It’s a dark Monday morning and the sun is hiding behind a shrouded Mauna Kea, but the Kawaihae canoe Club is alive with purposeful activity. The kupuna group knot together in small groups awaiting their “commodore”, George Fry to assign seats and canoes. There are a few first timers who will occupy seat five in canoes with more experienced paddlers, seat one calling the stroke, seat six steering. Everyone working together, the canoes are soon in the water bobbing outside the interior break wall.
“Paddles up” calls the steersman and “huki”. The first few strokes wake up stiff muscles and if you’re fortunate, by the time the canoe rounds the outer break wall and heads south to Maumae, your heart is filled with joy. You are lost to the rhythm of the paddles and surrender to an ancient ocean world as the sun’s rays brighten behind Mauna Kea.
Paddling has been an integral part of island life since the first arrivals centuries before. It embodies the spirit of Hawaiian culture and what it means to be an island dweller. According to Hawaiian historian, Herb Kane, "The Wa'a shaped the Hawaiian people physically, intellectually and spiritually as much as the Hawaiians shaped the logs that became their canoes." Canoes were built, distances traveled, fish harvested with many hands working together and this is at the heart of paddling. But there was also time for fun and that is where canoe racing or hei hei waa came in.
“Paddles up” calls the steersman and “huki”. The first few strokes wake up stiff muscles and if you’re fortunate, by the time the canoe rounds the outer break wall and heads south to Maumae, your heart is filled with joy. You are lost to the rhythm of the paddles and surrender to an ancient ocean world as the sun’s rays brighten behind Mauna Kea.
Paddling has been an integral part of island life since the first arrivals centuries before. It embodies the spirit of Hawaiian culture and what it means to be an island dweller. According to Hawaiian historian, Herb Kane, "The Wa'a shaped the Hawaiian people physically, intellectually and spiritually as much as the Hawaiians shaped the logs that became their canoes." Canoes were built, distances traveled, fish harvested with many hands working together and this is at the heart of paddling. But there was also time for fun and that is where canoe racing or hei hei waa came in.
Coach Manny Veincent Kohala District sports two clubs: Kawaihae Canoe Club and the Waikoloa Canoe Club at Anaehoomalu. Kawaihae Canoe Club began in 1972 when Hawaiian Civic Club members led by Mabel Tolentino, asked Manny Veincent, current head coach to start a canoe club. “In the beginning there was nothing here but kiawe trees. Nothing but cows went out of here and yet we became the best in the state in four years,” said Veincent. Success was built with ohana. “We started with kids 12 years all the way to people in their 40's. The families were involved and that's what made it competitive and efficient,” said Veincent.
In the mid-1990’s Steve Bess, Robbie Hines, Harry Buscher and Jim Frasier started the six a.m. “kupuna” group, paddling a six man and soon adding Charlie Campbell and Harold Craig. It has since grown and now there is often up to thirty paddlers out at first light. “A lot of aloha and it really becomes a real ohana. They call us the kupuna group just because we're old but we're not full of wisdom or anything,” said Fry, leader and paddler since 2002. But there is much wisdom to be had. “Six people paddling as one person. Part of the beautiful process of paddling,” said Fry.
For many, paddling is their introduction to Hawaii and Hawaiian cultural values. “We moved over here five years ago and joined the club for the community and we've become enthralled with it,” said Dave Allbee, now a competitive paddler. “Paddle respectfully for fun and appreciate being alive and enjoy the elements,” said Harry Betancourt, paddler since 2012. “Paddling in the shelter of Puukohola and you know the stories. It's humbling,” he added.
Paddling also engenders the aloha spirit of inclusiveness. “What I find interesting is that all kinds of people from all walks of life show up. We have visitors that have never paddled. Everybody pulling together. It's just good fun,” said Mike Bates, member for over 15 years.
KCC has added Coach Tommy Silva, homegrown KCC paddler for the adult racing division and Veincent will take over the 12 to 17 year-olds. “By the time the season starts May 16th with the regatta in Kona, we’ll have about 75. We have two vans that bring them from Waimea for practice Monday through Thursday,” said Veincent.
