With a renewed sense of wide-eyed wonderment, the wonders from Down Under are back.

Team Australia will compete in Sunday's Na Wahine O Ke Kai championship race for the first time since 2004.

Despite the hiatus, the Australians are considered one of the top contenders for the 41-mile race from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki.

"We fully respect the fact that there are a bunch of really good crews here this year, and so we have no expectations of where we should or might be," Team Australia captain Lisa Curry-Kenny said. "But every year we come here, our goal is to win it."

The race across the Kaiwi Channel is considered the world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe paddling for women's teams, and Team Australia has a history of winning.

They won it in 1997, '98, 2003 and '04. Their winning time of 5 hours, 22 minutes, 12 seconds in 2004 is the course record.

Five of the paddlers from the 2003-04 championship crews are back: Curry-Kenny, Kirsty Holmes, Jasmin Kelly, Melinda Salmon and Cheryl Skribe.

"What we did the last time was a great achievement," Kelly said. "But after that, it was like 'what do we do now?' Well, I think being away for the last two years helped us. I think it gave us time to build up that drive again."

They will be joined by six first-time Moloka'i-to-O'ahu participants: Nicky Rutland, Linda Dow, Lisa McBurnie, Bobbie Jo McGrath, Amanda Ozolins and Terri Sullivan.

"I'm aware of the expectations that come with being on this team," McBurnie said. "We don't enter any race to get second or third. We aim to win it."

Only 10 will get to paddle on Sunday, so one team member will help provide support from the escort boat.

"Actually, a big reason why we're back is the rookies," Curry-Kenny said. "They are so excited just to be here, and that's made the whole team excited. It's like we're all here for the first time because this is such a new team."

Curry-Kenny said the team did not participate in 2005 and '06 mostly because of the cost.

"It's a good $3,000 per person to come here," Curry-Kenny said. "And we all have jobs; some of us have children. It's just difficult logistically to make it over here every year. It really takes a commitment."

The team received financial assistance from several businesses in Australia this year.

Despite the influx of new paddlers, Curry-Kenny said she is not concerned about the inexperience.

"Not at all," she said. "I know how good these girls are and how hard they worked to get here. Some of them might be here for the first time, but they've been training for this for three years."

The team trains throughout the year in Australia, and the 11 paddlers in Hawai'i this week survived a rigorous trials process. Curry-Kenny said four "really good" paddlers did not make the cut for the Hawai'i trip.

"It's really tough to make this team," McBurnie said. "Lisa leaves no stone unturned. You really have to prove yourself in every way. When you make the crew, you feel like that's an accomplishment in itself."

Conditions could be rough across the Kaiwi Channel on Sunday, but the Australians are prepared. Kelly and Holmes are experienced steerswomen — they alternated in the steering seat when Australia won in 1997, '98, '03 and '04.

"Funny enough, we get wind and surf in Australia as well," Kelly said. "People always forget that. We train in every type of conditions."

Team Bradley — which features nine paddlers from Hawai'i and one from Australia — is the two-time defending champion of the Na Wahine O Ke Kai.

"I would say Australia is the team to beat," Team Bradley coach John Puakea said. "They're definitely the strongest crew out there. You just look at them and see how big and strong they are."

In any case, the trip is not all about paddling for Team Australia.

Curry-Kenny joked that shopping was top priority during their first two days on O'ahu this week. When not shopping, some of them went surfing.

"Just to come to Hawai'i is so much fun, even without the race," Kelly said. "Every time you come back, you realize how much you miss it."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.