Novice or expert. As young as 12 or as old as 60. Small clubs and big clubs.

They're all hitting the shores starting this weekend, when the outrigger canoe paddling regatta season gets underway.

On O'ahu, the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a organization will hold its opening regatta tomorrow at Ke'ehi Lagoon. The O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association organization will begin on June 3 at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"The numbers (of paddlers) are definitely up from last year," Hui Wa'a president Tambry Young said. "There was the issue with the sewage (in the Ala Wai Canal) last year, but I think a lot of paddlers are back now."

OHCRA is the state's largest paddling organization, and around 3,000 are expected to participate this summer.

"This really is a family sport," OHCRA president Hannie Anderson said. "It's the only sport where you can see kids, parents and grandparents all participating in the same sport."

As proof of the sport's growing popularity, a division for paddlers age 60 and older was added this year.

On O'ahu, regattas will be held throughout the summer, every Sunday at various locations.

The season will culminate with the state championship regatta on Aug. 4 at Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i.

Other islands will also hold regattas during the summer weekends. Maui, with six-time defending state champion Hawaiian Canoe Club, is scheduled to start on June 2.

For more information, visit www.huiwaa.com or www.ohcra.com.

O'AHU SCHEDULES

NA 'OHANA O NA HUI WA'A

Tomorrow: Kane'ohe Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

June 3: Manu O Ke Kai Regatta at Hale'iwa Beach

June 10: Lokahi Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

June 17: Windward Kai Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

June 24: North Shore Regatta at Hale'iwa Beach

July 1: Koa Kai Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

July 8: Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i Regatta at Ma'ili Beach

July 15: Waikiki Beach Boys Regatta at Waikiki Beach

July 21: Hui Wa'a Championship Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

O'AHU HAWAIIAN CANOE RACING ASSOCIATION

June 3: Clement D. Pa'iaina Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

June 10: King Kamehameha Regatta at Kailua Beach

June 17: Leeward Kai Father's Day Regatta at Nanakuli Beach

June 24: Waimanalo Regatta at Waimanalo Beach

July 4: Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta at Waikiki Beach

July 15: John D. Kaupiko Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

July 22: OHCRA Championship Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.