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Kihei leads the way

Kihei Canoe Club has strong outting at Moki Kalanikau

Freshman men’s crews take off from the starting line during Saturday’s Moki Kalanikau Regatta. -- The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

KAHULUI — As Kawika Williams peered out on the waters in Kahului Harbor on Satiurday, he smiled.

The head coach of Kihei Canoe Club was in the midst of watching his paddlers win five races in a six-event span as the Moki Kalanikau Regatta wound down under cloudy skies.

“The club did really well,” Williams said as his club was on its way to a second-place overall finish in its own regatta. “I’m really stoked with the performance today.”

The Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association was awarded a third qualifying lane to the state regatta this season after an insurgence of about 200 new paddlers this season, bringing the total number of registered members of the MCHCA to more than 1,200 this summer.

The red-and-yellow-clad KCC paddlers won mixed races in the 55, 60, 65, and 70 age divisions in a surge that was capped by an impressive win by the club’s Sophomore Women’s crew.

­Kihei Canoe Club’s Anita Anderson (right) goes to hug Berney Coleman after winning their Mix 65 race in 5:11.70. -- The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

At other times of the day, the club added wins in the women’s 60 and 65 races, girls 12A and men’s 55 races.

“They’ve been training really hard,” Williams said. “In fact, my 70 men raced in the 60 men division and they’re in second seed right now, so I’m really happy for them.”

For KCC, the extra lane has helped increase the number of crews in state qualifying positions to 17 with two regattas to go — last year the club sent 12 crews to state when the MCHCA has just two qualifying spots per race.

The club leads unofficial standings in the men’s and women’s 70 age groups where there will be exhibition races at the state regatta with just one qualifier from each of the state’s five associations.

“I normally paddle with the 65 mixed,” said crewmember Brian Tyrol. “Today coach put me in the 60 boat and you know there’s a lot of stud paddlers in there. I can’t tell if it’s a compliment or not, but nonetheless the 60 paddlers, they’ve been doing really well. I was a substitute today and I feel like I pulled my weight.”

Kihei Canoe Club’s sophomore women’s crew hugs on the shoreline after winning their race in 9:30.88. -- The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

Katy Smith paddled for the KCC 60 mixed and 60 women crews. The KCC 60 women are undefeated and have clinched the MCHCA season-long title.

“Our 60 women, it’s huge to be that first seed because you get that benefit of being in the first five lanes (at state),” Smith said. “I’ve been blessed and fortunate for a few years to paddle with some amazing ikaika wahine — we’ve been undefeated for a couple of years now.”

Meryl Cohen was on the mixed 65 and women’s 65 crews for KCC.

“There’s a really great spirit and camaraderie,” when the club hosts, Cohen said. “We’ve been putting this together since 5:45 this morning. It rained for a bit, but it wasn’t a problem. I have race No. 1, the 65 women, and then I’m in race 32, the mixed 65. It is a long day, but it’s worth it. It’s terrific.”

Kihei was forced to move the regatta it hosts from its site at Ka Lae Pohaku to the harbor for the second straight year due to beach erosion.

Kihei Canoe Club’s Bo Forster , Laura Ramos, Pam Mintzer, Shannah Milstead and Sarah Kinnie joke outside their club tent after their women’s Novice A race. -- The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

“It seems like we’re losing a couple feet of beach every year,” Williams said. “It’s getting to the point now where it won’t fit all of us comfortably. It’s a pretty charged atmosphere because we would all be just so close to each other.”

Club president Berney Coleman raced in the men’s 65 crew that finished second and the mixed 65s.

“It’s really important for the club as well as everybody in the club,” Coleman said. “We are working on a new (stroke) technique. We reinvented ourselves, so to speak, this past year with a series of clinics that we’ve been having at the club to learn what our Polynesian friends to the south are doing. It’s honestly working very well for us.”

Coleman said he hopes the Kalanikau regatta can move back to Ka Lae Pohaku as soon as next year.

“We’re hopeful of being there next year,” Coleman said. “We’re hoping Mother Nature will take care of things for us. … I don’t know of anything that can be done other than to just wait.”

