2024 Molokai Holokai Ho‘olaule‘a

Photo by PF Bentley

More than 220 waterman and waterwomen took on the challenge to race across 27 miles over the Pailolo Channel, starting on Maui’s Fleming Beach and arriving at Kaunakakai Wharf on Molokai July 19. The Maui to Molokai Challenge officially kicked off the 2024 Molokai Holokai Ho‘olaue‘a – two days of sports competitions, live music, gathering, cultural workshops and environmental education.

“Molokai Holokai is really a community event,” said Clare Albino, one of the organizers together with Kelly A‘awa. “It’s really to inspire our youth.”

The Maui to Molokai Challenge was first held in 2003. In 2010, Molokai added a 10-mile race from Kamalo to Kaunakakai. The combination of these two ocean races, plus a 5K run, a keiki run and many other activities make up the Molokai Holokai Ho‘olaue‘a.

Photo by PF Bentley

While contestants were getting ready to launch their watercrafts on Maui Friday morning, the nonprofit organization Sust‘āinable Molokai was conducting a beach cleanup with more than 75 keiki at Kaunakakai Wharf and the Canoe Club on Molokai. Between beach debris and invasive red mangrove seedlings, the children cleared about 150 pounds from the shores.

Maui to Molokai Challenge competitors started early on Maui, with outrigger canoes, stand up paddlers and surfski competitors taking off at 9:30 a.m. They were followed by SUP foil competitors at 11:30 a.m., and wing foil competitors 15 minutes later.

The first wave of competitors, wearing bright pink race jerseys, arrived at Molokai’s Kaunakakai Wharf around 12:30 p.m., and by 3 p.m. mostly everyone had arrived. The competitors were greeted with leis, fruit bowls and beverages. At 3 p.m., everyone was invited to a pā‘ina the Molokai Community Health Center in Kaunakakai, where they ate dinner and enjoyed live Hawaiian music by Justin Mamuad and Bryson Santiago. The awards were distributed at 6 p.m.

On Sunday, the races and festivities continued on Molokai. The 5K Holo Fun Run started at 7 p.m., with 53 runners participating in the run. At Kamalo (10 mile marker), a pule and a blessing at 12:30 p.m. kicked off the Kamalo Downwinder ocean race. Half an hour later, OC, SUP and foil competitors took off from Kamalo Harbor toward Kaunakakai.

At the Molokai Community Health Center – the race’s finish line – a pule and a blessing took place at 2 p.m. A large pā‘ina followed with live music, food, beverages, several vendors, cultural workshops, games and a recycling station. At 3:15 p.m., the Keiki and Makua Race started at the Mowat Homestead toward the health center to join the pā‘ina that lasted until 6 p.m.

Albino said she does what she does to help to build a “healthy community” on Molokai.

Visit molokaiholokai.com for more information.