North Shore NewsManu O Ke Kai Canoe Club capped off their 34th regatta season with a proud fourth place in the AAA division at the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association’s (HCRA) 2018 State Championship held at Ke‘ehi Lagoon on Aug. 4. Early in the day, the Girls 12 crew set a jubilant tone for the day, racing to a first place finish in the club’s recently restored koa canoe, Ka Wahine U‘i O Hale‘iwa. The Women’s Novice B and Men’s 55 crews backed up their impressive performance with two bronze medal finishes. During the Na ‘Ohana O Na Hui Wa‘a Association’s regular regatta season, Manu O Ke Kai was undefeated, winning all seven regattas prior to the championships. Kudos also to Moana Quintanilla, who was won a 2018 HCRA scholarship. As an award recipient, Moana received $1,000 and a Kialoa paddle. Imua Manu!
Club members would like to extend a big mahalo to coaches Derf Ibrao, Varina Amantiad, and Glenn Williams, as well as the Manu O Ke Kai Board of Directors, for the countless hours they invest in creating a successful outrigger canoe paddling program. Paddlers are now training intensively for the long distance races, which culminate in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai (Sep. 23) and Molokai Hoe (Oct. 7) races across the Kaiwi Channel. Interested race sponsors can contact Dave Fuga at dave@ktps.net or 808-636-4613.