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Na Kai Ewalu among clubs enjoying keiki boom

MCHCA season begins with John Wilmington III Memorial Regatta

By Dakota Grossman 10 min read

KAHULUI -- Hau'oli-Lani Carino and Marshall Mamizuka ran through a celebratory tunnel of Na Kai Ewalu canoe club teammates with big smiles at Kahului Harbor on Saturday morning.

The pair of 14-and-under boys had just helped their crewmates finish runner-up behind Hawaiian Canoe Club with a time of 2 minutes, 18.39 seconds in the quarter-mile race during the John Wilmington III Memorial Regatta, the opening event of the Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association regatta season.

"Race was good today for my first-ever race on a canoe club," Mamizuka said after getting a small ribbon lei. "We was cranking 'em, but we kind of died out, but it was good. ... I'm loving it. I love the people, I love the sport, I love the culture, too."

With a breezy headwind, Na Kai Ewalu was leading the first half of the race until Hawaiian Canoe Club caught up and edged the purple and gray canoe for the win in 2:16.90. Lae'ula O Kai took third in 2:24.24.

"I think we did really good," said Carino, who has paddled for Na Kai Ewalu for two years. "We missed a couple strokes when we had to switch over, but that's fine. We were head-to-head with Hawaiian for first place. ... At the start, it was pretty rough but then at the end (the wind) started to get nicer."

The King Kekaulike High School student said his goal is to help NKE's 14U boys snag a state seed spot at Hilo Bay by the end of the summer "so that we can have fun over there with the boys."

"My favorite part about being a part of this club is the people, the family over here, how we all get to hang out and have fun," Carino added. "We all do the races and then come over here and say 'congrats' and get our medals at the end."

One of Na Kai Ewalu's keiki club coaches, Shahlia Wainui, was seen working the shoreline with her ankles deep in water, making sure all the youth paddlers were in their canoes at the right times before each race. During the events, she was yelling and cheering.

"It's important to keep the kids off the streets and give them something to do over the summer," Wainui said. "It gives them a place in the community."

As the club focuses on expanding NKE's cultural education program and buddy program, Wainui said that the keiki membership is up this year, fielding about 130 kids. Many of the youth paddlers follow in the footsteps of their parents who paddled for the Kahului-based club "when they were small."

"So it's a generational, traditional summer fun," she said.

Wainui finally got a bite to eat in the afternoon when the novice races were on the water, including Na Kai Ewalu's mixed novice B crew that finished second place in the event. The club's men's novice B won their division and later, the girls 15U and 16U crews each earned runner-up placements behind Hawaiian.

The goal this season is to foster and build the club as a whole, Wainui said.

"I believe we're checking our boxes," she noted. "There are a lot more open races; we have brand new novice races, and we're pretty much filling all of our keiki races."

The day felt extra special for Na Kai Ewalu as it hosted an event for the first time since 2019, Wainui said.

It was also NKE's late celebration of its 50th anniversary, which was last year.

"So, we're super proud to be able to one, host, and two, start pretty well on time for the first regatta," she said. "It's great to see all of the canoe clubs have so much keiki out there. Our club, we just exploded with kids this year, and I know other coaches are seeing the same effects. ... So we're having fun, super proud of everybody. All of the coaches really worked together, so it's a great feeling."

In a change this year, the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association reduced the men's and women's freshmen and sophomore races from the mile to the half-mile.

Na Kai Ewalu won the women's freshmen race with a time of 4:44.49. Hawaiian was second and Napili was third.

Wailea Canoe Club continued its dominance in the men's freshman race while Napili was second and Lahaina was third.

In the sophomore division, the Kihei women were first, Wailea second and NKE third. In the men's, Wailea was first, Kihei second and Na Kai Ewalu third.

Out of the 48 events, Hawaiian won 26 races, garnering a total of 179 points to win the opening regatta. Kihei was second with 84 and Napili was third with 66.

* Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

MCHCA JOHN WILMINGTON III MEMORIAL REGATTA

Saturday's Results

At Kahului Harbor

Team

1. Hawaiian 179, 2. Kihei 84, 3. Napili 66, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 59, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 58, 6. Lahaina 34, 7. Wailea 30, 8. Kahana 4.

Female

Quarter Mile

12A--1. Hawaiian 2:46.47 (Kalena Aguirre, Tehya Dudoit, Sydney Haole, Pualililehua Kahaloa, Malie Kamai, Lehiwa Lani-Montira), 2. Lahaina 2:50.68, 3. Napili 3:02.02, 4. Kahana 3:05.40, 5. Kihei 3:11.42, 6. Lae'ula O Kai 3:27.41. 12B--1. Hawaiian 2:56.39 (Mahina Cosare, Lydia Daniels, Lilyana Gregory-Heffernan, Zoey Ribucan-Winters, Yukie Ruidas, Stormy Smith), 2. Kihei 3:07.25, 3. Napili 3:13.43, 4. Lahaina 3:17.77, 5. Lae'ula O Kai 3:44.65, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 3:53.70. 13--1. Hawaiian 2:42.31 (Michiru Barawis Tanaka, Nevaeh Howard, Bellamoon Hunkin, Hulali Reyes, Ke'alohi Sepulveda, Hi'ipoi Starbuck), 2. Lahaina 2:55.57, 3. Napili 2:56.64, 4. Kihei 3:02.32, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 3:06.05. 14--1. Hawaiian 2:35.42 (Mikaela Benavides, Mekia Kekona-Eaton, Maria Lopez, Naupakapualaha'ole Olaitiman, Keala Rodriguez, Kaheawai Sepulveda), 2. Lahaina 2:47.67, 3. Kihei 2:52.44, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 2:59.73, 5. Wailea 3:03.64, 6. Lae'ula O Kai 3:22.22, 7. Napili 12:04.16. Novice B--1. Napili 2:29.99 (Noelle Bali, Sonja Corrigan, Lexie Lara, Tess Magnolia Pitzer Jelvani, Allie Schira, Laura Webster), 2. Hawaiian 2:35.64, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 2:44.41, 4. Kihei 2:54.28.

