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Wailea club shows its men’s power in regatta

Hawaiian wins event at Kahului Harbor

By Robert Collias 10 min read

KAHULUI -- Wailea Canoe Club put its impressive past, present and future in the men's division on display at the Kamehameha Regatta on Saturday at Kahului Harbor, the opener on the summer slate for the Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association.

WCC rolled to wins in the boys 18, men's freshmen and sophomore races before putting a capper on the day with wins in the mixed 40, men's 40 and men's open races in the regatta that Wailea annually hosts.

Triston Kahookele-Santos epitomizes the range of power for the WCC men.

He sat in seat 3 for the victorious 18 crew that also included Maverick Akana, Kiva Herrera, Andrew Kalama, Noa Kamalu and Taimane Keahi.

In the final event of the day, Kahookele-Santos sat in seat 4 of the prestigious men's open race that Wailea won in 11:59.4 with crewmates Felipe Gomes, Kai Bartlett, Joshua Kekupaa Naeole, Nalu Sampson and Kekoa Cramer. Kihei was a distant second in 13:23.6.

Last Sunday, Kahookele-Santos was the OC-1 winner of the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge, the unofficial world championship race from Molokai to Oahu.

"It's a super-exciting experience, it's a lot of fun," Kahookele-Santos said. "We have a mix of guys in their young 20s, young 30s, all around, some 40s and older. It's a good, fun experience trying to learn from these guys. Especially for me being 19, trying to learn from what they know and trying to learn my own things."

Sampson, 21, sat in seat 1 of the WCC sophomore men who won their 1-mile race in 8:10.76, more than a minute in front of second-place Hawaiian Canoe Club.

"Felt good, throughout our program we all try to paddle the same," Sampson said. "It shouldn't be any different for whatever the crew is, so it shouldn't really matter who's in the boat at any time. We always try to paddle the same, so it feels good."

The rest of that crew was Dane Dudoit, Pete Gapero Jr., J.R. Rios, Diego Panza and veteran steersman Cramer, who recently turned 40.

"It's great to learn from them because they have all the experience you could ever wish for," Sampson said. "They share the knowledge with us so that we can learn and progress to where they are, maybe even surpass them."

Cramer, who has steered several top-10 finishes in the Molokai Hoe world championship race for WCC crews, sees a bright future for the club.

"For sure, each time we race it's important, but especially when you're representing your club's official regatta. It's always a little bit more important," Cramer said. "And a little bit more special for everybody, so we want to try to do a good job out there, be leaders not only for our club, but for Maui, to show them what all our hard work is for."

WCC coach Kapena Whitford said hosting the regatta is "always tough" with the added responsibilities of running the event, "but hopefully by next week we can catch our stride a little bit better."

Whitford likes what he sees in his powerful men's division.

"It's good that we have these young guys coming up," Whitford said. "It just pushes the older guys to hang in there and pass the wisdom down to the younger guys. Hopefully, they can represent Maui in the years to come."

Hawaiian Canoe Club, which is seeking its 35th straight MCHCA title this summer, won the regatta with 165 points, 62 more than second-place Kihei. Wailea finished fifth with 45 points.

"We did better than I expected. I didn't have a great start last year, and I thought that was a little carryover in my little ones," Hawaiian keiki coach Paul Luuwai said. "But my little ones really over-exceeded today on my expectations, so I'm really excited for them.

"We still have lots and lots of work to do because it's still new in the season, but they performed beyond my expectations."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

MCHCA KAMEHAMEHA Regatta

Saturday's Results

At Kahului Harbor

Female

Quarter Mile

12A--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:45.10 (Lilyanna Bryant, Joessi Alconcel, Jasmine Eggers, Lei’ohu Turley, Mahina Cosare, Kaesha Purdy), 2. Hana 2:58.27, 3. Napili 2:58.79, 4. Lahaina 3:18.56, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 4:02.51, 6. Lae’ula O Kai 4:09.80. 12B--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:51.86 (Isabelle Brown, Lokana-Marie Puu, Meleana Aurelio, Lei’ohu Turley, Titaina Santos, Maka Carey, 2. Napili 3:25.55, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 3:38.56, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 3:41.00. 13--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:49.31 (Julia Lopez, Zhen Li Richards, Bella Broderick, Maura Smith Pumehana Vierra, Keala Giblin), 2. Kihei Canoe Club 2:54.65, 3. Hana 3:05.32, 4. Napili 3:09.63, 5. Lae’ula O Kai 3:10.18, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 3:16.76, 7. Lahaina 3:22.07, 8. Kahana Canoe Club 3:28.86. 14--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:26.30 (Jacqueline Cano, Kailia Purdy, Kaylee Mark, Juliana Romero, Anna Fosbinder, Maura Smith), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 2:41.47, 3. Napili 2:42.04, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 2:50.98, 5. Kihei Canoe Club 3:07.04, 6. Hana 3:23.96, 7. Kahana Canoe Club 3:34.19. Novice B--1. Na Kai Ewalu 2:44.48 (Jade Bowman, Rachel Vigliotti, Bianca Whyte, Cameron Rogers, Courtney Reyes, Justin Stanton), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:52.23, 3. Kihei Canoe Club 3:00.10, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 3:14.90.

