NANAKULI — Leeward Kai's Maia Sonoda normally doesn't paddle in O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association regattas.

But high surf and the non-sanctioned status for yesterday's Leeward Kai Father's Day Regatta at Nanakuli Beach Park allowed her to not only paddle, but compete in the prestigious senior women's race.

Normally Sonoda watches daughters Matea and Temari participate for the club.

"They were shocked that mom was going out there," said Sonoda, who competed for the first time this season.

Her crew finished third among four in the half-mile race.

OHCRA officials tried to run a normal regatta in the high surf yesterday morning by reducing the number of race lanes from 12 to seven.

Then, prior to the official start of the regatta, Hui Nalu's koa canoe was damaged after it was picked up and thrown against the shore.

"The big south swell closed out half the course, then we had a mishap with a koa canoe," said OHCRA president Kalani Irvine. "We had to adjust so much, we felt we couldn't run a sanctioned event. So basically it was a fun event today."

The clubs all pulled their koa canoes from the water, and the regatta started with the teams using five fiberglass canoes provided by Leeward Kai.

Once the canoes were switched, the regatta became unsanctioned.

"That was the final straw," Irvine said. "Our association supports koa canoes."

The safety of the paddlers was the primary concern, and officials also wanted to make sure no more koa canoes were damaged.

"All of our clubs value our koas very much," said Kai Oni Canoe Club official Kalani Ka'ana'ana. "There is so much history in every canoe."

As the regatta progressed, conditions improved. All races were either one-quarter mile or half-mile. The more experienced paddlers usually go 1 mile or 1 1/2 miles.

"In the morning it was much worse," Irvine said. "As you see it kind of mellowed out. So hindsight is 20-20, and everyone's going to say we should have done this or we should have done that."

Kailua won the AAA Division for big clubs with 89 points, Hui Nalu was second (55) and Keahiakahoe third (23).

Leeward Kai took the AA Division with 72 points, followed by Kai Oni (40) and Hui Lanakila (34).

Honolulu Pearl Club and Keola O Ke Kai tied for the A Division title with 19 points. Pu'uloa Outrigger was third with 15.

All the clubs competed in the 13 youth events, but one by one many went home before the end.

"In the beginning, everybody stayed and it was about having family fun," said Leeward Kai vice president Rena Rzonca. "They enjoyed their family day. All the clubs stayed up until the 18-and-under (race)."

The final four races — men's open 4, mixed 55, mixed 40 and mixed open — were combined. Only crews from Keahiakahoe, Keola O Ke Kai and Leeward Kai participated in the race.

Keola O Ke Kai president and founder Jennifer Romano said she was happy many of her paddlers were able to finish in the top three with the watered-down field.

"Today, to come home with a medal it's a good feeling for the kids," she said. "At least they can go home and tell their dads 'Happy Father's Day,' we got a medal: first, second, third, whatever it was."

Even though things didn't work out the way she planned, it was still a special day for Rzonca and Leeward Kai.

She said the club celebrated its 40th year at Nanakuli Beach, and honored her late father Henry Van Gieson, one of the club's founders, on Father's Day.

"Nanakuli is a special place," Rzonca said.

NA 'OHANA O NA HUI WA'A

Waikiki Beach Boys pulled off a surprise by winning the Windward Kai Regatta yesterday at Kailua Beach Park

And it took a great race in the final event of the day — the open mixed — and a mishap by Kane'ohe to pull it off.

Waikiki Beach Boys won the open mixed event in 4:15.33, while Kane'ohe buried the flag and was disqualified.

Waikiki Beach Boys, an AA Division club, finished with 74 points, while Kane'ohe, an AAA Division club, wound up with 71.