Kanesa Duncan knows a lot about the ocean. She has a doctorate in marine biology to prove it.

She also knows a lot about paddleboarding. She has six Moloka'i to O'ahu Paddleboard Race championships to prove it.

"I think a lot of what I do goes hand in hand," said Duncan, 33. "I probably know a lot more about the circulation patterns of the ocean around the Hawaiian Islands than I would if I didn't paddle."

The combination of cerebral and physical preparation has made Duncan one of the best female paddleboarders in the world, and certainly the best in Hawai'i.

On Sunday, she will attempt to win the women's division of the Moloka'i to O'ahu Paddleboard Race for a record seventh time. No other female has won it more than once.

The 32-mile race across the Kaiwi Channel is considered the world championship of long-distance paddleboard racing.

"It's a challenge that I look forward to every year," said Duncan, a professor at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. "You can check all the weather systems, and study the patterns, and you still don't know what you'll get out there."

What's more, Duncan is expected to face another unknown challenge in Bianca Lee of Australia. Lee has emerged as the top female paddler in Australia, but is entering the Moloka'i race for the first time.

"It's unknown territory for me, so there's a little less pressure, I guess," said Lee, 21. "But I'm really a competitive person, so I'm not looking to be second best. I'd love to get the win."

Duncan has added incentive this year. She is representing "Race to Heal," which is a project aimed at raising cancer awareness, particularly breast and cervical cancer awareness in the Hawaiian community.

"We get a lot of press coverage for these paddling races, so to be able to give some coverage to 'Race to Heal' is a really good cause," Duncan said.

She said Sunday's race will be a meaningful one for her because her grandmother died of cancer this year, and she received a health scare of her own recently.

"It goes to show that anybody, any age, can be affected by cancer," Duncan said. "The more awareness we can raise, the sooner people can get checked."

AUSTRALIA'S MITCHELL STILL THE MAN TO BEAT

Jamie Mitchell of Australia is considered the clear favorite to win the Moloka'i to O'ahu Paddleboard Race.

Mitchell, 32, has won the title seven years in a row, and by an average of more than 10 minutes per victory. Last year, he won by a whopping 20 minutes — about two miles ahead of his closest competitor.

California lifeguard Ryan Addison and Honolulu firefighter Brian Rocheleau are considered the top challengers.

Rocheleau finished 1 minute, 51 seconds, behind Mitchell in 2003. That was as close as anybody has come to Mitchell during his seven-year reign.

"I think for anybody to beat (Mitchell), it's going to take a really good day, and him having a really bad day," Rocheleau said. "He's just taken it to another level."

STAND-UP DIVISION CONTINUES TO GROW

Race director Mike Takahashi said there will be more than 125 race crafts on Sunday. About half of them will be in the stand-up paddleboard (SUP) division.

The SUP division was created in 2005, when only a handful of competitors tried it.

"The growth has been so fast," Takahashi said. "We actually had to turn guys away."

Top contenders in the men's division include Maui cousins Dave Kalama and Ekolu Kalama, Hale'iwa's Guy Pere, Australia's James Watson and California's Chuck Patterson.

The women's division will feature at least four participants: Candice Appleby, Morgan Hoesterey, Jennifer Kalmbach and Andrea Moller.

"It's more about finishing than anything else," Appleby said. "It would be one of my life goals to do this race."

Last year, Hoesterey became the first female to finish the race in the SUP division. Her time was 8 hours, 54 minutes.

"You have to prepare mentally and physically for a long race," Appleby said. "I'm shooting for eight hours, hopefully seven."

NOTES

Reid Inouye, publisher of Stand Up Paddle magazine, will enter the men's SUP division in an effort to raise money for the Hawai'i Junior Lifeguard Program. He is calling his crossing "Buck a Mile" and donations can be made through e-mail at reidinouye@gmail.com.

Connor Baxter, 14, will be the youngest competitor in the field. He is registered in the SUP division.