Half Mile

15--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 5:12.23 (Kawaiola Simoes, Kuaola Emmsley, Keani Artates-Kahui, Maile Turley, Juliette Gebb, Nohealani Ledesma), 2. Napili 5:29.39, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 5:52.55, 4. Kihei Canoe Club 6:11.72. 16--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 5:02.45 (Skyla Adriano-Howard, Kuaola Emmsley, Kailia Purdy, Juliette Gebb, Leiana Gonsalves, Melina Perez), 2. Lae’ula O Kai 5:59.04, 3. Kihei Canoe Club 6:03.95. 18--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 5:06.18 (Olivia Delaney, Kaya Givensel, Skyla Adriano-Howard, Kawaiola Simoes, Rose Delaney, Kamakana Kawaa), 2. Napili 5:29.68, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 5:40.05, 4. Kihei Canoe Club 5:40.95, 5. Lae’ula O Kai 5:52.04 50--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:02.04 (Lani Espinoza, Cate Bellafiore, Ingrid Thronson, Chanda Kiley Roberts, Patty Phillips, Polly Arnold-Lorge); 2. Lae’ula O Kai, 5:02.77; 3. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 5:16.41. 55--1. Lae’ula O Kai, 5:21.66 (Holly Dollar, Jacque Mulleitner, Lei Laanui, Victoria Takayesu-Hamilton, Donelle Zarko, Kimberly Vanderlaan); 2. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:44.73; 3. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 5:56.82. 60--1. Kihei Canoe Club 5:04.59 (Katy Smith, Judy Epstein, Teresa Reiss, Bonney Esbensen, Gail Wood, Denise Guerin), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 5:09.04, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 5:17.89. 65--1. Kihei Canoe Club 5:26.83 (Anita Anderson, Meryl Cohen, Suzan Brooks, Deanna Salse, Deb Pearsall, Paulette Scheffer), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 5:36.35. 70--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:48.13, (Wanda Shirreff, Sandy Bell, Jolyne Rego, Diane Wetzel, Renee Riley, Audrey Quinn), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 6:00.24. Novice A--1. Na Kai Ewalu 4:56.60 (Jessica Galvan, Tammy Campbell, Heather Marshall, Erica Amico, Luna Amico, Alix Buchter), 2. Kahana Canoe Club 5:08.95, 3. Kihei Canoe Club 5:09.43, 4. Hawaiian Canoe Club 5:11.91, 5. Napili 5:15.61, 6. Lahaina 5:34.03. Open Four--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 5:32.38 (Lisa Fanning, Dane Ward, Lauren Spalding, Hiilei Luuwai); 2. Na Kai Ewalu, 5:45.52; 3. Lae’ula O Kai, 5:51.90; 4. Napili, 5:54.45; 5. Kihei Canoe Club, 6:11.40; 6. Lahaina, 6:19.26; 7. Wailea, 6:39.13; 8. Kahana Canoe Club, 6:56.31..

Mile

40--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 4:59.90 (Suzanne Conlon, Darcy Aschoff, Nikki Franco, Michele Willmering, Viv Delos Reyes, Keri Mehling); 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 5:17.68; 3. Lae’ula O Kai, 5:18.58; 4. Napili, 5:28.25. Freshman--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 10:05.13 (Mehana Horner, Tiare Lawrence, Lisa Fanning, Kaimanamalie Brummel, Eleu Novikoff, Kelsey Nae’ole); 2. Na Kai Ewalu, 10:14.16; 3. Wailea, 10:16.40; 4. Lae’ula O Kai, 10:24.38; 5. Kihei Canoe Club, 10:58.84; 6. Napili, 11:00.29. Sophomore--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 10:01.88 (Jen Edwards, Sandy Carvalho, Michele Willmering, Allison Lee, Suzanne Conlon, Julie Shoup); 2. Lae’ula O Kai, 10:49.56; 3. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 10:56.39; 4. Napili, 10:59.72; 5. Na Kai Ewalu, 11:38.37. Junior--1. Lae’ula O Kai, 11:13.20 (Tanya Muhle, Annie Wu, Lauren Armstrong, Erica Anderson, Christine Donovan, Kimberly Vanderlaan); 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 11:13.57.