Half Mile

15--1. Hawaiian 5:28.06 (Rachael Bandy, Mikaela Benavides, Samantha Cano, Jasmine Gorman, Mekia Kekona-Eaton, Keala Rodriguez), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 5:32.24, 3. Napili 5:53.61, 4. Wailea 6:00.49. 16--1. Hawaiian 5:15.95 (Isabelle Brown, Lilyanna Bryant, Zella Kofron, Kaesha Purdy, Makena Ruegsegger, Lei'ohu Turley), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 5:31.06, 3. Napili 5:37.95, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 5:41.24, 5. Kihei 5:55.58. 18--1. Hawaiian 4:57.38 (Isabelle Brown, Josephine Lynch-Beaty, Amelia Mooney, Kaesha Purdy, Makena Ruegsegger, Anuhea Storey), 2. Napili 4:58.94, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 5:13.67, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 5:15.77, 5. Kihei Canoe Club 0:52.15. 40--1. Hawaiian 4:46.12 (Kristin Drost, Michelle Fernandes Freire, Theresa Gerry, Tiare Lawrence, Geryce Simoes, Dane Ward), 2. Kihei 5:05.56, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 5:14.86, 4. Napili 5:17.64, 5. Lahaina 5:18.24, 6. Lae'ula O Kai 5:22.89. 50--1. Lae'ula O Kai 4:52.62 (Michele Golberg, Lani Gomes, Jenn Konohia, Joanna Tablang, Mari Toro, Nani Vickers), 2. Hawaiian 4:58.91, 3. Kihei 5:06.63. 55--1. Kihei 4:53.21 (Polly Arnold-Lorge, Cate Bellafiore, Joyce Hasebe, Janine Masaki, Patty Phillips, Ingrid Thronson), 2. Hawaiian 5:00.28, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 5:02.18, 4. Wailea 5:56.06. 60--1. Lae'ula O Kai 5:05.26 (Holly Dollar, Emily Fielding, Mary Kielty, Lei Laanui, Susan Ramos, Donelle Zarko), 2. Kihei 5:12.67, 3. Hawaiian 5:21.61, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 5:41.49. 65--1. Kihei 5:13.57 (Bonney Esbensen, Jan Everett, Denise Guerin, Nalani Kaninau, Teresa Reiss, Katy Smith), 2. Lae'ula O Kai 5:21.54, 3. Hawaiian 5:28.00. 70--1. Hawaiian 5:18.19 (Michele Adair, Suzi Aki, Irene Geyer, Lea Giddens, Jeanette Kaauamo, Gracia Neuhart), 2. Kihei 5:24.49. Novice A--1. Lahaina 4:42.85 (Nadia Cabreros, Mooks Gregory, Melina Hight, Aubs Huey, Noe Keahi, BeeBee Nesheva), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 4:50.42, 3. Napili 4:55.32, 4. Kihei 5:11.14, 5. Lae'ula O Kai 5:16.03, 6. Hawaiian 5:22.58. Open Four--1. Hawaiian 5:05.89 (Kaimanamalie Brummel, Kristin Drost, Hiilei Luuwai, Kaulu Luuwai), 2. Lahaina 5:15.36, 3. Napili 5:17.54, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 5:20.95, 5. Kihei 5:22.42, 6. Lae'ula O Kai 5:36.87, 7. Wailea 6:04.79, 8. Kahana 6:26.48. Freshman--1. Na Kai Ewalu 4:44.49 (Erica Amico, Mackenzie Brown, Reyann Destinee Mau-Bagay, Amanda May, Karin Osuga, May Wedelin Lee), 2. Hawaiian 4:45.24, 3. Napili 4:46.28, 4. Lahaina 4:46.61, 5. Lae'ula O Kai 5:12.64, 6. Kihei 5:15.80. Sophomore--1. Kihei 4:22.55 (Sandy Carvalho, Suzanne Conlon, Jen Edwards, Allison Lee, Julie Shoup, Michele Willmering), 2. Wailea 4:51.68, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:54.54, 4. Hawaiian 4:55.14, 5. Napili 5:03.99, 6. Lae'ula O Kai 5:40.71.

Mile

Junior--1. Hawaiian 9:36.93 (Lisa Fanning, Arianna Gerry, Claire Gilbert, Danielle Kuck, Kelsey Nae'ole, Mikiala Puaa-Freitas), 2. Kihei 10:00.90, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 10:54.46, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 11:17.95.

1½ Miles

Open--1. Kihei Canoe Club 14:28.09 (Tihani Arbogast, Sandy Carvalho, Suzanne Conlon, Jen Edwards, Allison Lee, Emily Silva), 2. Lae'ula O Kai 15:23.11, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 15:27.90, 4. Hawaiian Canoe Club 15:28.88, 5. Napili 15:32.73.

Male

Quarter Mile

12A--1. Napili 2:31.55 (Haweo Gonzales, Kaimana Medeiros-Criste, E Kalapana Kukahiko Salvador, Manaia Tevaga, Keliikoa Tihada, Taven Vasquez-Kuahuia), 2. Hawaiian 2:32.07, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 2:57.91, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 3:48.15. 12B--1. Napili 2:47.74 (Moon Kauhane, Konahao Lanoza-Uyeda, Kayson Maielua, Enari Tuala, Koda Tuala, Kana'i Vasquez-Keahi), 2. Kahana 3:10.32, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 3:17.74, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 3:53.07. 13--1. Hawaiian 2:26.31 (Maiola Awana, Moa'e Miranda, Matthew Rabanes, Xander Ribucan-Winters, Chuka Smith, Manu Takeshita), 2. Lahaina 2:30.99, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 2:37.20, 4. Napili 2:40.87, 5. Kihei 2:41.46, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 2:48.24. 14--1. Hawaiian 2:16.90 (Maiola Awana, Iwiula Hookano, Manakuokeao Kaauamo, Kukamaehu Kahaloa, Matthew Rabanes, Chuka Smith), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 2:18.39, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 2:24.24, 4. Napili 2:25.22, 5. Kihei 2:31.53, 6. Lahaina 2:48.48.

