Race Information

Aloha to all paddlers participating in the 2008 37th anniversary Queen Liliuokalani Long distance canoe races.

Kai’ Opua hopes to make your weekend in Kona an enjoyable one, and will do all we can to accomplish that.

If you need an OC6 canoe for either the Saturday or Sunday races please submit the Intent to participate/Canoe request form found on our website.

Kai Opua will lend canoes to those paddlers traveling the furthest first. It would be very expensive to International and Mainland US paddlers to ship their canoes to Kona for the races, so we will lend the available canoes to them before helping others. For paddlers from within the state of Hawaii, we will do our best to accommodate your requests, but we highly recommend you ship your own canoes on Young Brothers. We will pick up your canoes at Kawaihae and bring them to Kona, and then on Monday, after the races are over we will bring them back to Kawaihae. Kai Opua will also do the shipping arrangements back to your island from Kawaihae if you let us know. Mahalo for being a part of our races, our traditions, and our culture.

What:
The Queen Lili’uokalani Long-Distance Canoe Races are the world’s largest outrigger canoe races. This year marks the 37th year Kai’Opua has sponsored these canoe races.

Saturday’s 18-mile races feature men (Kane) and women (Wahine) competing in their respective divisions, racing six-person crews (iron, no changes, no escort boats) and 9-person (non-iron, change) crews.

Sunday’s races are all 6-miles long (same as 2007) with adults racing double-hull (12-persons) canoes, teens racing single hull (6-persons) and teens and adults racing OC-1, OC-2. (See schedule below.)

When:
Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st

Saturday we will have staggered starts with Iron first and Non-Iron crews 15 minutes later.

Saturday:
7:30 am – Wahine Race – Kailua to Honaunau, 18 miles
11:45 am – Kane Race – Honaunau to Kailua, 18 miles

Sunday:
All Races start at Kailua – turn at Lyman’s – back to Kailua (six miles).
8:30 am – Teen girls, OC-6
8:45 am – Kane & Teen Boys, OC-1, OC-2
9:00 am – Wahine, Double Hull
10:00 am – Teen Boys, OC-6
10:30 am – Kane & Mixed, Double-Hull
10:35 am – Wahine, Teen Girls and Mixed, OC-1, OC-2

Where:
Along the beautiful Kona Coast and the historic bays of Kailua, Keauhou, Kealakekua, and Honaunau.

Who:
The Queen Lili’uokalani Canoe Races are organized and hosted by the Kai’Opua Canoe Club, a member of the Big Island’s Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association.

Club President

Lawrence (Bozo) Campos (808) 938-8577 Cell

Race Director

Mike Atwood (808) 334-9481

Contact Persons

Nicki Lacy-Enos, Registrar, (808) 938-7846, e-mail contact@Kaiopua.org or send fax to: (808) 325-0651

Jerry Halverson (808) 324-1541

Beth Graves (808) 937-6018 Escort Boat coordinated/ Registrar

Special Events:
Awards ceremony, luau, and torchlight parade to follow canoe races.

Saturday:
3:00 pm – Award presentations for all Saturday races at Kamakahonu Bay, by the
           King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
6:30 pm – Torchlight parade of paddlers from Hale Halawai Center to Kailua Pier.

Sunday:
1:00 pm –Award presentations for all Sunday races at Old Kona Airport Events Pavilion.  Luau for all paddlers, race officials, and their families.  Paddlers’ luau tickets are included with the entry fee.  All others may purchase tickets at the Kai’Opua Registration Desk or at the luau door.

Saturday Race Divisions and Age Requirements:

Open – All ages(all Iron)
Masters – 40 years old +
Senior Masters – 50 years old +
Golden Masters – 55 years old +
Grand Masters – 60 years old +

Sunday Race Divisions and Age Requirements:

Double Hull --Age Groups - same as above
OC-1 & 2 -- Age Groups (18-29) (30-39) (40-49) (50-59) (60+)
             Teens (15 & under, 16 & under, 18 and under)