With a simple gesture, Mid-Pacific junior Kalei Kahookele paid tribute to his mother and grandmother at the conclusion of winning the distance event at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu kayak championships yesterday at Ala Wai Canal.

Kahookele, who completed an undefeated season, dedicated the race to his mother, Yvonne, and grandmother, Vernadetta Dickson, who passed away within weeks of each other last year from breast cancer and a heart attack, respectively.

He pointed upward as his kayak glided through the water, after crossing the finish line in 9 minutes, 16.56 seconds. Le Jardin's Taylor Hopkins was second in 9:34.60, followed by Punahou's Francis White in 9:35.28.

"It motivates me," Kahookele said. "Every time I would do a race and win it, it made her happy. She always had a smile on her face. I know she's watching, just like my grandma."

Punahou sophomore Trenton Dos Santos-Tam won his first race yesterday in the boys sprint event.

"I just wanted to win the first start of the race, get out first and hold everyone off," said Dos Santos-Tam, who finished in 56.57 seconds. Le Jardin's Derek Rubenstahl was second in 58.01 and Pac-Five's Brenden Bradley third in 59.35.

Kamehameha junior Pualei Lima was another first-time winner after picking up kayaking just this year. She won the girls sprint in 1:06.58. Kamehameha's Rhaynedel Oclit was second in 1:09.80 and Punahou's Christina Lighter third in 1:10.05.

"It feels weird because this is something new and I just tried my hardest," said Lima, a canoe paddler. "The technique is totally different. You have to rotate more and the kayak is harder to balance because it's narrow and there's no ama."

Punahou senior Rachel Fujita, who won sprints last year, switched to distance, which she said was a "better fit" for her and won in 10:16.19.

Fujita beat teammate Leilani Doktor, who clocked 10:28.29.

"We were really close on the start, and I guess I pushed her out on the turn accidentally," Fujita said. "(She) was nice and went wide."

Kamehameha's Tatjana Perrin was third in 10:30.40.

The Kamehameha girls won the team title with 21 points, followed by Punahou (33) and Mid-Pacific (63). Le Jardin won the boys title with 34 points, followed by Mid-Pacific (57) and Pac-Five (82).