KAILUA-KONA — The start of the Moku O Hawaii regatta season is a lot about teams finding the right combination of paddlers to get to the front of the pack.
After just two regattas this season, Keauhou probably won’t be touching its Junior Men’s lineup.
At the Keauhou Founder’s Regatta on Saturday, the host club’s crew of Edward Aldridge, Salesi Apina, Chevise Conte, Shannon Galieto, Kainoa Tanoai and Sean Thomas set a record in the event, pushing past the flags in 7:25.87. The finish broke the previous mark of 7:27:70 set by Kai Opua in 2011.
It was a big jump for Keauhou, after a fifth place time of 8:19:69 in the event last week at the season-opening Papa Kimitete regatta.
“That crew showed it is obviously our top dogs,” Keauhou Athletic Director Al Estencion said. “I think we know they are the right combo.”
Keauhou also captured gold in eight other races (Boys 15, Freshman Men, Sophomore Men, Women Masters, Men Masters, 65 men, Women Golden Masters, and Mixed Masters) but still couldn’t keep pace atop the standings with Kai Opua. The perennial powerhouse grabbed the familiar top spot for a second week in a row with 206 points in 40 events.
Puna rallied for runner-up honors, beating Keauhou by a single point, 174-173.
Last week, Puna and Keauhou went down to the wire, with notorious Event 42 —Mixed Men and Women — deciding the final standings. Puna finished first, and Keauhou third in the race, propelling Puna into second place, 168-166.
Again, all eyes were on the final race of the day on Saturday, but the circumstances were a bit different.
With 13 teams entered and just 12 lanes to race in, Moku O Hawaii rules relegated Keauhou, as the host club, to the sidelines.
Puna finished runner-up in the race, earning 11 points, while Keauhou had to settle for a goose egg. The Kai Opua crew of Veronica Fields, Bonga Perkins, Alisa Prendergast, Jimmer Tan, Tatiana Tan and Nue Youderian took home gold, adding to Kai Opua’s margin of victory.
With three men, three women and no age restrictions, the final mixed race is one of the most popular events. Being the only event with 13 teams entered is a testament to that. It also means important points are up for grabs.
“That is a big-point race and we have a lot of strength in it too. Unfortunately that’s what happened. It was the right thing to do,” Estencion said. “It’s unusual you have 13 participants, but us being the host, we had to give up our lane, but its all good.”
Estencion still had an optimistic outlook on the day and thinks a break in the action until the Kai Opua hosted King Kamehameha Day regatta on June 13 may help Keauhou get back on track.
“What we like to do is spread our talent around so the paddlers coming up learn quicker,” Estencion said. “I thought the men and women had strong days. We would have liked to see a better day from the youth, but it just means there is plenty of room for improvement,”
In the B Division, Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club finished first, followed by Hui Waa O Waiakea in a distant second. Miloli’i Canoe Club placed third, but the Men’s Novice B crew of Friedrick Boeck, Nohea Kaiaokamalie, Brendan Reyes, Elroy Reyes, Pace Samuels and Dave Wallace gave the club its first taste of gold since returning in 2015 after a 81-year hiatus from official races.
