Molokai Races for the Queen

By Molokai Dispatch Staff

The women of Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club raced to second place in their division last Saturday in the Queen Lili`uokalani Canoe Race on Hawaii Island. They earned 23rd place overall out of 122 teams with a time of 2 hours 29 minutes and 1 second, and in the open 9 women’s division, they were the second team to cross the finish line.

The team was Honora Kalama, Bobbi Morris, Hayley Mae Greenleaf, Pua Sanchez, Kiani Dudoit, Heather Sluss, Teave Heen, Lehua Greenwell and Sarah Balangca. They were coached by Ekolu Kalama.

Queen Lili`uokalani Canoe Race was started in 1972 and honors the last reigning Hawaiian monarch, Queen  Lili’uokalani, whose birthday is Sept. 2. The race has grown to a three-day event with crews from around the world. It is considered a long-distance raced in preparation from the Molokai channel races later this month.

Men from Waakapaemua also competed in the race.  The kane paddled with Hulakai who sponsored them through the race and came in overall 14th with a time 2 hours 2 min and 44 sec. Paddlers were Ekolu Kalama, Lohiau Paoa, Brandon Kansana, Kamakou Mariano and Troy Heen.