Meanwhile, Hawaiian Canoe Club is closing in on its 34th MCHCA season title in a row. The blue-and-white juggernaut based at Kahului Harbor has won 15 of the last 19 state crowns and currently has 37 qualifying spots for the 41-race state regatta.

Twenty of HCC’s state qualifying spots are currently leading their summer standings.

“We didn’t lose any today,” Hawaiian keiki coach Paul Luuwai said. “We gained a couple — second seeds went to firsts, while some seconds went to thirds and that kind of stuff. Mostly today was all positive.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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MCHCA MOKI KALANIKAU REGATTA

Saturday’s Results

At Kahului Harbor

1. Hawaiian 746, 2. Kihei 441, 3. Napili 322, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 279, 5. Wailea 267, 6. Kahana 212, 7. Na Kai Ewalu 143, 8. Lahaina 65, 9. Hana 48.

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MCHCA SEASON STANDINGS

Through five of seven events

1. Hawaiian 145, 2. Kihei 98, t3. Lae’ula O Kai 60, t3. Napili 60, 5. Wailea 50, 6. Kahana 40, 7. Na Kai Ewalu 25, 8. Lahaina 15, 9. Hana 13

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MCHCA MOKI KALANIKAU REGATTA

Saturday’s Results

At Kahului Harbor

Female

Quarter Mile

12A–1. Kihei 2:35.40 (Grace Ching, Ashlyn Melcher, Malani Ehlis-Cendejas, Lily Weinstein, Emily Norton, Sinjin Estomo), 2. Napili 2:36.39, 3. Hawaiian 2:37.38, 4. Hana 2:57.20, 5. Lahaina 3:10.07, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 3:14.32, 7. Lae’ula O Kai 3:15.77. 12B–1. Lae’ula O Kai 2:50.08 (Hokuaokaale Gilman, Kuliaikai Keawe, Jayna Lynn Valle, Kamalu Purdy, Kahikina Makanani, Maggie McGurn), 2. Napili 3:08.41, 3. Kihei 3:18.57, 4. Hana 3:24.30, 5. Wailea 3:34.35, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 3:40.28, 7. Kahana 3:41.94, 8. Lahaina 3:47.39. 13–1. Napili 2:20.05 (Maile Cacal, Puliki Rogers, Shyla Rodrigues, Patricia Haufekai, Taimane Cajudoy, Tiana-Rose Naki), 2. Hawaiian 2:25.12, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 2:30.37, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 2:31.88, 5. Kahana 2:35.51. 14–1. Hawaiian 2:20.83 (Kawaiola Hookano, Kahealani Haupu, Keani Artates-Kahui, Kuaola Emmsley, Maile Turley, Nohealani Ledesma), 2. Napili 2:35.91, 3. Hana 2:38.52, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 2:39.81, 5. Kihei 2:42.48, 6. Kahana 2:50.59. Novice B–1. Kahana 2:26.93 (Katie Delgado, Kesa Stoddart, Kelsey Manning, Aina Kohler, Kayla marshall, Krystle Park), 2. Kihei 2:34.06, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 2:34.84, 4. Wailea 2:39.14, 5. Hawaiian 2:39.62, 6. Lae’ula O Kai 2:57.78.