Silva, one of the first club members, started paddling with Kawaihae when he was in high school. “Nobody knew how to paddle and we didn't even know what paddling was about. I paddled Kawaihae for about 17, 18 years and then I went to Kai Opua for about another 17 years. So I learned a lot from a lot of people, but if it wasn't for Manny I wouldn't be here coaching. Just bring the fun of paddling to the club and start winning regattas and races,” said Silva.
In the mid-1990’s Steve Bess, Robbie Hines, Harry Buscher and Jim Frasier started the six a.m. “kupuna” group, paddling a six man and soon adding Charlie Campbell and Harold Craig. It has since grown and now there is often up to thirty paddlers out at first light. “A lot of aloha and it really becomes a real ohana. They call us the kupuna group just because we're old but we're not full of wisdom or anything,” said Fry, leader and paddler since 2002. But there is much wisdom to be had. “Six people paddling as one person. Part of the beautiful process of paddling,” said Fry.
For many, paddling is their introduction to Hawaii and Hawaiian cultural values. “We moved over here five years ago and joined the club for the community and we've become enthralled with it,” said Dave Allbee, now a competitive paddler. “Paddle respectfully for fun and appreciate being alive and enjoy the elements,” said Harry Betancourt, paddler since 2012. “Paddling in the shelter of Puukohola and you know the stories. It's humbling,” he added.
Paddling also engenders the aloha spirit of inclusiveness. “What I find interesting is that all kinds of people from all walks of life show up. We have visitors that have never paddled. Everybody pulling together. It's just good fun,” said Mike Bates, member for over 15 years.
KCC has added Coach Tommy Silva, homegrown KCC paddler for the adult racing division and Veincent will take over the 12 to 17 year-olds. “By the time the season starts May 16th with the regatta in Kona, we’ll have about 75. We have two vans that bring them from Waimea for practice Monday through Thursday,” said Veincent.
Silva, one of the first club members, started paddling with Kawaihae when he was in high school. “Nobody knew how to paddle and we didn't even know what paddling was about. I paddled Kawaihae for about 17, 18 years and then I went to Kai Opua for about another 17 years. So I learned a lot from a lot of people, but if it wasn't for Manny I wouldn't be here coaching. Just bring the fun of paddling to the club and start winning regattas and races,” said Silva.
Coach Daniel Legler At the southern end of the district is Anaehoomalu and the Waikoloa Canoe Club, which began in 1984. It’s Saturday morning and first time paddlers are just coming out of the water. To augment their numbers, the club has been conducting a Saturday membership drive over the last four weeks. Newly appointed head coach Daniel Legler is excited about the new season. “We have about 100 racing paddlers from kids all the way up to kupuna and 60 or 70 adults that are open or competitive paddlers. My first year I'm just going to take what we have and try to improve on it.”
The key to success is how blended the crew is and Legler has a few techniques for that. “I buy some sunglasses and spray them with paint so they cannot see. If I'm sitting in four and I'm trying to watch the guy in two and I'm missing him, but you put the blinders on and you feel the canoe,” said Legler. “I have everyone paddle on one side. Put a bucket on and the drag resistance behind the canoe where you can slow your stroke down. All those tools help blend, blend, blend. But the most important thing to me is that everyone who comes down here has fun. If you have fun, everything falls into place,” he added.
Both clubs have websites where registration information and schedules can be found. KCC ages 12 and up: http://kawaihaecanoeclub.org/ ; Waikoloa Canoe Club ages 10 and up: http://www.waikoloacanoeclub.com/ . Anyone interested is encouraged to come and give it a try.
The key to success is how blended the crew is and Legler has a few techniques for that. “I buy some sunglasses and spray them with paint so they cannot see. If I'm sitting in four and I'm trying to watch the guy in two and I'm missing him, but you put the blinders on and you feel the canoe,” said Legler. “I have everyone paddle on one side. Put a bucket on and the drag resistance behind the canoe where you can slow your stroke down. All those tools help blend, blend, blend. But the most important thing to me is that everyone who comes down here has fun. If you have fun, everything falls into place,” he added.
Both clubs have websites where registration information and schedules can be found. KCC ages 12 and up: http://kawaihaecanoeclub.org/ ; Waikoloa Canoe Club ages 10 and up: http://www.waikoloacanoeclub.com/ . Anyone interested is encouraged to come and give it a try.
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