Half Mile

15--1. Hawaiian 4:39.41 (Jesse Alconcel Jr., Niuhi Howard II, Tao Okabe, Keanu Reyes, Liam Romanchak, Aina Vierra), 2. Napili 4:41.83, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:56.49, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 5:53.17. 16--1. Hawaiian 4:24.89 (Kekai Apana, Makai Farm, Cody Frampton, John Kaahui, Rhys Maier, Bazel Potratz), 2. Kihei 4:25.24, 3. Napili 4:31.91, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 4:37.06, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 4:41.72. 18--1. Hawaiian 4:11.20 (Barrett Barnard, Cody Frampton, Finn McAfee, Dustin Metzler Jr., Max Moquin, Edward Oliveira), 2. Napili 4:13.81, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:24.01, 4. Kihei 4:31.06, 5. Lae'ula O Kai 4:46.48. 40--1. Wailea 4:01.71 (Isaac Bancaco, Mael Carey, Felipe Gomes, Tyson Kubo, Diego Panza, Lopaka White), 2. Hawaiian 4:03.34, 3. Kihei 4:04.96, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 4:13.82, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 4:22.53. 50--1. Hawaiian 4:05.34 (Rodrigo Da Silva, Jb Guard, Chad Lee, John Mooney, Mark Soon, Hannibal Starbuck), 2. Lae'ula O Kai 4:19.26, 3. Kihei 4:20.84, 4. Lahaina 4:21.58, 5. Kahana 4:36.80. 55--1. Kihei 4:25.32 (Damon Austin, Tim Campbell, Mark Kasbergen, Jimmy Kirkish, Stanford Lanias, Kawika Williams), 2. Hawaiian 4:30.29, 3. Napili 4:40.80. 60--1. Kihei 4:20.37 (Chuck Barrett, Mike Cordi, Kevin Kahikina, Jimmy Kirkish, Stanford Lanias, Kawika Williams), 2. Hawaiian 4:26.07, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 5:02.72. 65--1. Hawaiian 4:22.96 (Tom Guerin, Kevin Ledesma, John 3rd Mccandless, Lex Raas, Dana Souza, Frank Zajac), 2. Lae'ula O Kai 4:52.98, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:57.00, 4. Kihei 5:06.10. 70--1. Hawaiian 4:29.00 (Pia Aluli, Lance Cushenberry, Nick Wendall DeVera, Lou Dionese, Harold Ferris, Biggie Lara), 2. Lae'ula O Kai 4:47.00, 3. Kihei 5:02.00. Novice A--1. Hawaiian 3:57.17 (Reid Anderson, Juan Hernandez, Michael Holley, Derrin Johnson, Daniel Reisinger, Teddy Zabel), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 4:07.39, 3. Kihei 4:13.11, 4. Lahaina 4:15.39, 5. Lae'ula O Kai 4:36.74. Novice B--1. Na Kai Ewalu 4:30.34 (Mitchell Brown, Dredge Flores, Steve Hamilton, Culver Haynes, Cameron McElroy, Joshua Medeiros), 2. Lahaina 4:37.00, 3. Hawaiian 4:40.95, 4. Napili 5:21.03. Open Four--1. Napili 4:14.08 (Kapena Bugarin, Bubba Kukahiko, Cord Munoz, Justin Ney), 2. Hawaiian 4:20.96, 3. Lahaina 4:26.55, 4. Wailea 4:40.00, 5. Kahana 5:01.47, 6. Lae'ula O Kai 5:06.49, 7. Kihei 5:09.29. Freshman--(times not available) 1. Wailea (Kekoa Cramer, Dane Dudoit, Noa Kamalu, Sig Konohia, Joshua Kekupa'a Nae'ole, Kekoa Santos), 2. Napili, 3. Lahaina, 4. Hawaiian, 5. Na Kai Ewalu, 6. Lae'ula O Kai. Sophomore--1. Wailea 3:46.62 (Isaac Bancaco, Triston Kaho'okele-Santos, Joshua Kekupa'a Nae'ole, J.R. Rios, Nalu Sampson, Lopaka White), 2. Kihei 4:02.99, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 4:08.99, 4. Hawaiian 4:12.61, 5. Napili 4:29.48, 6. Lahaina 4:29.54.

