With the popularization of one- and two-person outrigger
canoes over the past decade or so, our sport has changed dramatically. I
remember my first year on Maui in 2001, when there were just some hard-core
paddlers who owned one-person canoes, and there were only a few one-person
canoe races taking place in the months of January through April with minimal participation.
You could literally count the canoes on two hands, and most of them were either
Hurricanes (built on Maui), or Stingrays (built on O`ahu). Shortly thereafter,
things started to take off, and today there is a whole selection of high-tech
carbon fiber boats from builders like Kai Wa`a, Kamanu Composites, OC
Connection and Ozone (Maui Fiberglass) amongst many other smaller builders who
produce some of the lightest and fastest human-powered ocean going vessels in
the world.
One-person paddling is fun and convenient. Fun because these
canoes weigh as little as 18 pounds and you can really explore the ocean and
surf every little bump. Convenient because you do not have to rely on a crew of
six to show up at a designated time and place, but you can go whenever you have
time or the ocean is calling. This type of paddling is also a great way to work
on technique, specific conditioning (many of us wear heart rate monitors and
follow strict programs based on personal heart rate ranges) and to learn to
read the ocean currents, waves and winds. The one thing that is missing with
this type of paddling is the social aspect of being part of a club and the interaction
that comes with being part of a crew.
Being part of a canoe club is a commitment and a life
changing experience. Memberships in canoe clubs cost around $125 annually, which
is a small price to pay considering the tremendous joy you get from being a
member. Clubs require their members to participate and to give freely of their
time, not only for paddling, but also to assist in other ways. Helping out is
one of the fundamental Hawaiian principals and is referred to as “kokua”.
Kokua in paddling means being at the beach 10 minutes before
the training session starts to help get the canoes ready – making sure that the
air plugs in the hull are tight and that there are two bailers tied to the boat
should water get into the canoe. It also means that the 400 pound canoe gets
carried down to the water, which typically takes 8-12 paddlers to comfortably
do. After the crew returns from the training session, the canoes have to get
carried back up onto the beach and rinsed off so that the salt water doesn’t
destroy the finish. Rigging is another big task that requires kokua, as the
various parts of the canoe are lashed together with rope. Every so often, this
rigging has to be re-done which takes time, strength, and a group of four
skilled individuals to complete swiftly and in a way that the canoe won’t fall
apart on the water.
Before the paddling season starts, every club’s canoes that
will be used for regatta racing have to be weighed to make sure they are all at
the minimal weight of 400 pounds. At times, a canoe may weigh less than the
minimum weight, which means that a steel weight has to be affixed to the
underside of seat three or four to bring it up to 400 pounds. Canoe weighing
for the Kai Opua canoe club took place this past Saturday. It is quite an
arduous task, as all of the canoes have to be unrigged, weighed and then put
back together. A call went out to all members to come and kokua, but
unfortunately a work commitment prevented me from attending – not a good thing
(and I will need to find ways to make up for missing this later in the year).
Once regatta season starts, kokua takes on a whole new
level. Regatta Saturdays are big days with 40 races taking place from 8am until
finish (pau) around 4pm. Here on Hawai`i Island, regattas take place either at
the Kailua-Kona pier or in Hilo
Bay Kailua
is obviously convenient for us, but once we get into the Hilo
Regatta day happens in the following manner: first, a club
tent needs to be erected somewhere on the beach or pier, hopefully in a
convenient spot to bring canoes into the water and back up, and also to have
some shade while watching the races. This tent is the gathering place for everyone,
from the 8-year old keiki early in the morning to the 60 and over kupuna at the
end of the day.
Typically, each club member brings some food or water to
share for everyone, as the day is long. I personally always bring some food,
whether it is rice or meat, fruit or cookies, or bottled water. For my own
consumption, however, I have a routine that works for me and has been tried and
true for the last decade. Peanut butter sandwiches and Hammer Gel, a molasses
like sports solution, not very exciting, but filling, easy to digest and able
to provide me the energy I need for my races. I sip water all day long to stay hydrated
until it is my turn to race, which is typically later in the day.
The regatta usually opens with a short ceremony, including
prayer (pule) and chant (oli), and then the action begins. Coaches submit lists
of names of paddlers for the various races to the referees at the officials
tables, including picture ID’s and licenses (to make sure that the correct paddlers
are in the right canoe).
Canoes go into the water following a schedule that is posted,
one race after the other. The starting line consists of flags that are lined up
in the water and each steersperson moves their canoe into the assigned lane
(designated by different colored flags). To ensure the canoes sit in the right
spot (not over the starting line, but also not too far back), two boat holders
float in the water – this is another kokua job during regattas, and one that I
quite enjoy. The boat holders are
assigned to hold either the front or back of the canoe, with the main duty of
the front holder to make sure that canoe stays behind the line, and the back
holder making sure the canoe is facing the right angle relative to the course,
taking into account winds and waves, to give the crew the best possible
advantage going into the race. Once the canoes have left the starting line, the
boat holders have to float backwards and away from the canoes and the flags, as
within about 4 minutes all the canoes will approach the starting line once
again (after having made a turn on the far end of the race course). This brief
wait allows you to “socialize” with boat holders from other clubs, while floating
and treading water, waiting for the canoes to return. Once the canoes approach
(and in all races longer than half-a-mile have to turn around once more),
everyone starts to cheer their respective crews on. At the end of the
particular race, boat holders either “catch” a ride back to the beach with
their club’s canoe, or move laterally to the next assigned lane to assist the
next boat with boat holder duties.
At the end of the day, tents have to be taken down, the site
has to be cleaned up, canoes have to be unrigged, placed on a trailer and driven
back to the club site and rigged again so that they can be used during the week
before regatta-Saturday comes around once more and everything starts fresh once
again.
As you can see, paddling regatta season is not about showing
up for a 4-minute or 8-minute race, but all about kokua, which is at times long
and tiring, but also very rewarding.
A hui hou kākou – until next time,
Chris
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