A competitor rides a wing foil along Maui's North Shore during last year's Paddle Imua. The annual fundraiser returns July 12, bringing more than 450 competitors out in support of Camp Imua and children with special needs. Photo courtesy Amanda Beenen

Beginning as a small grassroots stand-up paddle race, Paddle Imua has evolved significantly over the past 15 years.

Now considered one of Maui’s premier ocean sporting events, Paddle Imua will welcome more than 450 competitors from around the world to Maui’s North Shore on Sunday, with participants racing from Maliko Gulch to Kanaha Beach Park in support of Camp Imua and children with special needs.

The event has expanded from one race to include outrigger canoe racing, kiting, wing foiling and other water sports. However, its core mission has remained unchanged. Paddle Imua continues to be rooted in community, inclusion and giving back.

“We have built the finish-line experience into the Ohana Festival, where nearly 1,000 family members, friends and supporters gather to celebrate the racers and the mission behind the event,” said Darris Hurst, the events and program coordinator.

With Maui being one of the world’s premier destinations for ocean sports, Paddle Imua attracts competitors from around the globe, and by participating in the event, the athletes help fund opportunities for children with special needs to attend Camp Imua.

A special connection takes place as each participant finishes their race and runs onto the beach, where they are greeted with a lei from a Camp Imua child. The tradition highlights the event’s impact and reinforces the connection between the athletes and the children and families the event supports.

“After completing the course and giving everything they have out on the water, racers come ashore to hundreds of cheering family members and supporters,” Hurst said. “Watching racers receive a lei from a Camp Imua child or seeing our keiki paddle races where campers, sponsors and elite athletes all share the water together reminds everyone why this event matters. People leave feeling inspired, connected and already looking forward to next year.”

A Camp Imua participant greets a Paddle Imua finisher with a lei during last year’s event. The tradition highlights the connection between competitors and the children and families supported by Camp Imua. Photo courtesy Sean M. Hower

For many of the participants, each race reflects the deeper purpose behind their participation and who they are racing for, making Paddle Imua a celebration of connection, compassion and the power of a community.

Maliko Gulch has become an iconic downwind paddling course, where consistent trade winds and Maui’s scenic coastline create a challenging yet rewarding experience. Rooted in the spirit of aloha, Hawaiian culture, community and purpose, organizers for Paddle Imua want to create an environment where every participant feels welcome and united by a shared passion for the ocean and the event’s mission.

“You’re sharing the same ocean, the same wind and the same experience,” said Hurst. “Then you come ashore and are welcomed by hundreds of people celebrating not just your accomplishment, but what your participation means to our community. That’s the magic of Paddle Imua. It combines one of the world’s great ocean adventures with a mission that genuinely changes lives.”

The impact can extend far beyond the campers too.

Over the years, many Camp Imua counselors have gone on to become teachers, nurses, therapists, special education aides and community leaders. Their experiences as volunteers have inspired careers dedicated to serving and supporting others.

“I remember hearing one former counselor say that Camp Imua taught them more about empathy, leadership and what truly matters in life than anything else they had experienced growing up,” Hurst said. “That’s the kind of impact our participants, donors and volunteers are helping create.”

Stand-up paddleboarders make their way down the course at Paddle Imua. The annual fundraiser returns July 12, bringing hundreds of competitors together to support Camp Imua and children with special needs. Photo courtesy Amanda Beenen

This year, Paddle Imua will introduce a parawing division, and organizers are excited to welcome a new discipline while bringing even more people together.

“You have elite athletes, first-time racers, local families and visitors from around the globe all gathering at Kanaha Beach Park for one purpose — to celebrate our ocean, our community and to support Camp Imua and the children and families we serve,” Hurst said. “There’s a really special energy on race weekend, and I can’t wait to experience it again.”

One of the greatest annual needs for Paddle Imua is for board marshals at the finish line. As the finish area fills with competitors, spectators, boards, canoes, foils and paddles, board marshals help direct racers, organize equipment and keep the area safe and efficient. It also offers one of the best vantage points to experience the excitement and celebration firsthand.

Anyone interested in volunteering, whether for a few hours or the entire day, can sign up at discoverimua.com/paddle/.