The second YMCA Kauai Hoe Wa’a race on Kauai’s beautiful north shore was held under blue skies (relative to the March 24th race) and pretty calm conditions. There was no surf, but paddling down this spectacular shoreline, looking at Kauai’s
The second YMCA Kauai Hoe Wa’a race on Kauai’s beautiful north shore was held under blue skies (relative to the March 24th race) and pretty calm conditions.
There was no surf, but paddling down this spectacular shoreline, looking at Kauai’s “Bali Hai” at the finish, was a site to see.
The long course took paddlers from Kalihiwai Bay down to Haena Beach Park and the short course was from Hanalei pier to Haena.
Kawika Goodale, the top senior master paddler, powered through the finish in 1:30:55 to place first in the long course followed by Mark Frazier in 1:31:58 who thought the water was too inviting before reaching the point at Hanalei Bay Third was Steve Cole (1:32:45), who has probably done many drills putting his canoe together and running down to the water’s edge to catch everyone on the start line (that’s real dedication when you have to go to work early Sunday morning prior to a race and still make the start).
Katy Curtis took first place in the open women’s long course division in 1:46:09 followed closely by Jackie Carswell in her first race of the season on Kaua’i. Mary Brewer came in third in 1:49:38 followed closely by Laurie Denton in fourth in 1:49:47.
In the short course it was the top junior paddler, Luke Evslin, beating his “elders” quite handily in 57:00 with Jay Sklar second in 57:44. This was Sklar’s second race, and he still came in at the top. Togo Hermosura was an impressive third in 58:07.
Jo Hookano was on her new canoe purchased a few days before this race, and showed she really is enjoying it. She came in first in the women’s short course division in 1:06:10.
She was followed by Mary Bartlett in second in 1:08:00, who by that time was concentrating more on the “dog fight” with her husband, Tom, coming around the last turn buoy.
Stephanie Brown, also out on her new canoe and first time paddling in our series, came in third in 1:12:00.
Kai Kane provided great prizes for everyone who stayed for the post race lunch which was cooked and set up at Hanalei Canoe Club by Kawika Goodale, Mark Frazier, and Ann Hermosura. Have they considered going into the catering business? They should – it was ONO. A big mahalo to the lifeguards at Haena Beach Park for their assistance and to our escort boat people Paul Frazier, Jimmy and Mary Ledward and Mark Brewer, Jr. Of course some of our paddlers wouldn’t be able to be out there paddling if it weren’t for our volunteer finishers Summer Dillberg, Bob Doyle, and Sue Doyle. We’re still working on getting them out in the water too. Also mahalo to Ray Wolford who has offered to assist us in setting up a program on laptop to be quicker and more efficient with our registration/finishing process. We’re growing that big!
Prepare for the 1st Annual Marriott Kauai Vacation Clubs Relay Challenge on April 28th. We have several paddlers coming over from Oahu teaming up with Kauai paddlers and we’re hoping to entice more to come over and join us. The long course will be from Wailua Bay to Hanama’ulu Bay, Hanama’ulu to Kalapaki Bay, Kalapaki to Waiohai Marriott (in Po’ipu), and Waiohai Marriott to Port Allen. The short course will be an optional “two leg” relay or an “iron” course from Waiohai Marriott out to a buoy, down to Kukui’ula Harbor to Port Allen.
A post race party/awards ceremony will be held at the Port Allen Fishing Club. Registration for the long course will be at 8:30 a.m. at Wailua Bay with an approximate 9:30 a.m. start.
Registration for the short course has been changed to 10 a.m. at Po’ipu Beach park with an approximate 11 a.m. start.
For further information on these two races, please call Tom or Mary Bartlett (808) 332-5566 or email places@hawaiian.net, Kawika Goodale (808) 828-1416 or dwg@aloha.net or Mark Frazier (808) 652-3108 or fraziermark42@hotmail.com
