MEDIA RELEASE

More than 2,000 paddlers in the Men’s and Women’s Divisions competed in Saturday’s Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Races, the world’s largest outrigger canoe race, hosted by Kai Opua Canoe Club in Kona.

The first women’s crew to cross the 18-mile race from Kailua Bay to Honaunau was Oahu’s Waikiki Beachboys Canoe Club 3, which captured the overall win with a record-breaking time of 2:04:43.

Outrigger Canoe Club 1 took second with a finishing time of 2:06:19 and Kawaihae Canoe Club 3 finished third at 2:07:17.

This is the third win for the women of Waikiki Beachboys Canoe Club having captured first place in 2008 and 2010.

With the drop of the official flag at 7:30 a.m., 133 women’s crews headed south to Honaunau in near perfect conditions as they paddled into history, celebrating 40 years of women’s long distance outrigger canoe racing.

According to veteran Kai Opua Canoe Club paddler Nikki Enos “The cloud coverage made it easier and cooled off the paddlers, although the water turned a bit choppy about half-way through the course. It was a pretty fast race, with all but one of the women’s crews finishing under three hours. What a remarkable achievement for this anniversary race.”

One hundred and twenty two crews in the Men’s Division took off from their starting line at Honaunau and paddled their way back to Kailua Bay.

Malolo Nui was the official overall Men’s Division winner with a finishing time of 2:07:33. This 9-man non-iron team races in the Unlimited Division and their ultra-light status delays their start 5 minutes behind the line.

Mellow Johnny’s 1, an iron crew (meaning no crew changes) racing in a traditional Hawaiian koa canoe, was first to cross the finish line in the Iron Division and placed second overall with a time of 2:08:48.

“Wind was a factor in the men’s race, slowing times and causing several canoes to huli (flip). The crew in the koa canoe spent valuable time bailing water, but managed to hold onto their lead the entire course,” race director Mike Atwood said. “It was a battle between Mellow Johnny’s and Outrigger Hui until they approached Keauhou where the water calmed down and the koa took off.”

Outrigger Hui placed third overall with a time of 2:10:49.

“It’s been years since a traditional Hawaiian koa canoe beat out contemporary canoes that rely on modern technology and lighter weight materials,” Kai Opua president Bo Campos said. “What a tremendous acknowledgement of the power of our Hawaiian culture.”

The 2013 Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Races welcomed 255 teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and United States including Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Washington.

The weekend races continued Sunday with Waa Kaulua (races for double hull canoes), OC1 (one person) and OC2 (two person) races, Stand-up Paddleboard races and Teen (single hull canoes) races.

The Alii Challenge, a blend of Survivor and Amazing Race in single hull canoes, is slated Monday beginning at Kailua Bay

The 2013 Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Races are sponsored in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Queen K Tesoro, Steinlager, Kialoa, Ocean Paddler Television, Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, Hulakai and numerous corporate and community donors.

