Kailua-Kona’s Mellow Johnny’s 1 took first overall in Saturday’s Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Race from Honaunau to Kailua Pier. The club — along with the winner in the wahine division — took top honors last year as well.
Paddling the six-man canoe Olamau, Mellow Johnny’s crossed the finish line with a time of 1:55:33, which was more than eight minutes faster than their time last year in the 18-mile race.
Right behind the local crew was Tahiti’s Paddling Connection, which won the Hawaiki Nui Vaa in 2013, a grueling three-day race through the Society Islands.
“It was a battle all the way,” Mellow Johnny’s crew member Trey Cox said. “At Keauhou we put a gap between us and held it. We kept our heads down. We had a good push about Keauhou.”
“The last few miles were sticky,” he said. “We had to grind through it. It was a test of the will. We knew Paddling Connection was the team to beat, so we knew we had our hands full.”
In addition to Cox, the crew included Keakua Nolan, Daniel Chun, Ikaika Hauanio, Koa Spoons and Kainoa Tanoai.
Paddling Connection was able to stay with Mellow Johnny’s for about an hour, then the Kailua-Kona team slipped away, Paddling Connection coach Wilfred Ah Min said.
“They were fresher than us,” said Ah Min, whose team finished with a time of 1:56:30. “Our boys are happy. It’s our first time here and we’re just loving the fun.”
Finishing third overall and first in the iron unlimited division was Kailua Gold 2 at 1:57:12, followed by Kailua Pahoehoe at 1:58:21.
Kauai Waa was fifth overall with a time of 2:00:14
Joe O’Malley of Kailua Gold 2, said the Oahu team had a simple strategy: paddle hard and work as a crew.
“There were enough bumps and surges it was pretty good for us,” said O’Malley, whose crew will paddle to Maui today.
The Waikiki Beach Boys 1 took first overall in the wahine division with a time of 2:07:11, grabbing the lead from the start and holding it.
“This is one of our favorite races,” crew member Jennifer Polcer said. “Almost 100 women’s crews out on the water is so awesome. And Kona is so welcoming to paddlers. The whole community gets involved.”
Her crew members were Jesse Kaawa, Dana Gorecki, Alanna Bender, Kelsa Gabehart and Chelsea Bizik.
“It was smooth, powerful, a great blend,” Polcer said. “We couldn’t ask for a better race.”
Taking second overall and first in the wahine iron unlimited division was Puna Canoe Club 2, with a time of 2:08:09. Paddling the Boogie Kalama, the crew was getting small bumps all the way as it passed 94 boats, said crew member Sheila Cadaoas.
“We are a crew of six working together, that’s why we did so well,” she said. “Once you go unlimited, it’s hard to go back.”
Behind Puna was Hulakai Canoe Club with a time of 2:08:49, followed by Kai Opua 1, which was first in the 40-49 age category, at 2:09:24.
The world’s largest long-distance canoe race began in 1972 as a way for paddlers to train for the Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe races from Molokai to Oahu.
“This race brings paddlers together from all over the world who want to be a part of this great race here in Kona. Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Races are about sharing the spirit of Hawaiian outrigger canoe racing with the world,” said Bo Campos, president of the Kai Opua Canoe Club, which hosts the event.
Paddlers from all over the map, including Australia, Hong Kong and Canada converge on the hot, usually flat waters of leeward Hawaii. The event has burgeoned in popularity over the years, expanding from one day of events to three, and this year, 2,500 paddlers are competing. The women’s crews struck out from Kailua Bay at 7:30 a.m., racing 18 miles to Honaunau. The men’s teams raced back starting around 11:45 a.m.
The iron, iron unlimited and 9-person divisions were staggered to start five minutes apart. Ninety-six wahine crews and 76 kane crews finished the race.
“It was exciting to see how well the top three crews faced each other,” Race Director Mike Atwood said. “Kai Opua’s Master 40, Puna Canoe Club and Hulakai battled and paddled nearly the entire race course. The unlimited canoes kept it close and all the wahine moved those canoes.”
The double hull races, one and two person races, standup paddleboard and teen single hull races are set for Sunday, with the Alii Challenge concluding the slate of events Monday.
