By Kyle Galdeira / Special to the Star-Bulletin
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 08, 2009
With Windward-side rivals Lanikai and Kailua canoe clubs knotted at 77 points apiece entering the 39th and final race of yesterday's Clement D. Pa'aina Regatta, Lanikai claimed the mixed-gender open six event -- essentially the regatta's tie-breaking race -- to earn a victory at wind-whipped Keehi Lagoon.
Paddlers Brent Johnston, Norma Bustos, Michael Hallinan, Valerie Franck, David Smith and Joey Foti completed the half-mile course in 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds to clinch the win for Lanikai. The club finished with 82 points to claim the AAA Division (27-39 crews entered) just ahead of Kailua (77 points), which finished fifth in the day's final race. Outrigger (55 points), Hui Nalu (47 points) and Healani (26 points) rounded out the large-club division.
More than 3,000 paddlers competing in age divisions ranging from 12-and-under to 60-and-above represented 18 member clubs in the event, which featured races spanning in length from a quarter-mile to 1 1/2 miles.
"We won? Really? I had no idea, I thought we lost," said Lanikai's first-year head coach Jimmy Bruhn of his club, which rallied to win four of the day's final six races. "I'm surprised, I didn't realize we were that close. The competition was unreal. It's nice to get off on a good note."
After spending more than 30 years as a member and coach at Kailua, Bruhn traded East-side alliances and took the helm of reigning state champion and three-time defending OHCRA title holder Lanikai this season. Bruhn made the move to be closer with his blood family -- his sons and grandchildren paddle for Lanikai -- while leaving behind his Kailua paddling family.
"That's a strong, strong canoe club," said Bruhn of Kailua. "I know almost everybody there, and they're very competitive. It's going to be a dogfight all year, and that's the best part. Lanikai, like Kailua, is a family club, so now my grandkids and I can all be under the same tent."
Lanikai claimed victory in 10 of the 39 races it entered, compared to four victories from Kailua. Ultimately, the regatta crown came down to the performance of the children's program, as Lanikai won four races featuring paddlers ages 18 and under to only one victory for Kailua.
"Lanikai is a force, so even to get close to them, I feel really good," said Kailua's second-year coach Kathy Erwin. "Our goal is to improve on our start from last year, and we did. We have a great coaching staff, and a lot of good paddlers."
Hui Lanakila finished third overall in the regatta standings with 63 points, and ran away with the AA Division (14-26 crews entered) on the heels of nine race wins. The next-closest, medium-size club was Keahiakahoe (24 points), followed by Leeward Kai (13 points) and New Hope (8 points).
Hui Lanakila was aided by the strong performance turned in by its female paddlers, as the club claimed the women's novice A, freshman, sophomore, girls 15, junior and senior events.
"It feels good to start off like this. Every point helps, so we're glad we could help our club," said Lori Nakamura, steersman for both victorious freshman and senior crews from Hui Lanakila. "We're trying to work with all the power we have. We used a long stroke to power through the wind, and that was one of the key adjustments we made this week in practice," to counter the trade winds, which blow straight into paddlers' faces as they head toward the finish line at Keehi Lagoon.
Waikiki Surf Club and Waimanalo tied in the A Division (1-13 crews entered) standings with nine points apiece, while Waimanalo was awarded the divisional winner's trophy by virtue of a coin toss. Anuenue finished third (seven points), followed by Makaha (five points) and Keola O Ke Kai (three points).
Koa Kai won the AAA Division with 60 points in Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a's Windward Kai Regatta yesterday at Waimanalo Beach Park.
Manu O Ke Kai placed second with 52 points.
Kaneohe captured the AA Division, and North Shore won the A Division.
With Windward-side rivals Lanikai and Kailua canoe clubs knotted at 77 points apiece entering the 39th and final race of yesterday's Clement D. Pa'aina Regatta, Lanikai claimed the mixed-gender open six event -- essentially the regatta's tie-breaking race -- to earn a victory at wind-whipped Keehi Lagoon.
Paddlers Brent Johnston, Norma Bustos, Michael Hallinan, Valerie Franck, David Smith and Joey Foti completed the half-mile course in 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds to clinch the win for Lanikai. The club finished with 82 points to claim the AAA Division (27-39 crews entered) just ahead of Kailua (77 points), which finished fifth in the day's final race. Outrigger (55 points), Hui Nalu (47 points) and Healani (26 points) rounded out the large-club division.
More than 3,000 paddlers competing in age divisions ranging from 12-and-under to 60-and-above represented 18 member clubs in the event, which featured races spanning in length from a quarter-mile to 1 1/2 miles.
"We won? Really? I had no idea, I thought we lost," said Lanikai's first-year head coach Jimmy Bruhn of his club, which rallied to win four of the day's final six races. "I'm surprised, I didn't realize we were that close. The competition was unreal. It's nice to get off on a good note."
After spending more than 30 years as a member and coach at Kailua, Bruhn traded East-side alliances and took the helm of reigning state champion and three-time defending OHCRA title holder Lanikai this season. Bruhn made the move to be closer with his blood family -- his sons and grandchildren paddle for Lanikai -- while leaving behind his Kailua paddling family.
"That's a strong, strong canoe club," said Bruhn of Kailua. "I know almost everybody there, and they're very competitive. It's going to be a dogfight all year, and that's the best part. Lanikai, like Kailua, is a family club, so now my grandkids and I can all be under the same tent."
Lanikai claimed victory in 10 of the 39 races it entered, compared to four victories from Kailua. Ultimately, the regatta crown came down to the performance of the children's program, as Lanikai won four races featuring paddlers ages 18 and under to only one victory for Kailua.
"Lanikai is a force, so even to get close to them, I feel really good," said Kailua's second-year coach Kathy Erwin. "Our goal is to improve on our start from last year, and we did. We have a great coaching staff, and a lot of good paddlers."
Hui Lanakila finished third overall in the regatta standings with 63 points, and ran away with the AA Division (14-26 crews entered) on the heels of nine race wins. The next-closest, medium-size club was Keahiakahoe (24 points), followed by Leeward Kai (13 points) and New Hope (8 points).
Hui Lanakila was aided by the strong performance turned in by its female paddlers, as the club claimed the women's novice A, freshman, sophomore, girls 15, junior and senior events.
"It feels good to start off like this. Every point helps, so we're glad we could help our club," said Lori Nakamura, steersman for both victorious freshman and senior crews from Hui Lanakila. "We're trying to work with all the power we have. We used a long stroke to power through the wind, and that was one of the key adjustments we made this week in practice," to counter the trade winds, which blow straight into paddlers' faces as they head toward the finish line at Keehi Lagoon.
Waikiki Surf Club and Waimanalo tied in the A Division (1-13 crews entered) standings with nine points apiece, while Waimanalo was awarded the divisional winner's trophy by virtue of a coin toss. Anuenue finished third (seven points), followed by Makaha (five points) and Keola O Ke Kai (three points).
Koa Kai won the AAA Division with 60 points in Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a's Windward Kai Regatta yesterday at Waimanalo Beach Park.
Manu O Ke Kai placed second with 52 points.
Kaneohe captured the AA Division, and North Shore won the A Division.