Mile

Junior--1. Hawaiian 8:17.06 (Maika'i Cadman, Jb Guard, Jake Korth, Kawai Luuwai, Matthew Meyer, Matt Pires), 2. Wailea 8:43.68.

1½ Miles

Open--1. Wailea 12:14.42 (Kekoa Cramer, Dane Dudoit, Felipe Gomes, Sig Konohia, Nalu Sampson, Kekoa Santos), 2. Hawaiian Canoe Club 13:33.78, 3. Na Kai Ewalu 13:36.43, 4. Kihei Canoe Club 13:48.68, 5. Napili 14:11.52.

Mixed

Quarter Mile

12--1. Hawaiian 2:37.98 (Jackson Cockett-Kanoa, Ko'olau de la Nux, La'akea Elaban-Manuwa, Pualililehua Kahaloa, Malie Kamai, Lehiwa Lani-Montira), 2. Napili 2:50.42, 3. Lahaina 2:57.52, 4. Lae'ula O Kai 3:01.09, 5. Na Kai Ewalu 3:06.35, 6. Kahana 3:09.30, 7. Kihei 3:36.39. Novice B--1. Hawaiian 2:15.42 (Erica Gale, Conner Heermann, Christiane Keyhani, Leigh Rovzar, Sean Taimanao, Jenasee Toone), 2. Na Kai Ewalu 2:18.77, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 2:19.14, 4. Lahaina 2:20.21, 5. Napili 2:22.81, 6. Kihei 2:25.39.

Half Mile

18--1. Hawaiian 4:36.16 (Elias Hamp, Zella Kofron, Josephine Lynch-Beaty, Tristen Toker, Lei'ohu Turley, Noel Sky Zohar), 2. Napili 4:41.74, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 4:52.68, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 5:03.95, 5. Kihei 5:14.80. 40--1. Hawaiian 4:13.92 (Malu Brayce, Michelle Fernandes Freire, Eric Hamp, Danielle Kuck, Tim Lara, Tiare Lawrence), 2. Kihei 4:17.73, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 4:18.46, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 4:27.42, 5. Napili 4:40.74, 6. Wailea 4:49.52. 55--1. Kihei 4:34.78 (Polly Arnold-Lorge, Chuck Barrett, Cate Bellafiore, Mike Cordi, Kevin Kahikina, Ingrid Thronson), 2. Hawaiian 4:37.35, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 4:44.27, 4. Napili 5:00.25, 5. Wailea 5:11.60. 60--1. Lae'ula O Kai 4:42.94 (Kawika 2nd Davidson, J.D. Eilers, Beth Faust, Tracy Stice, Kim Vanderlaan, Donelle Zarko), 2. Hawaiian 5:06.47, 3. Kihei 5:13.09, 4. Na Kai Ewalu 5:23.94, 5. Wailea 5:30.97. 70--1. Kihei 5:23.33 (Anita Anderson, Berney Coleman, Mark Michelson, Christine Moschetti, Rich Ross, Deanna Salse), 2. Hawaiian 5:29.66. Open--1. Hawaiian 4:07.04 (Lisa Fanning, Derrin Johnson, Kelsey Nae'ole, Matt Pires, Mikiala Puaa-Freitas, Teddy Zabel), 2. Napili 4:16.34, 3. Lae'ula O Kai 4:16.92, 4. Wailea 4:24.42, 5. Lahaina 4:26.74, 6. Na Kai Ewalu 4:45.86, 7. Kihei 5:03.54, 8. Kahana 4:50.61.

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