Half Mile

15–1. Hawaiian 4:54.40 (Amber Proctor, Skyla Adriano-Howard, Skyler Sands, Tehani Santos, Egesu Berkmen, Melina Perez), 2. Lahaina 5:12.93, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 5:27.66, 4. Kihei 5:28.55, 5. Napili 5:45.64. 16–1. Hawaiian 4:38.10 (Rose Delaney, Tatiana Soon, Olivia Delaney, Kahealani Haupu, McKenna Kanekoa, Nohealani Ledesma), 2. Kihei 4:52.16, 3. Napili 4:58.97, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 5:18.18. 18–1. Hawaiian 4:42.18 (Kaya Givensel, Makanahele Emmsley, Olivia Delaney, Kaysha Terry-AhKui, Abeba Holt, Hiilei Luuwai), 2. Kihei 5:05.92, 3. Napili 5:13.94. 50–1. Kihei 4:38.48 (Donna Stockwell, Patty Phillips, Cate Bellafiore, Judy Epstein, Janine Masaki, Polly Arnold-Lorge), 2. Lae’ula O Kai 4:38.81, 3. Hawaiian 5:06.90. 55–1. Lae’ula O Kai 4:31.77 (Tanya Muhle, Victoria Takayesu-Hamilton, Lei Laanui, Jacque Mulleitner, Donelle Zarko, Kehau Keaweehu), 2. Kihei 4:37.21, 3. Hawaiian 4:45.45. 60–1. Kihei 5:00.53 (Katy Smith, Judy Epstein, Linda Lopez, Teresa Reiss, Gail Wood, Denise Guerin), 2. Hawaiian 5:04.91, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 5:13.06. 65–1. Kihei 5:03.07 (Sandy Bell, Meryl Cohen, Deb Pearsall, Linda Kahler, Wanda Shirreff, Vanessa Weiss), 2. Hawaiian 5:09.56, 3. Kahana 6:02.20. Novice A–1. Kahana 4:32.03 (Elana Campbell, Tessa Parker, Katie Bacon, Celeste Hilliard, Natalie Marcus, Ashley Ooley), 2. Hawaiian 4:39.11, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:39.80, 4. Lahaina 4:55.78, 5. Kihei 4:56.55, 6. Lae’ula O Kai 5:15.56. Open Four–1. Hawaiian 5:10.16 (Barbara Querry, Bailey Roberts, Margie Kawaiaea, Theresa Gerry), 2. Kahana 5:12.36, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 5:18.87, 4. Napili 5:22.44, 5. Lae’ula O Kai 5:31.04, 6. Wailea 5:47.33, 7. Kihei 6:00.24, 8. Lahaina 6:16.68.

Mile

40–1. Lae’ula O Kai 10:03.32 (Deja Howard, Michele Golberg, Mari Toro-Ford, Yuka MIller, Christine Donovan, Fiona Van Ammers), 2. Kihei 10:26.78, 3. Kahana 10:43.34, 4. Hawaiian 10:50.77. Freshman–1. Hawaiian 9:27.54 (Ihilani Catugal, Theresa Felgate, Lisa Fanning, Barbara Querry, Makanahele Emmsley, Kelsey Nae’ole), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 9:52.70, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 10:02.04. Sophomore–1. Kihei 9:30.88 (Jen Edwards, Sandy Carvalho, Michele Willmering, Julie Shoup, Suzanne Conlon, Allison Lee), 2. Kahana 9:44.75, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 9:47.50, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 9:50.55, 5. Hawaiian 10:26.72. Junior–1. Hawaiian 9:55.03 (Mehana Horner, Dane Ward, Kaimanamalie Brummel, Corynne Kawaiaea, Eleu Novikoff, Arianna Gerry), 2. Kahana 10:08.19, 3. Wailea 10:09.08, 4. Napili 10:24.39, 5. Kihei 10:25.07, 6. Lae’ula O Kai 10:53.96.

1 1⁄2 Miles

Open–1. Kihei 14:23.51 (Jen Edwards, Sandy Carvalho, Michele Willmering, Allison Lee, Suzanne Conlon, Julie Shoup), 2. Hawaiian 14:29.82, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 15:34.91, 4. Napili 16:01.28.

Male

Quarter Mile

12A–1. Lahaina 2:22.70 (Shadd Blando, Leo Vehikite, Rieley Holder, Kuha’o Murray, Xander Moffett, Kalaeloa Tancayo), 2. Hana 2:26.80, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 2:27.26, 4. Kihei 2:42.22, 5. Hawaiian 2:42.85, 6. Napili 2:45.74. 12B–1. Napili 2:48.87 (Kai Hands, Aiden Takahashi, Ghesiah-Dunes Auwae, Kanohi Casco, Kaulana Tihada, Kupono Tihada), 2. Lae’ula O Kai 2:59.06, 3. Kahana 2:59.57, 4. Wailea 3:06.77, 5. Lahaina 3:10.47, 6. Kihei 3:10.84, 7. Hana 3:33.82, 8. Hawaiian 3:34.56. 13–1. Hawaiian 2:06.80 (Dorian Josue, Kala’e Kaluakini, Drake Breitbach, Valentine Goelz, Kainoa Bandalan, Ryan Murphy), 2. Napili 2:09.40, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 2:15.69, 4. Kihei 2:28.79, 5. Kahana 2:43.28. 14–1. Hawaiian 2:04.98 (Brock Lovell, Kaehukai Molitau, Trever Fernandez, Nainoa Riglos, Puniawa Vedder, Jaden Givensel), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 2:09.59, 3. Napili 2:16.86, 4. Hana 2:22.22, 5. Kihei 2:24.31, 6. Lae’ula O Kai 2:25.20, 7. Lahaina 2:28.75.

