HANALEI — The points have been tallied and the season has come to a close. The Kauai Outrigger Association Island Championship regatta took place Saturday at Hanalei Bay. “Another season’s in the books,” said KOA race director Dana Miyake. “It
HANALEI — The points have been tallied and the season has come to a close.
The Kauai Outrigger Association Island Championship regatta took place Saturday at Hanalei Bay.
“Another season’s in the books,” said KOA race director Dana Miyake. “It went pretty well. This was our first year using a point system. It took a little while getting used to the point system. I think everybody got the hang of it. Not sure if we’ll keep it for next year or go back to the old way where whoever wins at Island (Championships) is the state qualifier.”
Saturday’s results determined which crews qualify for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship, which is set for Aug. 1 in Hilo.
All the winners, however, won’t be making the trip to the Big Island. The finalized list of crews will be set this Saturday at the HCRA lane drawing and pre-state meeting on Oahu.
“Whoever is determined as the qualifier, if they choose not to take their (place), then we’ll go to the next (club) with the next points and see if they want to go and keep on going down,” Miyake said. “If nobody wants to go, then what we do is we can sell our lanes at the lane pool next week on Oahu, which I’m going to.”
Among the day’s last races was the Women’s Open 4. Hanalei’s crew edged NaMolokama and Kawaikini to cross the finish line first.
“Everything felt smooth. We were really close, which was nice because we have competition,” said Hanalei paddler Sarah Zietz. “We had a good turn. Coming out of the turn, we were pretty much neck-and-neck with them. Middle-way, we started picking it up, and we barely beat them.”
Hanalei’s Women’s Open 4 is one crew that qualified to go to states.
“The same exact crew in Open 4, we won states in 2012,” Zietz said. “Hopefully, we can get the title back.”
Also among the day’s last races was the Men’s Master 50. NaMolokama finished first, followed by Kaiola and West Kauai.
“I think we got three: the Senior Masters 60s, 55s and 50s. I think we won all three, if I’m not mistaken,” said NaMolokama paddler Kawika Goodale. “Not bad for a bunch of old farts. We’re having fun.”
“It’s beautiful. There’s no better venue in the whole state than Hanalei Bay,” he added. “Every six years when they have the state races here, everybody agrees.”
State Qualifiers
Girls 12 and under: Puuwai
Boys 12 and under: Niumalu
Mixed 12 and under: Kilohana
Girls 13 and under: Kilohana
Boys 13 and under: Niumalu
Girls 14 and under: Hanalei
Boys 14 and under: Hanalei
Girls 15 and under: Hanalei
Boys 15 and under: Kilohana
Girls 16 and under: Niumalu
Boys 16 and under: Kilohana
Girls 18 and under: Niumalu
Boys 18 and under: Koloa
Women Novice B: Hanalei
Men Novice B: Hanalei
Mixed Novice B: Hanalei
Women Novice A: Hanalei
Men Novice A: Hokualele
Women Freshmen: Hanalei
Men Freshmen: Hanalei
Women Sophomore: Hanalei
Men Sophomore: Puuwai
Women Junior: Hanalei
Men Junior: Hanalei
Women Senior: Hanalei
Men Senior: Puuwai
Women 40: Kaiola
Mixed 40: Hanalei
Women 50: Hanalei
Men 50: Kaiola
Women 55: Hanalei
Men 55: Hanalei
Mixed 55: Hanalei
Women 65: Hanalei
Men 65: NaMolokama
Women 60: Hanalei
Men 60: NaMolokama
Women Open 4: Hanalei
Men Open 4: Hanalei
Mixed Open: Hanalei
