Aloha, as we begin the start of six man racing I want to express my aloha to each and every paddler out there and hope you have a great season. My biggest aloha is dedicated to the wa'a especially towards a koa wa’a. Through the years I have been paddling I have learned a great amount of respect towards the wa’a. We as paddlers only have a few moments with a koa each weekend and should cherish it. As paddlers we should treat each koa as royalty; regardless of what club it comes from. Because each club, I would hope, treats their koa as ali’i of the club. At times I notice things that I feel that are disrespectful to the koa and I hold back my thoughts because I don’t want to disrespect those who I feel that are disrespecting the koa mainly because it may be acceptable to some clubs, or they simply weren’t told. But without me saying anything I feel that I’m disrespecting the koa. I’m hoping through this thread we can share our mana’o with each other and go back to our home clubs and share on how we can better treat our koa’s. Here is a few that I believe are respectful to the wa’a. Please chime in and spread awareness through the paddling community.
Aloha, Kapuni
• Never jump over a koa or any wa’a! Don’t be lazy! Walk around; the wa’a is not a part of an obstacle course. It’s disrespectful in many ways.
• Walk/swim to your seat when getting into the koa. Slide your butt on the gunnels and slip on to your seat. Get out the same way. NEVER STAND IN A KOA! Yes, it splits the wood. But by standing, you are claiming you are the king of the wa’a, you are not the king!
• Carrying the koa, more hands make light work. Some clubs have many people but some clubs only have a few. Regardless of numbers, or what club you belong too, I believe if you are there to kokua, don’t walk pass or move out the way get your hand on the wa’a.
• Dragging a koa on or off a saddle…A few inches more…Lift the wa’a! Ask for kokua. NO SHAME! Avoid putting a koa on a rubber tire, if it’s on a tire at least put carpet.
• A hulied koa. Don’t express in happiness because you have now beat a crew. Be ready to kokua on the beach when the koa comes in. If it’s swamped, swim out and take care of it. It’s not the clubs responsibility; it’s everyone’s responsibility.
• Carbon fiber blades, tape the edges. It damages the wa’a; it cuts the wa’a like butter.
Submitted by shurl0ck on Tue, 05/27/2014 - 10:28am
Aloha, as we begin the start of six man racing I want to express my aloha to each and every paddler out there and hope you have a great season. My biggest aloha is dedicated to the wa'a especially towards a koa wa’a. Through the years I have been paddling I have learned a great amount of respect towards the wa’a. We as paddlers only have a few moments with a koa each weekend and should cherish it. As paddlers we should treat each koa as royalty; regardless of what club it comes from. Because each club, I would hope, treats their koa as ali’i of the club. At times I notice things that I feel that are disrespectful to the koa and I hold back my thoughts because I don’t want to disrespect those who I feel that are disrespecting the koa mainly because it may be acceptable to some clubs, or they simply weren’t told. But without me saying anything I feel that I’m disrespecting the koa. I’m hoping through this thread we can share our mana’o with each other and go back to our home clubs and share on how we can better treat our koa’s. Here is a few that I believe are respectful to the wa’a. Please chime in and spread awareness through the paddling community.
Aloha, Kapuni
• Never jump over a koa or any wa’a! Don’t be lazy! Walk around; the wa’a is not a part of an obstacle course. It’s disrespectful in many ways.
• Walk/swim to your seat when getting into the koa. Slide your butt on the gunnels and slip on to your seat. Get out the same way. NEVER STAND IN A KOA! Yes, it splits the wood. But by standing, you are claiming you are the king of the wa’a, you are not the king!
• Carrying the koa, more hands make light work. Some clubs have many people but some clubs only have a few. Regardless of numbers, or what club you belong too, I believe if you are there to kokua, don’t walk pass or move out the way get your hand on the wa’a.
• Dragging a koa on or off a saddle…A few inches more…Lift the wa’a! Ask for kokua. NO SHAME! Avoid putting a koa on a rubber tire, if it’s on a tire at least put carpet.
• A hulied koa. Don’t express in happiness because you have now beat a crew. Be ready to kokua on the beach when the koa comes in. If it’s swamped, swim out and take care of it. It’s not the clubs responsibility; it’s everyone’s responsibility.
• Carbon fiber blades, tape the edges. It damages the wa’a; it cuts the wa’a like butter.
Submitted by shurl0ck on Tue, 05/27/2014 - 10:28am