Teens come of age as they take on Moloka'i
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The members of Teen Bradley O'ahu have their paddles — and their IDs — ready.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
They are able and eligible for Sunday's Hawaii Modular Space Na Wahine O Ke Kai outrigger canoe race for women.
Paddling for Teen Bradley O'ahu will be: Front row, Leahi Frias, Ka'ipo Martinez, Faren Salis, Kelsi Campos and Elena Bryant. Back row, Kanoe Na'auao, Shaina DePrizio, Jessica Dubrovin and Meleana Carr.
Only a year ago, they were girls and not yet legal for such a grueling event.
But now that all the team members are 18 — the minimum age to participate in the race — they will make their inaugural crossing of the Kaiwi Channel together.
"I've wanted to do this race since I was 10," said Meleana Carr, who will steer the crew. "As soon as I heard about it, I said yes."
The Na Wahine O Ke Kai is a 41-mile race from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki. It is considered the world championship of team outrigger canoe paddling.
More than 70 crews from around the world are expected to participate, but none will be as young or inexperienced as Teen Bradley O'ahu.
"At first, I wasn't so sure about this idea," said team coordinator Stan Dickson. "But I saw them paddle; they did really well in a couple of other races. Now, I feel a little better about them doing this."
Eleven paddlers from various clubs around O'ahu are on Teen Bradley O'ahu. Only a few months ago, they were competing against each other.
"It felt kind of funny at first, paddling with all these girls from different clubs," paddler Faren Salis said. "But once we got in the canoe, you could tell we were strong together."
It started as a joint venture between paddlers from Hui Lanakila and Keahiakahoe for the World Sprints event in Hilo last month.
WHAT: 41-mile outrigger canoe race for women WHEN: Sunday, 7:30 a.m. start; first finishers expected around 1 p.m. WHERE: Start at Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i; finish at Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki WHO: Approximately 70 crews from around the world competing in various divisions (open, 40-and-older, 50-and-older, koa canoe) Each team will paddle a six-person canoe; open teams can rotate 10 paddlers in the six seats throughout the race; 40-and-older and 45-and-older teams can rotate 12 paddlers.
"They had a good time and decided they wanted to do the distance races together, also," Dickson said.
Na Wahine O Ke Kai
But to compete in the long-distance races, they needed to find a few more quality paddlers. Through word of mouth and friends of friends, paddlers from Outrigger, Hui Nalu, Kailua and Manu O Ke Kai joined the team.
"It's exciting, actually, to get to paddle with different people," said paddler Ka'ipo Martinez. "We're all the same age and this is all our first time, so that makes it even better."
What's more, many of them probably would not have had a chance to paddle in Na Wahine O Ke Kai with their regular clubs.
Carr, for example, said she would have "no chance" to make the elite women's crews at Outrigger.
"That's why this is so unique," Carr said. "We're from different crews from all around the island, but we all want the same thing. I think we all just wanted a chance to experience it."
Teen Bradley O'ahu is not going to win Sunday's race, but it won't finish last, either.
As Dickson put it: "This is a solid crew. They're all strong paddlers."
For example, four of the paddlers from Hui Lanakila won a state championship in the 18-and-younger girls division last month.
At the E Lau Hoe long-distance race two weeks ago, Teen Bradley O'ahu finished in the middle of the field, despite flipping their canoe late in the race.
"Five or six (canoes) passed us after we huli'd," Dickson said. "But the girls got right back in the boat and caught those teams that passed them. That's when I knew they would be OK.
"I can't say how they'll do (on Sunday), but I know they have a lot of heart. They're not going to give up, I know that."
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Because the paddlers come from various parts of the island, they have been alternating practices at the Ala Wai Canal and off Kahalu'u. Coaches from Hui Lanakila and Keahiakahoe are assisting Dickson with the team.
Paddlers from Mooloolaba of Australia celebrated after winning last year's Na Wahine O Ke Kai.
However, the unique mix of the team has also prevented them from practicing extensively. They only started practicing together as a full crew last week.
"It seems to get better every day, every practice," Carr said. "We're all different paddlers, but we have the mindset of making it work together."
The team will also get to paddle a new Sonny Bradley fiberglass canoe on Sunday.
After Sunday's race, Teen Bradley O'ahu would like to stay together and compete in the Hawaiki Nui Va'a in Tahiti in October.
"It's really neat to see this come together," Dickson said. "It says a lot about these girls to want to take on something like this at their age."
Salis added: "This is our first year together, and we're the youngest ones out there. No matter how it goes, as long as we finish, we're happy."
Defending champions return from Australia
Mooloolaba, which dominated last year's Na Wahine O Ke Kai, has returned from Australia to defend its title.
Mooloolaba won last year's race in 5 hours, 26 minutes, 37 seconds. Outrigger came in second, nearly 10 minutes later.
Top contenders from Hawai'i include Outrigger, Hui Lanakila and Team Bradley.
Only three foreign teams are expected to enter — Mooloolaba and two crews from Canada. Three others are expected from California.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
