Kailua and Lanikai share the Windward ocean as neighboring canoe clubs.

Yesterday, they shared the King Kamehameha Regatta title, scoring 85 points each at Kailua Beach Park.

"Lanikai and Kailua, we're about a half-mile apart, and we always seem to butt heads with each other," first-year Kailua coach Kawai Mahoe said. "We're totally good friends, and the competition is so much fun."

The second regatta of the season for the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association featured 17 clubs and nearly 2,000 competitors yesterday.

"Kailua came out strong," Lanikai coach Kalani Irvine said. "They made a lot of good moves, and paddled really well today. We were fortunate to have a tie."

Outrigger Canoe Club finished third with 63 points followed by Hui Nalu (33) and Keahiakahoe (20).

Hui Lanakila Canoe Club scored 51 points to win the A Division for clubs with 17 crews or fewer.

Host Kailua rallied from an 84-82 deficit entering the 39th and final race of the day for the rare co-championship.

"Right now, I'm elated," Mahoe said. "Last week, we came in third by 28 points. Today, it was just a group effort by everyone on the club."

The last time two teams shared a title was at the 2004 O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association Championships when Kailua and Lanikai both posted 81 scores, Irvine said.

Yesterday, in the final race, Kailua's men's 40 crew took second and scored three points. Kailua finished the 1-mile course in 7 minutes, 44.08 seconds. Hui Lanakila's crew of Tom Conner, Jeff Cummings, John Foti, Conrad Kress, Mel Puu and David Smith won and scored five points. Outrigger finished third for two points, and Lanikai placed fourth for one point.

It was the second consecutive year the King Kamehameha Regatta was decided on the final race. Last year, Lanikai rallied past Kailua by winning the final race of the day, 90-89.

"We're kind of used to it already," Kailua men's 40 steersman Benny Quitevis said of the tight finishes. "Our coach came up with a good crew, and we did it."

Kailua won 11 races yesterday, including five of 13 youth races — the girls 12, 14 and 18 divisions, and the boys 14 and 15 divisions.

Kailua also won the novice B men, novice A women, freshmen women, women's 55, women's 50 and mixed 40 divisions.

Lanikai won eight races, the boys 12, 18 and girls 15, 16, freshmen men, senior men, mixed 55 and women 40.

Lanikai's victory in the women's 40 race rallied the club from an 81-79 deficit, and gave it a two-point lead going into the final race of the day. Last week, Lanikai finished third in the same division.

"We knew it was a close race," Lanikai women's 40 paddler Lynn Woehrle said. "We were concentrating on our own race, and trying to do the best we could. We're happy to do well, and happy for each other."

Lanikai's steady performances yesterday allowed the club to stick with Kailua in the rough-water regatta that featured at least four overturned canoes.

"For us it was consistency," Irvine said. "We didn't win as many races as we did last week, but we were consistently scoring points."

Mahoe said his Kailua club scratched four races, and still managed to tie Lanikai, a club that has about 350 active paddlers, according to Irvine.

"Honestly, I don't think we could have done much better," said Mahoe, 33, who succeedJimmy Bruhn as coach this season, and earned his first victory yesterday. "I'm stoked for our whole program."

Hui Lanakila won the prestigious women's race. The crew of Jessie Eames, Gail Grabosky, Seraphina Eames, Mikala Bradley, Arlene Holzman and Vi Coito finished the 1 1/2-mile race in 13:14.14.

Lanikai won the senior men's race. The crew of Kaai Bruhn, Kekoa Bruhn, Aaron Creps, Patrick Dolan, John Foti and George Leslie finished the 1 1/2-mile course in 11:27.15.

Hannie Anderson, president of the OHCRA, said both Kailua and Lanikai will receive championship trophies.

The next OHCRA regatta is scheduled for Sunday at Nanakuli Beach Park.

HUI WA'A

KANE'OHE TRIUMPHS

Kane'ohe Canoe Club won the Lokahi Canoe Club Regatta yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

It was the third regatta of the season for the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization.

Kane'ohe amassed 68 points. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i was second with 54 points, and Lokahi placed third with 37 points.

Manu O Ke Kai scored 49 points and edged Koa Kai by one point to win the AA division for medium-sized clubs. Waikiki Beach Boys won the A division for small clubs with 35 points.

The next Hui Wa'a regatta is scheduled for Sunday at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.