Kane'ohe dominates first regatta
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
If yesterday was any indication, the Kane'ohe Canoe Club will be a tough act for other canoe clubs to follow this summer.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Kane'ohe dominated the opening regatta of the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a season yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.
Tiare Lafradez, left, celebrated with teammate Brianna Abrigo after they captured the girls 15-under event for 'Alapa Hoe at the first regatta of the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a season at Ke'ehi Lagoon.
Perhaps fittingly, Kane'ohe hosted the regatta, and finished 25 points ahead of its closest competition.
"You never know what to expect in the first regatta," Kane'ohe head coach Clint Anderson said. "But I was kind of shocked with the results. I honestly feel like this is a rebuilding year for us."
If so, the rest of the Hui Wa'a clubs could be in for a long season.
More than 1,000 paddlers from 17 clubs around O'ahu participated in yesterday's daylong regatta. Hui Wa'a is one of two paddling organizations on O'ahu. The other, the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, will begin Sunday.
Kane'ohe won nine of the 36 races in yesterday's regatta and finished with 83 points.
Lokahi won seven races and finished second with 58 points. Manu O Ke Kai was third with 45 points.
Kane'ohe is the two-time defending Hui Wa'a champion, and its strength over the past two years has been its youth paddlers.
The trend continued yesterday. Of Kane'ohe's nine race victories, seven came from the youth crews.
"I wasn't expecting too much from the kids this week because a lot of them just came out for practice this week," Anderson said. "We have a lot of kids, but a lot of them play other sports, so they haven't been putting in the time. So I was kind of surprised with what they did."
Kane'ohe's Natasha Hopkins-Moniz was on the winning girls 16 crew and the second-place girls 18 crew.
"I was really shocked with how we did in the 16s because we haven't been practicing together at all," she said. "But that means we can still do better."
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
In the 13 youth races, Kane'ohe compiled 53 points. By comparison, Lokahi scored 15 points in the youth races.
Members of the Kane'ohe Canoe Club congratulate the boys 16-under team after the victory. On the strength of its youth paddlers, Kane'ohe won the regatta with 83 points — 53 from the youngsters.
"I guess that's going to be our strength again, but our adults have really improved, too," Anderson said. "You can't win regattas with just one group bringing in points. Everybody has to do their part and that's what happened today."
Although Kane'ohe dominated the overall standings, 11 different clubs won at least one race.
"There's a lot of competition this year," Anderson said. "Today was a good sign for us, but we can't let our guard down. Every club is going to improve week after week."
Manu O Ke Kai won five races, including the prestigious men's senior race. The crew of Bobo Tantog, Charlie Tantog, Robert Pactol, Tomas Schlotman, Brian Amantiad and Moku Sanborn completed the 1 1/2-mile course in 11 minutes, 28.14 seconds to beat Koa Kai's crew by six seconds.
Ka Mamalahoe won two races and scored 19 points to win the AA Division for "medium-sized' clubs.
Waikiki Beach Boys got an impressive performance from its female paddlers to score 29 points and win the A Division for small clubs.
The Waikiki Beach Boys women won the freshman, sophomore and senior races. No other crew came within 20 seconds of them in those three races.
The crew of Kelsa Teeters, Val Hershey, Dana Gorecki, Andrea Messer, Susan Brown and Cherie Lee won the 1 1/2-mile women's senior race in 12:54.47.
"We had no idea what to expect, so I think we're all kind of surprised by it," Lee said. "It gives us the drive to keep working hard and keep it going the whole season."
The next Hui Wa'a regatta is scheduled for Sunday at Hale'iwa Beach Park.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
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Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a Kane'ohe Canoe Club Regatta
AAA Division 1. Kane'ohe 2. Lokahi 3. Manu O Ke Kai AA Division 1. Ka Mamalahoe 2. 'Alapa Hoe A Division 1. Waikiki Beach Boys 2. North Shore
Yesterday
TOP FINISHERS
At Ke'ehi Lagoon
Team Scores
AAA Division (25+ events)
1, Kane'ohe 83. 2, Lokahi 58. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 45. 4, Koa Kai 42. 5, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 37.
AA Division (13+ events)
1, Ka Mamalahoe 19. 2, 'Alapa Hoe 17. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 11. 4, Kamehameha 7. 5, I Mua 3.
A Division (1-12 events)
1, Waikiki Beach Boys 23. 2, North Shore 13. 3, Kai Poha 9. 4, Kalihi Kai 6. 5, Kumulokahi Elks 3. 6, Windward Kai 1.
1/4 mile
Male
12-younger
1, Kane'ohe (Kai Leong, Nainoa Defiesta, Mana Chang, Seith Ilae, Eziekiel Marshall, Kepa Souza) 2:16.04. 2, Lokahi 2:25.32. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 2:27.12.
