NAWILWILI — About 30 people took up Brian Curll’s offer to open up their Fourth of July with a stand-up paddle and swim around Kalapaki Bay, Monday. “This is a cooperative effort between the YMCA of Kaua‘i, the Pu‘uwai and
NAWILWILI — About 30 people took up Brian Curll’s offer to open up their Fourth of July with a stand-up paddle and swim around Kalapaki Bay, Monday.
“This is a cooperative effort between the YMCA of Kaua‘i, the Pu‘uwai and Niumalu canoe clubs,” Curll said.
“The concept is to invite different organizations to help share in the costs of registration while hosting several different events at the same time.”
The inaugural Kalapaki Bay Fourth of July event consisted of a 750- and 1,500-meter swim, as well as a 750- and 1,500-meter Stand-Up Paddle.
Roy Yamagata, a veteran athlete of numerous marathons and triathlons on the island, opted to do both the swim and stand up paddle, while Leo McCarthy, a veteran triathlete, opted to do the 1,500-meter swim only, spending time chatting with Gracie Stokes and Micah Nobriga-Ferris, swimmers from the Mokihana Aquatics swim program.
Kate Machoreck, a Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics swimmer who made a strong showing at the recent state meet, was first out of the water in the 1,500-meter swim, stopping the clock at 23:36.
McCarthy followed in the runner-up position, tripping the clock at 25:52 after taking the low road to the finish bouys compared with Machoreck’s high road.
Quinn Hannah-White, another SKA swimmer, filled in the third berth at 26:02.
Nicholas Corte was first out of the water in the 750-meter swim, stopping the clock at 12:10.
He was followed by Kalie Coyne, the first female in that event, emerging with a 12:28 swim.
Jacob Punzal, one of the finishers in the swim event, was the sole 750-meter Stand-Up Paddlers, crossing on an 8:38 paddle.
Kawika Carvalho, racing with a borrowed SUP board, topped the 1,500-meter SUP event, leading from the onset and crossing on an 11:09 paddle.
“The board, a C4, was a little too long,” Carvalho said. “But it’s made for racing. Maybe next race, I’ll use a shorter board.”
Carvalho said he and Kalani Vierra of the Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau are planning to participating in a Moloka‘i event in the near future.
He was followed by Kaua‘i Ocean Bureau water safety officer Eugene Ancheta, who crossed on an 11:45 paddle. Kiishnan Aruna filled in third berth at 12:55.
Chelsea Pabo stopped the clock at 16:20 as the first female in the 1,500 meter SUP event.
