Hiram “Nana” Anakalea Jr., Iokepa Aponte, Malosi Laasaga and Baba Weza were on Kai Ehitu’s state winning boys 12 crew in 2012, the start of a rising power.
It was the club’s first gold at the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state championships since 2007.
The crew didn’t take first place in 2013, but competed in the boys 13 last year and brought home another gold from states, which was again held at Keehi Lagoon on Oahu.
Bronson Leslie was also on last season’s Kai Ehitu gold crew. Ilya Protopov will go from backup to permanent member to round out lineup.
Kai Ehitu wasn’t the best boys 13 crew last season in Moku O Hawaii. Keaukaha captured the Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii title in that race, beating Kai Ehitu. (Keaukaha was third at states.)
It’s a budding rivalry that could run for a while – the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta season kicks off Saturday with Kai Ehitu’s “Papa” Kimitete regatta at Kailua Bay. It’ll be a bump up at the boys 14 with Kai Ehitu going to a new age group.
It went the opposite way for Kai Ehitu’s girls 12 crew last year.
Kiana Anakalea, Maile Grace, Hunter Kalima, Maimiti Otare, Nayeli Silva-Kahalewai, Lilei Ynigues won the Moku O Hawaii title, but placed second at states to Maui’s Hawaiian.
That crew is also moving up, to the girls 13, and becoming another strong force for Kai Ehitu boys and girls coach Hiram Anakalea, who logs in family time with his son and daughter.
“It’s only quarter-mile races, and I usually tell the girls and my boys to work together and give it all you’ve got from the heart,” he said. “Those boys have been together three years now, and they love to do battle with the Keaukaha boys. It’s awesome, pushing each other in competition.”
Nana now has two state golds. His younger sister has a silver, but she’s just starting her medal-collecting adventure.
Anakalea likes the confidence of his girls crew, but he’s quick to remind them of late club founder Bernard “Papa” Kimitete’s legacy.
“They’re a tight unit. They’ll talk story what to do and how to do it,” he said. “They go in thinking nobody is going to defeat us. I tell them to keep that mentality in their heart. Be humble.
“Our regatta is a tribute to Papa Kimitete (father of head coach Richard Kimitete), and everything he did for the club, and it goes way back.”