, Koa Kai 7:55.18. 3, Lokahi 8:07.59. Master: 1, Ka Moi (Eric Soo, Larry Chaykin, Hartwell Afong, Gary Kalaimamahu, Andrew Paragoso, Willy Haia) 8:15.96. 2, Waikiki Yacht Club 8:31.78. 3, Koa Kai 8:32.92.

Female

Freshmen: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Sue Brown, Kathleen Grubbs, Jill Harding, Valerie Hershey, Erin Offenhauser, Kelsa Teeters) 8:32.06. 2, Lokahi 9:06.08. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 9:39.65. Sophomore: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Randi Smith, Ernie Allen, Stacy Araki, Mahina Lorenzo, Yolanda Racca, Penny Kalua) 9:36.39. 2, Ka Mamalahoe 10:07.38. 3, Lokahi 10:07.97. Master: 1, North Shore (Folly Murdock, Kimberly Walsh, Nicky Nabarrete, Chana Dimmitt, Dara Fairchild, Donna Moore) 9:58.03. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 10:06.24. 3, Ka Mamalahoe 10:06.26.

1 1/2 Mile

Male

Senior: 1, Manu O Ke Kai (Moku Sanborn, Greg Wright, John Hoogsteden, Robert Pactol, Bonga Perkins, Charlie Tantog) 11:54.98. 2, Koa Kai 11:57.45. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 12:07.69.

Female