Na Molokama topped two of the three men’s divisions and Pu‘wai swept a division and showed strong in two other women’s division at the Prince Kuhio long distance canoe race Saturday. Hosted by the Garden Island Canoe Racing Association, Na
Na Molokama topped two of the three men’s divisions and Pu‘wai swept a division and showed strong in two other women’s division at the Prince Kuhio long distance canoe race Saturday.
Hosted by the Garden Island Canoe Racing Association, Na Molokama took the Open Men’s Division with a time of 1:19.06 to negotiate the course that started at Kalapaki Beach and ended at Po‘ipu.
Kailua, one of two off-island clubs participating in the race, finished second in that division less than a minute behind Na Molokama at 1:19.50. Kaiola finished third at 1:27.12.
“It was a great race,” said Mia Pauletto, the GICRA vice president, in an e-mail. “We had two clubs from the Outer Islands who did very well.”
Na Molokama also topped the Senior Master Men’s Division with a run of 1:31.12 followed by Kaiola crews taking second and third on runs of 1:32.30 and 1:55.32, respectively.
Pu‘uwai topped the Master Men’s Division on a 1:28.22 paddling followed by Kaiola (1:31.56) and Niumalu (1:36.49) finishing second and third, respectively.
Pu‘uwai also swept the Open Mix division, taking the top three places on runs of 1:43.03, 1:44.22 and 1:45.08 on the course that started at Po‘ipu and ran to the Palama Buoy.
A Pu‘uwai crew filled in third place in the Women’s Open Division on a run of 1:38.10 below top finisher Niumalu (1:31.49) and Kai O Pua of the Big Island (1:33.22), the second off-island crew.
In the Master Women’s Division, Pu‘uwai was about three minutes back of top finisher Kaiola that stopped the clock at 1:38.08. Pu‘uwai beached at 1:41.34.
Pauletto said the GICRA would like to thank all of those who helped and raced.
“It makes for a great day in supporting the Hawaiian cultural sport,” she said.
