Walter J. Smith Memorial Regatta

Canoe regatta season 2002 got off to a good start last Saturday, May 18 with the annual Walter J. Smith Memorial Regatta, hosted by Kawaikini Canoe Club.

Paddlers, spectators, kayakers, tour boat passengers, and even people driving across the bridge enjoyed the sights and sounds of canoes speeding along the Wailua River.

With all six of the island’s canoe clubs participating, competition was sharp.

Here are the final scores:

First place: Hanalei – 101 points

Second place: Pu’uwai – 66 points

Third place: Kaiola – 57 points

Fourth place: Kawaikini – 31 points

Fifth place: Niumalu – 18 points

Sixth place: Kilohana – 10 points

– Many people helped make the regatta a success. Besides the paddlers and coaches, who came from as far as Waimea and Hanalei, Kawaikini Canoe Club would like to thank many loyal and generous friends, especially Freckles Smith, Ford Sueoka, Leonard Yamamoto of Leonard’s Chevron in Kapa’a, Emerson Keahi of Emerson’s Seafood Restaurant, and Randall Yates of Casa d’Amici Restaurant.

Canoe paddling is a team sport in more ways than one; not only does it take teamwork to paddle, it also takes teamwork to make events like the Walter J. Smith regatta run smoothly. Mahalo to everyone on last Saturday’s team.

May the rest of this year’s regatta season be as successful as its beginning.