11⁄2 Miles

Open--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 15:11.90 (Jen Edwards, Sandy Carvalho, Jessica Ford, Allison Lee, Shelby Carlson, Julie Shoup); 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 15:27.77; 3. Lae’ula O Kai, 15:28.73.

Male

Quarter Mile

12A--1. Napili 2:45.26 (Kaulana Tihada, Kase Gunn, Pa’ani Yap, Ghesiah-Dunes Auwae, Harlen Knapp, Kupono Tihada), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:46.50, 3. Wailea 3:00.75, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 3:36.20, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 4:26.12. 12B--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:57.17 (Cody Frampton, Ryder Cleghorn, Keanu Kanekoa, Michael Giblin, Kamaluokalani Vedder, Jesse Alconcel Jr.), 2. Kahana Canoe Club 3:05.65, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 3:17.16, 4. Napili 3:21.15, 5. Kihei Canoe Club 3:42.41, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 3:59.51. 13--1. Napili 2:28.74 (Kase Gunn, Kaulana Tihada, Aiden Takahashi, Ghesiah-Dunes Auwae, Morgan Montgomery Jr., Kalaeloa Tancayo), 2. Lae’ula O Kai 2:35.76, 3. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:39.83, 5. Lahaina 2:54.68, 6. Kihei Canoe Club 2:55.06, 7. Hana 3:10.71, 8. Na Kai Ewalu 3:13.50. 14--1. Napili 2:21.64 (Keli’i Snyder-Opunui, Zyrome I’i-Kahahane, Kalaeloa Tancayo, Iliao Palakiko, James Aubrey Johnson, Kailineheikekai Casco), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:22.11, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 2:32.32, 4. Kahana Canoe Club 2:45.13, 5. Kihei Canoe Club 2:50.20, 6. Lahaina 3:05.91.

Half Mile

15--1. Napili 4:58.82 (Issac Gunn, Nohea Aquino, Dylan Takahashi-Sagapolutele, Treven Tihada, Kaelan Potter, Shaun Jaimeson Kana), 2. Kihei Canoe Club 5:10.19, 3. Hana 5:19.02, 4. Lahaina 6:19.04, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 7:23.13. 16--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:34.12 (Aiden Eda, Matthew Hoonan, Kainoa Eiting, Kala’i Anderson, Azur Hookano, Hunter Carpio), 2. Napili 4:49.29, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:51.87, 4. Kihei Canoe Club 4:56.13, 5. Lae’ula O Kai 5:22.33, 6. Lahaina 5:55.02. 50--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:34.47 (Roberto Protti, Gregg Kresge, Clay Rogers, JoeSpillman, David Ward, John Redongo); 2. Napili 5:11.42; 3. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:25.84. 55--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:17.85 (Michael Newbro, Matthew Daniells, Dana Souza, John Redongo, Chuck Barrett, Kauhane Luuwai); 2. Kihei Canoe Club, 4:28.98; 3. Kahana Canoe Club, 5:05.33. 60--Men (60 yrs)1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:16.90 (Lex Raas, John Mccandless III, Kevin Ledesma, Frank Zajac, Dana Souza, Harold Ferris), 2. Kihei Canoe Club 4:28.38, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 5:07.43. 65--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:23.18 (Lou Dionese, Lance Cushenberry, Jack Dyson, Pia Aluli, Wendall DeVera, Biggie Lara), 2. Kihei Canoe Club 4:38.00, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 4:39.37. 70-- Men 1. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:57.27, (Michael Spalding, Bill Prucha, Brian Miller, Monty Carpenter III, Pia Aluli, Ben Martin). 2. Kihei Canoe Club 5:07.07. Novice B--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:30.17 (Kenyon Smith, Todd Lynam, Charles Fisher, Kapono Zukevich, Steven Metcalfe, Derrin Johnson), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 4:42.16, 3. Lae’ula O Kai 5:23.74. Open Four--1. Na Kai Ewalu, 4:38.23 (Ryan Pfost, Michael Reyes, Keith Barone, Brandon Wong); 2. Wailea, 4:39.21 (Kevin Dudoit, Stephen Cutillo, Lopaka White, Sean Murphy); 3. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:41.06; 4. Napili, 4:44.97; 5. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:20.19; 6. Lahaina, 5:39.36.

