By the numbers, the Hawaiian Canoe Club of Maui is once again the team to beat at the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta.

Hawaiian is the four-time defending state champion, and will have the most crews paddling in Saturday's regatta at Hanaka'o'o Beach, Maui.

"We're at home, so we'll be looser and we'll have more fun because our whole club will be there," Hawaiian head coach Diane Ho said. "You're limited to certain numbers when you travel to another island. When you're at home, everybody's available."

Hawaiian registered a regatta-high 34 crews at yesterday's lane drawing. The regatta will have 37 races, so Hawaiian will be in all but three of the races.

"We're happy with it," Ho said. "We had kind of a flat year this year when you compare it to years past, primarily because people kept going on vacation. We were a little worried that we might not get some crews in, but we're pleased with how it turned out."

O'ahu champion Kailua registered 33 crews, and appears to be the only team with a shot at keeping pace with Hawaiian.

Hui Nalu will have 28 crews, Hui Wa'a champion Kane'ohe will have 27, and Hui Lanakila will have 22.

"I wish everybody luck, but obviously, (Hawaiian) does their homework and they come out strong every year," HCRA president John Kekua said. "You have to look at them as the team to beat."

Lanikai, which probably would have had more than 30 crews, withdrew from the state regatta two weeks ago because of an ongoing dispute over its koa canoes.

Surprisingly, none of the Big Island clubs will challenge for the overall title.

Big Island champion Puna and longtime power Kai 'Opua are both in the AA Division for "medium" sized clubs.

"Economics-wise and logistics-wise, most of the clubs cannot send all their crews off island," Kai 'Opua head coach Mike Atwood said. "You want to see as much participation as you can, but as travel becomes more of a challenge, it'll become more of an issue for all the clubs."

The last time the state championship regatta was held on Maui was 1999.

That regatta was never completed, and controversy was the only clear winner. Because of several mishaps throughout the day, the final two races of the regatta could not be completed before darkness set in.

HCRA officials met on Friday night to discuss ways to prevent another slow regatta on Maui this year.

"Nobody wants to relive what happened the last time, with everybody swearing at each other," Kekua said. "But what has happened in the years since that regatta is that everybody has been working hard to make the state race more efficient. I'm confident that it'll run on time."

Ho said regular-season regattas held at Hanaka'o'o Beach do not run into darkness. And she said "barring a huge storm" the river that runs into the beach should not create a dangerous current along the race course.

AAA DIVISION (18 CREWS OR MORE)

Hawaiian (34), Kailua (33), Hui Nalu (28), Kane'ohe (27), Hui Lanakila (22), Outrigger (18).

AA DIVISION (9 TO 17 CREWS)

Kahana (17), Kai 'Opua (17), Keahiakahoe (17), Puna (17), Healani (16), Kai E Hitu (16), Kawaihae (16), Lokahi (14), Kaiola (12), Na Kai Ewalu (12), Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (12), Hanalei (10), Lae'ula O Kai (10), Keauhou (9), Waikiki Surf (9).

A DIVISION (8 CREWS OR FEWER)

'Alapa Hoe (8), Ka Mamalahoe (8), Manu O Ke Kai (8), Leeward Kai (7), Wa'akapaemua (7), Wailea (7), 'Anuenue (6), Kailana (6), Kihei (6), Waikiki Beach Boys (6), Koa Kai (5), Kukui O Moloka'i (5), North Shore (4), Keaukaha (3), Kilohana (3), Kona Athletic (3), Makaha (3), Mana'e (3), Moloka'i (3), Waimanalo (3), Kalihi Kai (2), Kamehameha-Hilo (2), Keoua (2), Lahaina (2), Napili (2), Niumalu (2), Pu'uwai (2), Waikiki Yacht (2), Windward Kai (2), Hana (1), Hawaiian Outrigger (1), Kai Oni (1), Keola O Ke Kai (1), Paddlers of Laka (1), Pu'uloa (1).