Half Mile

15–1. Hawaiian 4:15.41 (Noah Tavares, Mathew Hoonan, Ben Wagner, Kaehukai Molitau, Azur Hookano, Hunter Carpio), 2. Napili 4:26.64, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:37.17, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 4:46.68, 5. Kihei 5:13.84. 16–1. Hawaiian 4:16.14 (Makia Lorenzo, Reilly O’Connor, Kayden McKinnon, Makaio Lorenzo, Ben Wagner, Ryder Tremble), 2. Wailea 4:16.87, 3. Napili 4:35.27, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 4:37.28, 5. Kihei 4:38.47. 50–1. Hawaiian 4:02.19 (Michael Newbro, Dana Souza, John Cano, John 3Rd McCandless, Gregg Kresge, David Ward), 2. Napili 4:08.22, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 4:10.51, 4. Kihei 4:39.30. 55–1. Kihei 4:01.56 (Chuck Barrett, Mark Kasbergen, Tim Rucynski, Pono Garcia, William Chun, Kawika Williams), 2. Hawaiian 4:01.93. 60–1. Hawaiian 4:13.43 (Tom Guerin, Kevin Ledesma, Harold Ferris, John 3Rd Mccandless, Paul Beattie, Frank Zajac), 2. Lae’ula O Kai 4:35.42, 3. Kihei 4:43.22, 4. Kahana 4:44.67. 65–1. Hawaiian 4:21.15 (Pia Aluli, Wendall DeVera, Lance Cushenberry, Jack Dyson, Lou Dionese, Biggie Lara), 2. Kihei 4:38.51, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 4:44.40, 4. Kahana 4:54.23. Novice B–1. Napili 4:00.23 (Alexander Jakubowski, Revatua Kemiche, Rhett Wiseman, Derek Taylor, Kaulana Bongolan, Garrett Turner), 2. Hawaiian 4:01.54, 3. Kihei 4:13.56, 4. Kahana 4:16.04. Open Four–1. Wailea 4:13.39 (Kai Bartlett, Tyson Kubo, Dane Dudoit, Joshua Kekupa’a Nae’ole), 2. Hawaiian 4:21.65, 3. Napili 4:22.70, 4. Kihei 4:32.98, 5. Lahaina 4:48.66, 6. Lae’ula O Kai 4:50.75, 7. Kahana 4:53.63, 8. Na Kai Ewalu 4:54.72.

Mile

18–1. Wailea 8:10.70 (Ho’okele Santos, Rafael Adolpho, Moki Foster-Molina, Kainalu Kubo, Hanalei Alapai, Kelekolio Pacheco), 2. Hawaiian 8:52.83, 3. Kihei 9:35.90, 4. Napili 9:39.29.