13-younger
1, Kane'ohe (Isaac Cambra, Lou Char, Kai Leong, Mana Chang, Kekoa Amby, Kala'i Lee) 2:15.57. 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 2:15.59. 3, Hawaiian Outrigger 2:41.28.
14-younger
1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Kanoa Matutino, John Rubin, Jeremy Kaneshiro, Brandon Soo, Joshua Bugler, Daniel Holbron) 1:56.90. 2, Kane'ohe 1:58.26. 3, Koa Kai 2:09.33.
Female
12-younger
1, Lokahi (Kamanukea Kekoa, Rachel Gomes, Morgan Goodman, Natasha Kolo, Ashlyn Ma'a, Sarah Peralta) 2:28.60. 2, Kane'ohe 2:42.62. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 2:44.23.
13-younger
1, Kane'ohe (Kree Espinda, Brandi Kaluhiwa, Cathy Sherman, Courtney Lelapali, Kathy Norris, Kahea Anderson) 2:24.81. 2, Hawaiian Outrigger 2:28.63. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 2:30.45.
14-younger
1, Kane'ohe (no crew listed) 2:15.75. 2, Kumulokahi Elks 2:20.86.
Novice B
1, Kalihi Kai (Nani Manuel, Violet Carrillo, Deborah Segich, Stephany Konohia, Georgette Johnsen, Earline Lanning) 2:12.11. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 2:12.97. 3, Koa Kai 2:22.52.
Mixed
12-younger
1, Lokahi (Micah Lono-Holani, Kamanukea Kekoa, Ashlyn Ma'a, Sidney Poore, Matthew Lono-Holani, Sarah Peralta) 2:30.86. 2, Kane'ohe 2:34.50. 3, Hawaiian Outrigger 2:36.80.
Novice B
1, Ka Mamalahoe (Ronnell Simmons, Robert Brown, Anthony Florentine, Guy Dashnea, Kimberly Lee, Merly Vergonio) 1:56.72. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 1:58.71. 3, Kane'ohe 2:00.76.
Specials
1, Hawaiian Outrigger (Mariah Murdock, Kayla Uyeshiro) 2:41.88. 2, North Shore 3:06.29.
1/2 mile
Male
Golden 55+
1, Manu O Ke Kai (Randy Sanborn, Ed Lemire, Joe Scallon, Manny Realin, Lee Kekauoha, Rick John) 4:05.90. 2, Kane'ohe 4:07.66. 3, Lokahi 4:12.05.
Senior Master 50+
1, Koa Kai (Jeff Tario, Ben Ancheta, Colin Galang, Bill King, Joe Kim, Billy Rees) 3:54.05. 2, Lokahi 4:09.37. 3, Kane'ohe 4:11.93.
Novice B
1, Lokahi (Michael Burns, Richard Butts, Ian Walker, Paul Jeff Dee, Christopher Bayne, Allan "Brad" Smith) 3:56.39. 2, Koa Kai 3:57.14. 3, Kane'ohe 4:01.25.
15-younger
1, 'Alapa Hoe (Herman Co, Nathaniel Nicholas, Kalani Gates, Kekoa Marinas-Bounds, Boyd Bangloy, Tyler Sanford) 3:57.87. 2, Kane'ohe 3:58.56. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 4:00.71.
16-younger
1, Kane'ohe (Kainoa Ibarra, Bobby Pratt, Safea Kahiapo, Doug Richardson, Kelsen Alimoot, Dane Kimokeo) 4:03.20. 2, Koa Kai 4:09.11. 3, Ka Mamalahoe 4:10.12.
Master 40+
1, Waikiki Yacht Club (Neal Gushi, Darren Dante, Arthur Smith, Rod Bayne, Keith Ramos, Mark Hines) 7:51.34. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 7:51.82. 3, Lokahi 8:08.15.
Open 4
1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (Jason Bellefeuille, Kahele Anderson, Joe Kanana, Greg Pavao) 4:04.39. 2, Koa Kai 4:04.68. 3, Lokahi 4:10.41.
Female
Golden 55+
1, Manu O Ke Kai (Marilyn Schoenke, Donna Machado, Peggy Cutting, Darlene Heck, Kay Bauman, Judy Toyofuku) 5:11.41. 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 5:21.95. 3, Kai Poha 5:35.52.
Senior Master 50+
1, Kane'ohe (Lois Lake, Tweetie Anderson, Jackie Graessle, Naomi Higuchi, Cheryl Farias, Rene Smith) 4:35.18. 2, Kai Poha 4:51.76. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 4:53.77.
