Hanalei CC sweeps regatta

Hanalei Canoe Club swept the Hanalei regatta for outrigger canoe paddling over the weekend at Hanalei Bay.

In Na ‘Opio division, Hanalei CC jumped out to a 27-0 lead after being unchallenged in the first three events. That launching point remained for the remainder of Na ‘Opio competition as Hanalei CC paddlers piled up eight first finishes, three second finishes, seven third place and a fourth place finish for a total of 116 points in that division.

Kaiola Canoe Club finished second in Na ‘Opio with 90 points en route to a second overall finish at 233 points below Hanalei CC’s 310 overall points.

Pu‘uwai Canoe Club, in fourth place with 53 points following Na ‘Opio competition, came back strong in the adult competition to finish third overall with 151 points.

Pu‘uwai pulled out a strong showing in the Boys 16 Under race with a 1/2-mile paddle of 4:22.26 to set the pace for the race for second place between Hanalei CC (4:26.57) and Kaiola (4:27.98) who finished within a second of each other.

Pu‘uwai also set the pace in the Boys 18 Under race when its team scored at 8:38.37 for the mile run followed by Hanalei CC (8:41.15) and Kaiola (9:47.89).

In the Junior Men’s race, Pu‘uwai squeaked to a .41 second win over Hanalei CC (9:9.91) when it crossed the mile marker on a 9:9.50 paddle.

Similarly, Kaiola set the pace for the Men Open 4 race on a 4:26.80 1/2-mile paddle chased closely by Pu‘uwai (4:27.69) and Hanalei CC (4:28.70).

Kilohana Canoe Club out of Waimea finished with four first finishes, four second place, three third and two fourth places to end Na ‘Opio in third place with 79 points.

Kilohana’s strength came from its boys crews who took first place in the Boys 12, Boys 13 and Boys 14 races in addition to topping the Mixed 12 race where it finished almost 20 seconds ahead of the runner-up team.