Kaua‘i canoe teams find gold at states

The Niumalu, Kilohana and Namolokama canoe clubs eked out state championships at the 2024 Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta, which wrapped up on Saturday at Ke‘ehi Lagoon on O‘ahu.

The Kilohana Hoe Wa‘a group led the way taking two first-place finish wins in the field, which included more than 614 entries with paddlers coming from all the islands.

According to Pam Murphy of Namolokama Canoe Club, Kaua‘i teams entered into 31 races and finished with nine medals, four of them being gold.

Waianuhea Karratti, Mia Lee, Iliau Makua, Kyla Malama, Kahealani Puaoi-Perry and Tajayah Smith made up the Kilohana Hoe Wa‘a Girls Under 14 team, which soared to a state title with a time of 2 minutes, 4.86 seconds, just six ticks ahead of the second place finishing Hawaiian Canoe Club.

Kaysen Apilado, Mahealani Botelho, Malu Ka‘awa, Mehana Leafchild, Kahiau Makua and Kaina Makua for the Kilohana Hoe Wa‘a Mixed Open team, which found a state title on a paddle that stopped the clock at 3:57.94.

Kilohana Hoe Wa‘a Girls 15 team settled for a silver medal after coming up less than three seconds short of the gold, which was taken by Hawaiian Canoe Club with a 4:30.50 run. Kilohana Girls 15 tripped the clocks at 4:33.42, more than seven ticks ahead of third place finishing Kmulakahi-Elks.

The Niumalu Surf &Outrigger Club 12 and Under boys team, including Kaia Kaimina‘auao, Pono Kaina, Kainoa Kennedy, Eli Krause-Louis, Kamealoha Sahut and La‘akea Smith found gold at the end of their 2:04.13 paddle, or six seconds ahead of the second place Hawaiian Canoe Club.

The Niumalu Surf &Outrigger Club 12 and Under girls team finished in fourth place on its run that stopped the clock at 2:24.00, more than six seconds off the pace set by the division winning Napili club that stopped the clock at a blistering 2:17.83.

Alana Goo-Frazier, Kristin Foster, Ella Beck and Whitney Beck formed the team that found gold for Namolokama Canoe Club in the Women Open 4 competition after stroking to a 4:36.74 finish, five ticks ahead of second place team, Puna Canoe Club.

Additionally, Namolokama Women Golden Masters (55) pocketed a seventh place finish, sandwiched between the Waikiki Surf Club and the Hawaiian Canoe Club.
Source: The Garden Island