15-younger
1, 'Alapa Hoe (Miyuki Tanaka, Gwen Larrow, Nalei Mendonca, Michelei McCabe, Brianna Abrigo, Tiare Lafradez) 4:35.64. 2, Kane'ohe 4:48.44. 3, Koa Kai 4:51.13.
16-younger
1, Kane'ohe (Lehua Tabadero, Chelsea Nasciemento, Kristine Aquino, Kiana Parrilla, Titi Kawainui, Natasha Hopkins-Moniz) 4:39.16. 2, Koa Kai 4:49.74. 3, Kamehameha 4:57.26.
18-younger
1, Manu O Ke Kai (Savannah McCue, Gladys Orteza, Kyra Sussel, Cheyenne Christenson, Jaylyn Kauwalu, Christy Magarro) 4:33.89. 2, Kane'ohe 4:40.54. 3, 'Alapa Hoe 4:52.80.
Novice A
1, Lokahi (Leilani Loredo, Malissa Castillo, Valerie Franck, Maile Pai, Sarah Blane, Kathy Kuge) 4:27.68. 2, Koa Kai 4:38.48. 3, Kane'ohe 4:52.71.
Master 40+
1, North Shore (Folly Murdock, Kimberly Walsh, Jenny Smith, Chana Dimmitt, Jane Duncan, Donna Moore) 8:54.85. 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 9:41.41. 3, Kane'ohe 9:41.74.
Open 4
1, Lokahi (Karen Dunai, Carol Jaxon, Barbara Loquiao, Dy Valdez) 4:40.73. 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 5:08.20. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 5:11.28.
Mixed
Golden 55+
1, Ka Mamalahoe (Wanda Shirreff, Christine Tate-Nishi, Nancy Pickler, Norbert Kitashima, David Hulbert, Scotty Thompson) 4:31.81. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:33.53. 3, Kane'ohe 4:35.21.
Masters 45+
1, Lokahi (Kevin Mokuahi, Walter Oshiro, Audrey Lee, Earl Cobb Jr., Darrah Lau-Anderson, Danette Amoy) 4:22.94. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:26.77. 3, Ka Mamalahoe 4:27.25.
Masters 40+
1, Kane'ohe (David Aquino, Beryl Parrilla, Junior Parrilla, Cory Fukushima, Lilinoe Yong, Donna Aquino) 4:25.52. 2, 'Alapa Hoe 4:28.94. 3, Kamehameha 4:30.41.
Open 6
1, Lokahi (Alex Tiedemann, Barbara Annie Gibson, Makena Fernandez, Kirsten Johnson, Lindsay Treska, Michael Esposito) 4:15.32. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:15.93. 3, 'Alapa Hoe 4:16.33.
1 mile
Male
18-younger
1, Kane'ohe (Aaron Abbey, Kawika Kahiapo, Seth Ramolete, Chase Silva, Gabe Tabadero, Keoni Anderson) 7:46.15. 2, Manu O Ke Kai 8:29.53. 3, Lokahi 8:48.09.
Novice A
1, Koa Kai (Dave Cadavona, Kekoa Taylor, Mark Munneke, Darren Kela, William Gualdarama, John Miner) 8:07.75. 2, Kane'ohe 8:10.08. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 8:13.09.
Freshmen
1, Manu O Ke Kai (Brian Amantiad, Charlie Tantog, Gary Kama, Darrell Naeole, Art Lovan, Jeremiah Saiz) 7:52.43. 2, Koa Kai 7:57.65. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 8:21.80.
Sophomore
1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Patrick Nguyen, Scott Hall, Brian Bailag, Franco Arango, Sam Kahng, Owen Cenal) 7:51.32. 2, Koa Kai 7:51.79. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 8:39.80.
Female
Freshmen
1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Joanna Beall, Erin Offenshauser, Dana Gorecki, Andrea Messer, Vivian Caylor, Sue Brown) 8:44.07. 2, Lokahi 9:07.83. 3, North Shore 10:00.25.
Sophomore
1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Kelsa Teeters, Val Hershey, Stacey Shepard, Christina Hogatt, Cherie Lee, Rachel Shackleford) 8:34.21. 2, North Shore 9:15.00. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 9:23.25.
1 1/2 miles
Male
Senior
1, Manu O Ke Kai (Bobo Tantog, Charlie Tantog, Robert Pactol, Tomas Schlotman, Brian Amantiad, Moku Sanborn) 11:28.14. 2, Koa Kai 11:34.27. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 11:50.65.
Female
Senior
1, Waikiki Beach Boys (Kelsa Teeters, Val Hershey, Dana Gorecki, Andrea Messer, Susan Brown, Cherie Lee) 12:54.57. 2, Lokahi 13:16.49. 3, North Shore 14:25.07.
