Kanaka Ikaika Race 1

January 11, Makai Pier to Kailua Beach
Sponsored by Kamanu Composites and NS Air Conditioning
Photos by Bryon Dorr and Julie Borsetti
Race Recap
Overall Results
Division Results
Craft Totals

Thankfully the weather for today's Kanaka Ikaika season opener did not go as planned. All week the forecast for the race was thunderstorms and strong west winds, which would have made for a brutal and wet upwind course. Despite the ominous forecasts, 153 people showed up ready to brave the Hawaiian winter weather. It wasn't until right before the race that the clouds began to clear and the wind stopped swirling. By the time the race started, it was nearly a perfect day in Waimanalo.

The long course went from Makai Pier around Rabbit Island towards Kailua, then around the Mokes and Flat Island to finish right off beautiful Kailua beach. Kamanu Composites sponsored a special "dash for the cash," which was a total of $400 that would be split between the first male and female OC-1 paddlers to go around a buoy which was placed off of Rabbit Island. There was also $1600 in cash prizes donated by NS Air Conditioning to the top open OC-1 and Surfski paddlers. Naturally there was more tension than usual on the starting line. However, due to an unusual lack of people pushing the line (and the threat of a ten minute penalty), the race start was as close to perfect as starts get.

A pack of the contenders for the "dash for the cash," took off with Alfred VanGieson, Danny Ching, Mael Carey, Mike Hangai, Danny Sheard, and Manny Kulukualani in the lead. Unfortunately everyone who cut too close to Rabbit Island ended up getting taken out by the surf. Manny and Danny Sheard took the worst of it which forced them to pull out of the race. The series of waves left a small pack of leaders a considerable distance ahead of the field, with Alfred, Mael, and Danny Ching being the primary contenders for the "dash for the cash." Alfred won the "dash," but was overtaken mid-way through the race by Mael Carey. The race finished at Kailua beach with only seconds separating Mael Carey in 1st, Luke Evslin in 2nd, and Alfred VanGieson in 3rd. In the womans division, Arlene Holzman won the "dash for the cash" and the overall, with Jessie Eames and Kelsa Teeters following in 2nd and 3rd.

After battling it out on the water all morning, everyone was treated to a well deserved lunch, prepared and served by the Kamanu Composites catering team. Though the highlight of the awards were the $2000 in cash giveaways provided by NS Airconditioning and Kamanu Composites, there was also a variety of giveaways for the top age-group finishers from Soljah, Kamanu Composites, and Kanaka Ikaika.
Thank you to everyone who braved the threatening weather reports and showed up for Kanaka Ikaika's first race.

Posted by keizo on Sun, 01/11/2009 - 6:54pm