Vaka is the Tongan word for small boat, obviously very close to the Hawaiian word, wa'a. However, vaka is not used for an outrigger canoe....it is call a popao. For the last 6 months I have been in a remote southern part of the already remote Ha'apai Group of islands in central Tonga. I am on Telekivava'u, 40 acres of pristine islolated beauty. I can see 8 or so islands, all but two unhinhabited. One of the two has a population of 50, and the other, Fonoi, has a population of 100, and is about 7 nm away. This is where Ma'ake is from.... he spends most of his time though, on this island, Telekivava'u, living rather traditionally in his coconut fale, fishing and makafeke, the catching of octopus, feke (he'e), using the traditional rat lure made of a cowrie shell.... all from his dug-out popao.

2004 HCRA State IVF Junior 16 & 19 TRIALS
February 29, 2004
Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park

HCRA IVF V1 & V6 Trials
April 24, 2004, Saturday
Hilo Bay -- Hilo, Hawaii

[Photos] courtesy Jenn Konohia
Maui Canoe & Kayak Club-2004 Hurricane Ocean Racing Series
D.T. Fleming Beach, Maui to Kaunakakai, Molokai

Exhaustion, triumph, survival, relief, jubilation… the many emotions expressed by paddlers as they crossed the finish line at Kaunakakai in what seemed to have been a desert instead of the cool Pacific Ocean. The winds just didn’t wrap around Molokai so the final hour was brutal. Of course the rides in the channel and half way through the race were great but we sure could have used them in the final miles.

Top Results are listed in the article
[Hilo Tribune Article]

For immediate release

Kai' Wa'a California manufacturers of the New Pegasus OC-1 are pleased to announced a new partnership with Open Ocean Outriggers of Vancouver, BC.

[Photos] by Makana Denton
It was a great finale to a great season of OC-1, OC-2, and Surfski racing as sixty eight paddlers turned out for our Kaua‘i Island Championship race Sunday, April 18th! Starbucks Coffee was our sponsor for this event and they went above and beyond in providing everyone an ono lunch, great prizes, and beautiful trophies for the winners! Our other sponsors were Quiksilver who also provided some fun prizes for the paddlers (making it possible for almost everyone going home with a “goodie”), Steinlager, and the YMCA of Kaua‘i. This is the third year Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a has been in existence, and the YMCA of Kaua‘i has been a great support helping us to grow this sport on our island.

[Results] (.pdf format)
[Y2Kanu Photos] courtesy Rick Leton

[Honolulu Advertiser Article] w/Partial Results
[Full Results]
[Y2Kanu Photos] courtesy Rick Leton