Hare and hound races

The Kaua‘i off-road motorcycling community achieved a major milestone with the 50th running of the Kaua‘i Hare and Hound motorcycle trail race this Labor Day weekend. The event was held on Kalalea Mountain in Anahola.

The Kaua‘i Hare and Hound Race is the oldest continuously run off-road motorcycle race in the United States.

This year 133 riders from all over the state as well as the mainland raced a 30-40 mile course laid out by trailmasters Eddie Malina and Canen Ho‘okano.

The object is to get to the finish in the shortest time collecting numbered “checks” along the way. Only if the rider has all his checks will he be considered as a finisher.

There were three different courses of varying degrees of difficulty. “A” trail expert riders, “B” trail for advanced riders, and a “C” trail for novices. Each skill level is broken up into classes according to engine size, rider age or gender. In addition, all “A” or expert riders race each other for the coveted “Overall” positions.

There were 51 “A” riders and of these, only 11 finished the race with all their checks, the last finisher with a time of 6 hours and 26 minutes. This year’s race was won by Kaua‘i rider Marvin Oshita in a time of 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Taking second overall was last year’s winner, Dennis Jacintho, also from Kaua‘i.

Rounding out the top three was Honolulu rider Ryan Lazear. There were also 60 “B” and 22 “C” riders. Special thanks goes out to Jeff Lindner, Subway, Senator Gary Hooser, Napa Auto Parts, Rick Murphy Construction, Hanalei Wake up Cafe, The Aloha Trials Shop, Tom Leighton, and Kaua‘i Off-Road Riders, Kaua‘i Motocross Racing Association, David Amorin and the Kaua‘i Mountain Riders, and all those who helped make this year’s event a huge success.

Check out the complete results of the Hare and Hound 50th Labor Day Races in the scoreboard on page B2.