Molokai Crews Compete at World’s Largest Outrigger Regatta

By Jack Kiyonaga | Editor 

Photo by Kahale Naehu-Ramos.

Several Molokai crews braved the relentless Kona sun for over 18 miles as they raced between Kailua and Honaunau on Hawaii Island over the weekend.

“It was hot,” said Lohiao Paoa, who competed in the open men’s six-man crew for Molokai’s Wa’akapaemua Canoe Club.  

“The training we did the last four months has really helped,” said Paoa. In the race, the crew focused on keeping things simple and not trying to get too caught up in battling every canoe, he explained. 

“We just focused on trusting in our training, trusting in our stroke,” he said. 

The race has been held annually since 1972 in honor of Queen Lili’uokalani’s Sept. 2 birthday. Originally a method of training for the upcoming Molokai Hoe and Na Wahine O Ke Kai races, “Queen’s” has become the largest outrigger canoe race in the world, attracting crews from Hong Kong to California. 

This year was the first time Molokai crews have made the trip since 2019, comprising the largest Molokai contingent to make the trip in over a decade, explained veteran Molokai paddler Troy Heen. 

“To see the young guys getting into it, that’s exciting,” said Heen. 

Photos by Kahale Naehu-Ramos.

Representing Molokai were two open men’s crews and a junior boys crew from Wa’akapaemua Canoe Club along with an open women’s crew from Molokai Yacht Club. 

The open men placed ninth, with another open men’s crew placing third in the matihina canoe division. Along with the Molokai clubs, two Molokai athletes, Dane and Kevin Dudoit, won the overall men’s event with Wailea Canoe Club. 

“We did really well in my eyes,” said Wa’akapaemua paddler Kamakou Mariano. “We knew it was going to be brutal…but I’m very stoked on what we did.” 

According to Heen, some of the newfound excitement and uptick in paddling participation comes with the Na Wahine O Ke Kai and the Molokai Hoe being back on for the first time since 2019. 

“For us, COVID meant that the Hoe got canceled, and that’s the main reason why we paddle every year,” he said. 

Losing the channel races meant fewer athletes coming out each season for paddling. Now though, the Molokai canoe clubs are back in force and hitting their stride. With Queen’s over, the Molokai paddlers will turn their attention to the Ka’iwi Channel races, with Na Wahine O Ke Kai taking place on Sept. 29 and the Molokai Hoe following on Oct. 13. Paddlers will look to improve upon a 2014 performance where Molokai took 14th place overall. 

“[Queen’s] is part of the training, because the more races you do are only going to make you stronger,” explained Heen. He’ll be leaning on that physical training, as well as previous channel crossing experience, in just six weeks’ time. 

“When you’re on your fourth wind, you’re pretty much done already,” said Heen. “Just going off willpower.”

Heen explained that the men’s crews will shift their focus towards longer, open ocean canoe runs from Puko’o or Kamalo to the Kaunakakai Wharf as they prepare to represent Molokai as a nine-man unit for the race. 

While Queen’s is the largest outrigger canoe race, Na Wahine O Ke Kai and the Molokai Hoe are arguably the most prestigious, attracting over 1,000 paddlers to Molokai’s shores. 

Photo by Jack Kiyonaga.

Some Molokai residents have raised concerns during past races about unregulated nearshore fishing, reckless escort boats, trash left behind and scarcity of available flights for essential travel for residents due to the influx of off-island athletes.  

“Some people don’t like the amount of people that come over here because of the lack of resources,” explained paddler John Russell Phifer. “But, when it comes down to it, it’s the perpetuation of our sport. That’s our culture. Our state sport is canoe paddling…We should be lifting up our community for paddling.” 

For the upcoming Molokai channel races, the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association has encouraged paddlers to charter planes via Transair. 

Full race results for the Queen’s regatta were not available at the time of publication.