Our Club’s History

Outrigger Canoe Racing

The early Polynesians fashioned their canoes with tools made of stone, bone and shell, assembled with lashings of braided fiber and powered by sails of matting. These early voyagers navigated without charts or instruments, yet had explored and settled the Pacific Ocean long before the Europeans realized the world wasn’t flat!

The design of canoes has evolved many times and today, the sport of outrigger canoe racing is hugely popular in Hawaii, with race events held almost every weekend from May to September. So popular, in fact, that the State of Hawaii has proclaimed it the official state sport.

Kai Opua Canoe Club, circa 1929

The twenty men and twelve women paddlers who formed the nucleus of the Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club in 1929 practiced then as they still do today, in the calm waters of Kailua Bay.

THREE TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS MAKE HISTORY!

Cherisse Kelii, Jymi Friday, Nicki Lacey-Enos, Ronona Della Cioppa, Beth Cooper,
Jackie Taylor, Cheryl Villegas, Patty Eames, Amy Young and Carrie Sue Hendricks

Our Open Crew, by winning the 24th Annual Na Wahine O Ke Kai, became the first crew from Hawaii in the 24-year history of the event to win three consecutive Na Wahine races, defeating 53 other crews in the winning time of 5 hours, 52 minutes and 55 seconds. They are also the first Big Island crew to win the Na Wahine. Members ranged in age from the 20’s to the 50’s. Beanie Heen coached the crew. Mike Atwood is Head Coach.

ALSO THREE TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Mary Jo By, Nancy Concepcion, Jeanne Knapp, Susan Lalanne, Sari Lassiter, Denise Murphy, Debbie Noland, Linda Lee O’Dell, Susan O’Shaughnessy, Miri Sumida, Kim Welty and Pocho Youderian

Our Senior Masters crew (45 years and older) also won in its division and became a three-time consecutive winner, winning in 6 hours 36 minutes and 32 seconds. Like the Open Crew, our Senior Masters are also the most successful crew in Big Island History. Cap Allen coached the crew.

The 40.8-mile race from Hale O Lono Harbor on the Island of Moloka’i, across the Kaiwi Channel to Duke Kahanamoku Beach at Waikiki on the Island of Oahu is regarded as the Women’s World Championship of long distance outrigger canoe racing.

Today the club boasts a membership of over 300 and have captured many championships over the years in Hawaii and beyond.