While the Queen Liliuokalani Outrigger Canoe Races is known for sharing of the Hawaiian culture with the international field, Saturday was about good old fashion racing as more than 2,o00 crew members competed in the 18-mile Wa’a Kaukahi — the world’s largest long distance canoe race.
Not only were the crews fighting through the distance, but they also had to hope the unusually wet Kona weather would hold off just long enough to get the race in. It did — barely.
“With tricky weather here in Kona this week, on race day morning the seas were a bit stormy, with some thunder in the distance,” Race Director Mike Atwood said. When the seas calmed down and it was great water.”
That was true until the race ended, and the skies unleashed more rain on the local community.
The wahine started race day in the early morning, taking off from Kailua Bay and traveling to Honaunau Bay. For the first 12 miles of the race, it looked like the Hui Nalu Canoe Club, competing in the Iron Unlimited division, would paddle away to victory, taking a nearly half mile lead over the second best boat, Waikiki Beach Boys No. 4.
However, with a third of the race to go, Waikiki picked it up and by the 14th mile had pulled into striking distance. After getting to within two canoe lengths, Hui Nalu tried to pull away, adding a little distance, but then faded back. Waikiki would lead the rest of the way, taking the Iron Unlimited Female division title in a time of 2 hours 3 minutes and 52 seconds. This is the clubs third consecutive win at the Queen Liliuokalani races and their fifth title overall. They also won in 2008 and 2010.
Hui Nalu finished second at 2:07:41. Waterline Wahine was third (2:08:45) and host club Kai Opua No. 1 finished fourth (2:09:18) in the Iron Unlimited race.
WaikikiBeach Boys No. 5 won the Iron Non-Koa Open Female division in a time of 2:09:37, followed by Kawaihae No. 1 (2:15:25) and Kawaihae (2:16:32)
The kane race pushed off from Honaunau and battled back to Kailua Bay as the sun was at its peak. The men went wide at the starting line, stretching out for nearly a mile. The line was so wide that the canoes out wide could not hear the start and took off a few seconds after seeing the rest of the line paddle forward.
The battle was close at first, but by the midway point Hui Nalu No. 1 proved that it had the best crew in the Iron Unlimited Open Male division, winning in a time of 2:01:15. Puna No. 5 finished second at 2:06:48 and Na Kai Ewalu No. 2 was third at 2:08:55.
Na Koa O Kona No. 1 took first in the Iron Non-Koa Open Division in a time of 2:03:03. Kauai Wa‘a finished second with a time of 2:06:41 and Mosaic Pacific was third at 2:08:15.
With 119 canoes competing in the kane race and 112 crews competing in the wahine race, the Wa’a Kaukahi proved once again why it is the world’s largest and most celebrated long distance canoe race.
“This race honors our queen and unites paddlers from around the world who want to be a part of the racing tradition here in Kona,” said Kai Opua Club President Bo Campos. “Mahalo nui loa to everyone who helps make this event so inspiring. It is no small task.”