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Posted at 10:45 a.m., Sunday, June 17, 2007

Kihei wins 10 races, Hawaiian wins regatta

By Robert Collias
The Maui News

LAHAINA — The highlight of Na Keiki o Maui Regatta yesterday at Hanakao'o Beach Park belonged to Kihei Canoe Club.

After somewhat of a slow start, the yellow-and-red clad club from south Maui won seven races in a row, beginning with event No. 25, the women's junior race. It wasn't until after event No. 31 – the women's platinum race – that the public address announcer called a winner other than Kihei.

The explosion helped KCC finish third in the regatta with 86 points — six fewer than runner-up Kahana — and a season-high 10 wins. Hawaiian Canoe Club, the 22-time Maui County and six-time defending state champion, won the regatta with 126 points.

Lae Ula O Kai finished fourth with 53, Napili was fifth with 25, Na Kai Ewalu was sixth with 23, Wailea took seventh with 16, Hana was eighth with 11 and regatta host Lahaina was ninth with three.

"Actually, we have done well in those events for the season so far, but we haven't won all seven in a row, so that was really good,'' Kihei coach Kawika Williams said to The Maui News. "We wait for this moment in every regatta because this is it for us. We had a rough start, but I think we did pretty good this regatta; better than last week. Everybody seems a little more focused and ready.''

Kahana won eight events en route to a season-high point total, but more importantly for coach Kekai Keahi, the green boats got through the 41-race slate without a disqualification. In the first two regattas, seven Kahana crews were red-flagged.

Kahana has set a goal of scoring 100 points in a regatta this season, and appeared to be on the way to that mark at the midway point yesterday. Kahana has never broken the century mark in a Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association regatta.

"It seemed like last week, even with all the DQs we had, we got pretty close (to 100),'' Keahi said. "We thought if we came home clean this week, we should get 100. Our kids did real good, but our adults fell back. It was a struggle, but we are going to get it sooner or later. Maybe by our regatta (the Naleieha, in three weeks) we will get it. It is a matter of putting it all together — men, women and children — all on the same day. We know it is highly, highly doable.''

Kahana held a 44-40 lead on Hawaiian after the boys 16 race, event No. 15.

The Kahana keiki division was certainly a bright spot. Hawaiian won the keiki title in the only regatta of the season that keeps official track of those numbers, 56-42 over Kahana. HCC had seven wins in the 18-and-under ranks, and Kahana had five.

"Our keiki today and getting through without any DQs is a big step forward for us,'' Keahi said. "Almost every one of our keiki crews scored, which is real big for us. We are hopeful of qualifying 10 crews of the 13 keiki races for state. And finally, no DQs. We may not hit the 100-point mark today, but I am really happy we are not being plagued with DQs.''

Through 24 events, Hawaiian had flexed its muscles enough to take a 78-60 lead on Kahana. Kihei was a distant third at that point – with 32 – before going on its win streak.

Kihei is hopeful of qualifying 17 crews for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association state regatta, scheduled for Aug. 4 at Hanalei Bay on Kaua'i. That is the maximum number allowed for teams in the AA Division.

"We are trying to accumulate all of the first seeds we can,'' Williams said. "With Maui County only getting two seeds (per race at the state regatta), it is very ridiculous. How are we going to take 17 firsts or seconds over the season? It is very hard. Last week, Hawaiian won 22 races.''

HCC managed 15 wins, but keiki coach and statistician Paul Luuwai said the champions upped their crews sitting in state-qualifying positions from 29 to 31.

"It is not just a one-team-walking-away-with-it thing,'' Luuwai said. "If you are competing here on Maui, you are earning what you get.''

For more Maui news, click here.