Hawai'i sports — canoe paddling, in particular — will be in the national spotlight today.

ESPN's SportsCenter will be on Maui today as part of its "50 states in 50 days" series.

The Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta at Hanaka'o'o Beach will serve as a backdrop for the segment.

"Canoe paddling is our state sport, so it's a great chance for us to show it on national TV," said Hannie Anderson, president of the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association.

Neil Everett — a former Honolulu sportscaster who is now a SportsCenter anchor — will be the segment host on Maui. He said a SportsCenter desk will be set up for him at Hanaka'o'o Beach.

"When I first found out that they were doing this 50 states in 50 days thing, I went straight to the office and said I want Hawai'i," Everett said. "They said OK, and I've been looking forward to it ever since."

Michael Shiffman, who will be the producer of the Hawai'i segment, said several sporting events and sports figures with Hawai'i ties will be featured.

Shiffman said feature stories on shark-attack survivor Bethany Hamilton and paddling veteran Joseph "Nappy" Napoleon will be televised.

Kaua'i's Hamilton, who lost her left arm in a shark attack in 2003, won a national surfing championship in June.

Napoleon has been participating in canoe races since the 1950s. He will paddle with his 'Anuenue Canoe Club in today's regatta.

Shiffman said there also will be a "welcome to Hawai'i" piece, with mentions of the Chaminade basketball upset over Virginia in 1982, the Pro Bowl, former University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang, and golf phenom Michelle Wie.

"We've been getting tremendous response from the other states we've been to, and I'm sure Hawai'i will be the same," Shiffman said. "Plus, we'll be taping at the beach, so you can't beat that as far as scenery."

Everett said he will open the segment with his trademark "howzit."

"It certainly helps to know a little bit about Hawai'i," Everett said. "I'm just hoping to show as much about the state as possible."

SportsCenter will air several times on ESPN today. Scheduled starting times are 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Hawai'i time.