Posted on: Saturday, May 21, 2005

Paddlers prepare for Northwest isles trek

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A group of canoe paddlers plans two overnight journeys between O'ahu and Kaua'i, and Maui and Kaua'i — the first one this weekend — in preparation for a July adventure that will take them from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

The Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society specializes in interisland distance courses using only paddle power. The organization was founded by Kimokeo "Bully" Kapahulehua of Maui's Kihei Canoe Club, and coordinators include Jamie Woodburn of Maui and Pepe Trask of Kaua'i.

"The goal of the society is a perpetuation of Hawaiian culture and long-distance canoe paddling. Not just racing, but retracing our ancestors' routes," Trask said.

A crew of 19 paddlers is scheduled to leave Hale'iwa at midnight tonight and expects to arrive at Nawiliwili on Kaua'i about 1 p.m. tomorrow. They will use a six-seat outrigger canoe and will have two escort boats. Trask said the team expects to change paddlers every 45 minutes.

The Ka'ie'iewaho Channel is the widest channel in the main islands at about 60 miles from the nearest points on O'ahu and Kaua'i, but the course the paddlers will use extends the paddling distance to about 85 miles.

The same paddlers plan a longer run from Kahului to Hanalei Bay — about 220 miles — on the weekend of July 1.

They plan to complete the season with a paddle in mid-August from Nihoa Island to French Frigate Shoals, about 280 miles.