LIHU‘E — Niumalu Canoe Club was the first Kaua‘i team to finish at Na Wahine O Ke Kai on O‘ahu, crossing the line 12th overall and 10th in the open class. The team of Robin Jumper, Leigh Drachman, Shannon Brunner,
LIHU‘E — Niumalu Canoe Club was the first Kaua‘i team to finish at Na Wahine O Ke Kai on O‘ahu, crossing the line 12th overall and 10th in the open class.
The team of Robin Jumper, Leigh Drachman, Shannon Brunner, Rachel Lim, Keala Wann and Lei Wann made the Moloka‘i-to-O‘ahu crossing in 6:27:15, following the pace set by the race’s first finisher, Team Bradley (5:54:13).
“We have been paddling together as a crew for three years,” said Drachman in an e-mail. “That’s unusual in outrigger-canoe paddling due to the time requirements, dedication and time away from family.”
But Drachman, anchoring the No. 2 seat in the race, said Niumalu is a tight-knit crew both in and out of the boat, and while it is challenging to commit year after year, the team is proud to have put out its personal-best performance.
Niumalu Canoe Club was founded in 1996 by Peter and Teo Chow as a vehicle to perpetuate the culture of Hawaiian canoe paddling on the island, states the club’s website.
Paddling is a tradition in the Chow family and they eagerly share with any and all paddlers committed to learning and living the life of an outrigger-canoe paddler.
The club will be hosting its men’s laulau sale and silent auction from noon to 5 p.m. at Da Life Outdoor Gear behind the Old Koloa Town boardwalk.
The first Na Wahine O Ke Kai race took place Oct. 15, 1979, with Outrigger Canoe Club blazing the way in the 17-crew field, finishing the course in 6:35:14, states Na Wahine O Ke Kai’s website.
This dream started in 1954, two years following the first men’s Moloka‘i-to-O‘ahu canoe race.
Waikiki Surf Club’s senior women’s crew proposed a race for women as well, coaches and officials arguing that women could not handle the treacherous channel.
Years later, the first unofficial crossing was made by two crews of 18 women each, in October 1975.
One crew was incorporated from four canoe clubs: Kailua, Outrigger, Lanikai and Waikiki Surf Club, and was led by Donna Coelho-Woffe, calling themselves “Onipa‘a.”
The other crew was from Healani Canoe Club, coached by Babe Bell.
Those finishes proved that women could paddle across the Ka‘iwi Channel, realizing part of the dream.
During the 1979 election meeting, Puna Dawson christened this event Na Wahine O Ke Kai, and the first race took place Oct. 15, 1979.
Since then, the race has flourished, attracting crews from around the world because of the tireless efforts of race supporters, volunteers, and paddlers, the website states.