Mile

18--1. Wailea 4:19.93 (Maverick Akana, Kiva Herrera, Triston Kaho’okele-Santos, Andrew Kalama, Noa Kamalu, Taimane Keahi), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:39.19, 3. Kihei Canoe Club 4:56.26, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 5:04.41, 5. Napili 5:17.21. 40--1. Wailea, 4:03.50 (Felipe Gomes, Tyson Kubo, Kai Bartlett, Pete Gapero Jr, Hide Yoshikawa, Kalani Tancayo); 2. Kihei Canoe Club, 4:20.91; 3. Napili, 4:24.90; 4. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:29.70; 5. Lae’ula O Kai, 4:48.46. Novice A--1. Na Kai Ewalu 4:23.44 (Mark Leuffgen, Stephen Bennett, Carlos De Siqueira, Sparky Reyna, Brandon Martin, Keith Barone), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 4:24.62, 3. Kihei Canoe Club 4:26.12, 4. Kahana Canoe Club 4:43.11, 5. Napili 4:52.21. Freshman--1. Wailea, 8:34.32 (Kevin Dudoit, Stephen Cutillo, Jonas Arcikauskas, Kapena Bugarin, Sean Murphy, Will Rich); 2. Napili, 8:46.53; 3. Lae’ula O Kai, 9:41.36. Sophomore--1. Wailea, 8:10.76 (Nalu Sampson, Dane Dudoit, Pete Gapero Jr, J.R. Rios, Diego Panza, Kekoa Cramer); 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 9:12.95; 3. Napili, 9:29.13. Junior--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 8:25.34 (Matt Lewis, Mike Gordon, Jesse Guerin, Raul Pacheco, Grant Haitsuka, Carl Gardner); 2. Wailea, 8:25.97; 3 Hawaiian Canoe Club, 9:21.86.

11⁄2 Miles

Open--1. Wailea, 11:59.37 (Felipe Gomes, Kai Bartlett, Joshua Kekupa’a Nae’ole, Triston Kaho’okele-Santos, Nalu Sampson, Kekoa Cramer); 2. Kihei Canoe Club, 13:23.62; 3. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 13:38.48.

Mixed

Quarter Mile

12--1. Hana 2:47.86 (Koali-Kay Kimokeo-Helekahi, Kuikawa Park-Jeremiah, Arianna Helekahi, Nanea Morton Nakooka, Nedabiah Hoopai-Feliciano, Jacob Pu), 2. Lahaina 3:07.86, 3. Napili 3:13.80, 4. Lae’ula O Kai 3:16.59, 5. Kahana Canoe Club 3:30.78, 6. Wailea 4:44.67. Novice B--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 2:30.86 (Carissa Holley, Todd Lynam, Charles Fisher, Chastine Mendoza, Kenyon Smith, Ronnie Kihara), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 2:34.63, 3. Kihei Canoe Club 2:35.13, 4. Napili 2:44.23, 5. Lae’ula O Kai 2:45.47.

Half Mile

15--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club 5:08.17 (Jacqueline Cano, Ga Sum Isotov-Chang, Mail Turley, Kaylee Mark, Evan Recopuerto, Jaden Givensel), 2. Napili 5:20.95, 3. Kahana Canoe Club 5:26.22, 4. Hana 5:37.42, 5. Lae’ula O Kai 5:39.83, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 5:57.44, 7. Kihei Canoe Club 6:00.81. 40--1. Wailea, 4:31.33 (Marjie Kahookele-Pea, Kathrine Lindeman, Melanie King, Kalani Tancayo, Joe Mateo, Lee Ishikawa); 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:47.55; 3. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:01.76; 4. Lae’ula O Kai, 5:05.00; 5. Na Kai Ewalu, 5:06.69; 6. Napili 5:18.76. 55--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:37.67 (Kauhane Luuwai, Trez Harrisson, Michael Newbro, Theresa Felgate, Matthew Daniells, Margie Kawaiaea); 2. Kihei Canoe Club, 4:54.74; 3. Lae’ula O Kai, 4:55.71. 60--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:16.02 (John Salse, Mike Schindler, Brian Tyrol, Denise Guerin, Teresa Reiss, Bonney Esbensen); 2. Lae’ula O Kai 5:22.79. 65--1. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 5:17.43 (Bill Prucha, Wayne Wong, Jerry Jameson, Gracia Neuhart, Susan McAtee, Michele Adair); 2. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:29.88. 70--1. Kihei Canoe Club, 5:16.79 (Wanda Shirreff, Cliff Libed, Ken Pearsall, Kimokeo Kapahulehua, Sandy Bell, Diane Wetzel); 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 5:18.81. Open--1. Napili, 4:23.93 (Kanoe Delatori, Kona Maielua, Chelsey Erickson-Vierra, Cord Munoz, Bubba Kukahiko, TheresaMarzan); 2. Wailea, 4:25.51; 3. Hawaiian Canoe Club, 4:28.90; 4. Kihei CanoeClub, 4:30.64; 5. Kahana Canoe Club, 4:32.97; 6. Lae’ula O Kai, 4:36.17; 7. Lahaina, 4:54.56; 8. Na Kai Ewalu, 4:59.15.

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