The canoe knows.

The paddlers, strokes and chemistry all propel the canoe.

It's a fluid motion put together from time spent on land and in the water that has translated into much success for the 'Anuenue paddling teams.

Na Koa crews had another standout season in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association this year, sweeping the boys, girls and mixed crew titles.

The boys team has won three straight OIA titles and the mixed crew won its second straight. The girls have won four league championships since 2004.

"The chemistry with all of us, that's what brought us here, too, and helped us come this far," senior Kalau Martinez said. "We all get along. The wa'a (canoe) knows."

Located in Palolo, 'Anuenue is a K through 12 Hawaiian immersion school with fewer than 400 students. Drawing paddlers into their program isn't easy with a small student body, but Na Koa hasn't let that hold them back.

"The school is small, we no more numbers, but we do have quality paddlers," girls coach Byron Martinez said.

Paddlers credit their coaches for making a difference in the program and helping 'Anuenue be competitive and consistent.

"Their style of paddling, they teach us to paddle like adults," Kalau Martinez said. "It's not just paddling."

Senior 'Anela Ontai said their team's conditioning program, which includes running two to three miles a day, workouts that focus on the core and muscles used in paddling, pushups and then time in the water, has helped out immensely. It has also scared off potential students interested in the team.

"This is the hardest conditioning in our school," said Ontai, who steers for the girls crew. "The rest of the sports, we all play different sports, and we're used to cruising. When they come over here, it's way different."

Senior Kila Koanui-Kong, who also plays football and runs track, said workouts have only gotten more intense.

"It's more intense this year because they lengthened our race," he said. "We had to lengthen our running."

The girls team lost several paddlers from last season's crew and thought this would perhaps be a rebuilding year. But 'Anuenue lost just one regatta during the regular season.

"The commitment from the kids, they really want it," coach Martinez said. "They come and they work hard. This year to me was the best of all the years I coached. No need worry about grades, they're here everyday unless they sick, no questions asked.

"They do everything we ask of them out there."

Their commitment has built a relationship that's showing in the canoe.

"I'm never in a boat without her," Ontai said of teammate Martinez. Both also play softball for 'Anuenue.

Kalau Martinez compared the chemistry to hula.

"We know each other," Martinez said. "It's like when you dance hula, dancing with the same people."

Years of paddling together has fused a tight chemistry for the senior-laden boys crew, coached by Reggie Keaunui.

"We're like brothers, family," Koanui-Kong said. "We communicate. We're just so close, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses. It helps us blend together."

He described his first OIA title in 2006 as a sophomore as "awesome."

"We were pretty much the youngest crew," Koanui-Kong said. "We had one senior and five sophomores."

Yet, he felt that crew's youth made a difference in their fourth-place finish at the state regatta that year. The 'Anuenue boys finished fifth last year.

Now, the seniors will come together for a final time at Friday's First Hawaiian Bank/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state championships at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"I've become more of a leader," Ontai said. "I'm the oldest one. When we were freshmen in varsity, we'd look up to everybody. Now, we're the ones everybody looks up to."

Kalau Martinez said paddling has given her confidence.

"I don't let people put me down," she said. "It built my confidence. I won't let people put my crew down."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.