40–1. Wailea 8:34.05 (Robert Brede, Pete Gapero Jr, Mael Carey, Mana Tehiva, Hide Yoshikawa, Kalani Tancayo), 2. Kihei 8:48.63, 3. Napili 8:52.14, 4. Hawaiian 9:09.05, 5. Kahana 9:22.27. Novice A–1. Hawaiian 8:19.07 (David Bandalan, Darwin Tutop, Joseph Abraham, Nicolas Colon, Brent Toguchi, Keoki Lovato), 2. Kihei 8:23.12, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 8:30.50, 4. Kahana 9:22.75. Freshman–1. Wailea 7:55.98 (Kevin Dudoit, Mana Tehiva, Stephen Cutillo, Jonas Arcikauskas, Kapena Bugarin, Sean Murphy), 2. Hawaiian 8:18.06, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 8:50.62, 4. Napili 9:07.45, 5. Hana 9:18.23. Sophomore–1. Wailea 7:55.90 (Jason Gomes, Nalu Sampson, J.R. Rios, Kekoa Cramer, Isaac Bancaco, Dane Dudoit), 2. Kahana 8:21.22, 3. Hawaiian 8:34.37, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 8:53.94, 5. Napili 8:57.31. Junior–1. Wailea 8:13.87 (Will Rich, Joshua Kekupa’a Nae’ole, Mael Carey, Quinn Whitford, Diego Panza, Robert Brede), 2. Napili 8:14.44, 3. Kihei 8:14.84, 4. Lahaina 8:48.96.

1 1⁄2 Miles

Open–1. Wailea 11:52.80 (Kevin Dudoit, Ho’okele Santos, Nalu Sampson, Felipe Gomes, Kai Bartlett, Kekoa Cramer), 2. Kahana 12:54.91, 3. Kihei 13:19.13, 4. Napili 14:06.11.

Mixed

Quarter Mile

12–1. Lahaina 2:24.73 (Kapa Elizares-Abut Pali, Shadd Blando, Kalaeloa Tancayo, Nyla Nobriga, Xander Moffett, Lei Sa-Weekes), 2. Hana 2:25.77, 3. Hawaiian 2:31.91, 4. Napili 2:41.46, 5. Wailea 2:43.66, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 2:51.67, 7. Kihei 2:52.85, 8. Lae’ula O Kai 3:31.40. Novice B–1. Hawaiian 2:07.86 (Courtney Fyock, Reid Anderson, Skylar Falite, Ali Rose Panzarella, Charlene Ronne, Jake Korth), 2. Kahana 2:13.10, 3. Napili 2:14.19, 4. Kihei 2:21.00, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 2:28.55.

Half Mile

15–1. Hawaiian 4:43.01 (Kainoa Eiting, Noah Tavares, Skyler Sands, Amber Proctor, Skyla Adriano-Howard, Jordan Soon), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 4:56.75, 3. Hana 5:01.22, 4. Napili 5:05.38, 5. Lahaina 5:09.37, 6. Kihei 5:28.97. 40–1. Wailea 4:14.25 (Pete Gapero Jr, Marjie Kahookele-Pea, Felipe Gomes, Robin Wainui, Melanie King, Tyson Kubo), 2. Hawaiian 4:28.30, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 4:38.49, 4. Kihei 4:39.20, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 4:54.12, 6. Kahana 5:15.80. 55–1. Kihei 4:15.47 (Vanessa Weiss, Ryn Kapahulehua, Kimo Knutson, Mike Cordi, Donna Stockwell, Kawika Williams), 2. Hawaiian 4:27.37, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 4:41.09, 4. Kahana 5:18.04. 60–1. Kihei 4:54.05 (Katy Smith, Mark Kasbergen, John Kershaw, Brian Tyrol, Gail Wood, Denise Guerin), 2. Lae’ula O Kai 5:05.90, 3. Hawaiian 5:13.10. 65–1. Kihei 5:11.70 (Meryl Cohen, Anita Anderson, Mike Schindler, Mike Strauss, Deb Pearsall, Berney Coleman), 2. Hawaiian 5:13.21, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 5:34.26, 4. Kahana 5:42.76. 70–1. Kihei 5:15.96 (Sandy Bell, Wanda Shirreff, Bob Brooks, Richard Ross, Ken Pearsall, Diane Wetzel), 2. Lae’ula O Kai 5:23.65, 3. Hawaiian 5:42.55. Open–1. Hawaiian 4:08.30 (Theresa Felgate, Theresa Gerry, Meghan Dunn, Tim Lara, John Gosselin, Eric Hamp), 2. Wailea 4:10.28, 3. Napili 4:16.17, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 4:20.37, 5. Kihei 4:37.63, 6. Lahaina 5:04.14, 7. Lae’ula O Kai 5:07.84.

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