Results of today's 7th Annual Polynesian Paddling Products
Masters Wa'a Kaukahi Relay. The first leg paddled 6 miles from Keauhou Bay
to Kamakahonu Beach at Kailua Pier, and 2nd leg paddled 5 miles from
Kamakahonu Beach to Honokohau Harbor.
[Photos] by Marjorieann Santos

Artcle & results of the First Annual Tui Tonga Race held Saturday, December 6,
2003. Sponsored by Kafoa and Gerri Hala Latu with assistance from Kona's
Tongan community.

The 1st annual Tui Tonga Canoe Festival was resounding success. The vision of the event was "Giving back through paddling" The day began with a paddling clinic sponsored by the Hala Latu family and Hawaii Island Paddlesports Association. The participants were treated to a sharing of information by a diverse panel that included Kai Bartlett, Karel Tresnak Jr., Bill Pratt, Nate Hendricks, Thiebert Lusiaa, Bruce Ayau, Andrew Penny, and Rick Nuu. ...

Tongan Feast with all the best paddlers in the world! One clinic/preseason race not to be missed.

Contact:
Randy Botti, President
Hawai`i Island Paddlesports Association
Phone: 936-7277
FAX: 961-0810
e-mail: hipa@canoescafe.com

November 18, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Malakai/Meleane presents the First Annual Tui Tonga Challenge on Saturday December 6th, 2003 in Kailua-Kona. This one of a kind event will feature a paddling clinic, a challenging (but not too long) pre-season race and a traditional Tongan Feast. This event is being sponsored by Kafoa and Gerri Hala Latu of Kona with Kokua from family, friends and members of the Tongan community.

The paddling clinic is co-sponsored by Canoe Camp Hawaii of Maui and will feature Rick Nuu of Hawaiian Canoe Club, Kai Bartlett of Lanikai Canoe Club, Bruce Ayau, Mike Fields, Nate Hendricks, Kafoa Hala Latu, Ikaika Hauanio and Steve Boreri of Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club as well as Thiebert Luisaa, Andrew Penny, Karel Tresnak Jr. and Bill Pratt of the 2003 Molokai Hoe champion, New Zealand/Hawaii crew.

The purpose of the clinic is to educate children of all ages, as well as, paddlers of every level and will cover solo OC-1 paddling and rudderless V-1 canoe technique, six-person canoe technique and steering, water safety, training regimes and proper athlete nutrition. There will be on-water demonstrations.

Registration begins at 8:00 am at the Kamakahonu Beach fronting the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. The paddling clinic is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and is open to any youth or adult currently involved or interested in getting involved on solo or duo canoe paddling. The race will start at approximately 11am with a traditional Tongan feast to follow at H.I.P.A.’s halau at Honokohau harbor.
There will be short course (4 miles) and long course (6 miles) races starting at the Kailua-Kona pier and finishing at Honokohau Harbor.

Hawai`i Island Paddlesports Assn. is the Solo and Duo Paddlesports association for the Big Island; this includes one person and two person outrigger canoes as well as Surfski kayaks and paddleboards. Our race schedule runs from January to April, with various off-season events throughout the year.

Mahalo for support of Outrigger and Kayak Paddling in Hawaii.

Additional information
Race information line 969-6695
H.I.P.A. web site at www.kaikahoe.org

Aloha All,

Here are the results of the 6th Annual Sea Man Race. Conceived by the late Abbott Galaher as a pre-season tune-up for OC-1, OC-2, Surfskis and Paddleboards, the first event was held in December 1998.

The course followed the same one Abbott set six years ago - straight out to sea from Keauhou Bay and return. The short course was 3 miles, and the long course, 5 miles. First place overall on the long course was won by "Team Abbott", Lambert Lee Loy and Jacques Blais, who paddled on Abbott's old OC-2. Another tradition set by Abbott is that the entry fee consists of
canned goods for the Hawaii Island Food Bank.

Mahalo,
Jane Bockus

"Team Abbott" Jacques Blais (front), Lambert Lee Loy (back) - 1st OC-2 Men - 1st Overall Long Course:

1st 2004 preseason race:
[Full Info, download] in .pdf format

[Available Here]

31 mile oc1 oc2 relay.. from Puako Boat Ramp to Honokohau Harbor
***Ikaika Hauanio/Bruce Ayau win overall, breaking previous record.
[Photos] by V. Isbell
[Read more for full Results]

Hawaii Island PaddleSport Association (HIPA) held its final oc1 race at Kawaihae. Next up:Big Island Challenge Relay Apr 19
***Cherisse Kelii/Scott Jones mix oc2 win overall
***Thibert Lussia'a takes open mens oc1
***Ronona Della Cioppa 1st in open womens div.
[read more for results]

BigIsland had a non-points Harbor Point Challenge race on saturday.
Photos:[Part 1][Part 2][Part 3] courtesy V. Isbell
[Results]

Hawaii Island Paddle Sports had its Short Course Points Race at Keauhou.
[read more for full results & pictures]
[Full Albums of Photos] courtesy V. Isbell