It was a beautiful day for Hawaii Island Paddlesports Association’s East Hawaii Challenge, a paddling competition perfect for these COVID-19 times.
After the 54 paddlers crossed the finish line, they cleaned up and went home. No awards ceremony, handshakes or potluck lunch. There was social distancing and a lot of fresh air on a day that seemed perfect for paddling 8 miles from Hilo Bay to Hilo Yacht Club and back.
“The registration and social distancing went well,” race director Aaron Makaimoku said. “We couldn’t have asked for more. It was a beautiful day.”
However about a half-dozen paddlers dropped out due to COVID-19 concerns, Makaimoku said.
On Saturday, Hawaii reported 284 new coronavirus cases and one death on Oahu.
Makaimoku knows all too well about the pandemic. He’s a firefighter at the Laupahoehoe station and wears a mask on calls. That made getting a permit all the more reasonable. Though he doesn’t know when the next HIPA event will happen.
“We were super lucky,” he said. “It was a lot of back and forth with the county for the better. This is the new normal. We were lucky that they granted us the permit.
“I think this will be a one-off. We’ll see how it goes.”
Makaimoku paddles for Kamehameha Canoe Club and his old coach was the late John Kekua. So it’s no surprise to see him running a paddling competition.
Chase Vonnordheim, from Kailua-Kona, was the first finisher in 1:07:42.
“It was hard. There was a lot of down wind,” he said. “But it was nice. You can learn more stuff from a race than at practice.”
He works at Islandwide Termite and Pest Control and paddles five times a week.
“I’ll go to Waikoloa even if it’s for 30 minutes to stay in shape,” he said.
Vonnordheim, 27, wasn’t worried about the pandemic. It probably eased his mind that he paddled solo.
“This was my first race in a long time,” he said.
Nue Youderian and Steven Berengue partnered up to claim the two-man race in 1:09:44.
They’re both from Kailua-Kona and are longtime paddlers for Keauhou. Youderian is the grandson of Red Kanuha, a longtime Kai Opua paddler.
Youderian coaches the Big Island Junior Va’a, a club designed to develop the next generation of paddlers.
Berengue figured he’s been paddling 35 to 40 years.
“I’ve been paddling with Nue for that long, too,” he said. “There was fresh air and you’ve got to keep active.”
Berengue , 50, is a contractor in flooring and doesn’t look his age. They key to two-man success he said is simple.
“You have to keep it together and work together,” he said.
Youderian, 49, works for Hana Hou Recycling, so he’s environmental friendly.
It was also a family day because his son Alii Youderian, a Konawaena sophomore, won the junior division.
“It was hard but good,” he said of the race. “My dad can teach me good stuff and fix my bad habits.”
Alii finished in 1:16:29 and 15th overall.
His friend and Va’a teammate Avan Becerra, a Kealakehe senior, paddled in the 19-39 open division to test himself.
Becerra was fifth overall in 1:11:05.
“I’m all into paddling right now,” Becerra said. “I swam with Kona Aquatics. But paddling is something I want to do.
“The race was nice and hot. The current was definitely ripping. It was harder to go out than come in.”
There’s no more paddling competitions on his schedule. So Becerra will take a month off. He’ll surf and await word on the next HIPA event.
Jane Bockus, an HIPA official, neatly summed up the day.
“The beach and start were ideal,” she said. “It was ideal.”