For complete results, visit: www.kaiopua.org/queen-liliuokalani-results.asp

Queen Liliuokalani Day 2 Results

Sunday’s double-hull, OC1, OC2 and stand-up paddle board races

OC6 17-18 Male

Place/Name Time

1. N. A. C. 2 :35:08

2. N. A. C. 1 :44:09

OC1 1-18 Male

1. Jason Fowler :40:09

2. Kade Pelekane :41:05

3. Haaheo Kaiawe :41:12

OC1 19-39 Male

1. Vetearui Tavotaha :33:36

2. Nolan Keakua :33:40

3. Noel Temanupaioura :36:19

4. Sean Arellano :37:43

5. Paddling For Hope :37:53

6. Puni Freitas :38:05

7. Chad Alcos :38:58

8. Tyde Spencer :39:09

9. Nick Matsuoka :39:19

10. Rhinehart Jensen :40:22

11. Shane Kalaniopio :40:54

12. Jason Loo :41:33

13. Colton Williford :42:05

14. Ben Smillie :42:34

OC1 40-49 Male

1. Richmond Teva :35:51

2. Nue Younderian :36:37

3. Theron Ogata :37:03

4. James Hill :37:16

5. Willy Pea :37:21

6. Troy Parker Bailey :37:26

7. Andy Witherspoon :37:38

8. Sean Kaawa :37:52

9. Tyron Nicolas :38:21

10. Mike Weiss :40:02

11. Alexandra De Miranda :43:19

12. Hiram Anakalea :44:38

OC1 50-59 Male

1. Steve Cole :36:45

2. Hunter Anderson :36:49

3. Ken Denton :37:06

4. Jeff King :38:07

5. Dave Seghorn :40:32

6. Craig Allind :41:50

7. Dan White :51:21

OC1 60-69 Male

1. Bob Stewart :38:47

2. Mel Pahole :39:11

3. Eric Soo :39:14

4. Jon Amundson :39:23

5. Malama Chamberlin :42:23

6. Craighton Handley :45:34

OC2 Open Male

1. T. Rio/T. Yves :33:22

2. T. Tapaka/G. Steeve :34:45

3. M. Akau/M. Akau :35:27

4. K. Ione/P. Koehnen-Sun :36:13

5. M. Euti/T. Roland :38:31

6. J. Garcia/R. Gokan :52:40

OC2 50+ Male

1. G. Kojima/S. Ferry :34:22

2. L. Kahn/K. Crosby :35:41

3. Team Paddle Me :37:09

4. M. Amos/M. Woodbury :41:30

DH 18-39 Male

1. Honoura :30:05

2. Olukai :30:32

3. Kamehameha Hilo 2 :31:16

4. GRPC :31:42

5. Koa Kai II :32:52

6. Kai E Hitu 2 :33:44

7. Niumalu :35:20

DH 40-49 Male

1. Kai E Hitu 1 :31:56

2. Dana Outrigger Kane :33:14

DH 50-59 Male

1. Seattle Outrigger :33:24

2. Kanaka :35:05

3. Keaukaha 50s :36:14

DH 60+ Male

1. Da Fossils :32:41

2. Keauhou CC :34:10

3. Maui Kupuna :35:24

4. Anuenue :37:25

OC6 1-16 Female

1. Niumalu #1 :39:55

2. Niumalu #2 :43:10

OC6 17-18 Female

1. N. A. C. Wahine :38:52

OC1 1-18 Female

1. Nani Wong :56:35

OC1 19-39 Female

1. Melanie Canard :39:52

2. Andrea Pleven :42:27

OC1 40-49 Female

1. Tara Hastings :44:38

OC1 50-59 Female

1. Kim Rowe :41:14

2. Carolyn Thomas :42:13

3. Jackie Bell :43:02

4. Heather Taylor :44:59

5. Annie Bolding :47:48

6. Toni Bushong :48:11

OC2 Open Female

1. M. Carey/ F. Van ammers :38:08

2. L. Archer/ J. Sheridan :38:54

3. M. Corpman/T. Yorkman :42:47

4. L. Rutherford/L. Kairau :43:01

5. J. Kalili/R. Mersburg :43:16

6. B. Plank/P. Choy :49:17

OC2 50+ Female

1. G. Nickulas/S. Gurtler :44:02

2. M. Coulombe/R. Newman :44:06

DH 18-39 Female

1. GRPC 1 :35:06

2. Kawaihae CC 6 :35:49

3. Laeula O Kai Wahine :36:12

4. Kai E Hitu II :36:28

5. Salish Slani Vaa :37:20

6. Waikiki Beach Boys :37:31

7. Hanalei CC :37:37

8. Kamehameha Hilo 1 :38:04

9. Koa Kai I :38:19

10. Cronulla/Koa Kai :39:09

11. San Diego OCC :39:22

12. Ocean Rei :40:06

DH 40-49 Female

1. Oxnard Canoe & Kayak :37:18

2. Kai E Hitu I :37:43

3. Wai Nui O Kanaka :37:58

4. Babes On Waves :41:47

DH 50-59 Female

1. Keauhou 50’s :36:53

2. Kihei :37:10

3. Dana Outrigger :38:44

4. Pu’uwai :38:51

5. Kawaihae CC 7 :39:54

6. Keaukaha CC 50’s :40:22

DH 60+ Female

1. Keauhou :38:40

2. Kiwi-Can :39:35

3. Panamuna Wahine :39:45

4. Hawaiian CC :40:37

5. Hui Nalu :45:14

6. Kaneohe Canoe Club :47:30

No Division Female

1. No Name :56:33

OC6 Mixed

1. Kilohana :44:44

OC2 Open

1. S. Rodrigues/ R.Barron :37:07

OC2 Mixed Open

1. N. Holbrook/ A. Penny :34:12

2. J. Tanaka/ S. Tanaka :35:26

3. K. Doughe/ L. Moyers :36:10

4. M. Akau/ N.. Spencer :36:54

5. T. Spencer/ M. Spencer :39:37

6. W. Kaiawe/ A. Kaiawe :41:07

OC2 Mixed 40+

1. W. Pea/ M. Kahookele-Pea :35:12

2. L. Baldado/ B. Baldado :38:52

3. B. Meister/ N. Draper :38:57

4. K. Hardy/ S. Hardy :39:34

5. H. Alonzo/ C. Rapozo :41:17

6. A. Allen/ V. Allen :41:47

7. K. Yahiro/S. Yahiro :42:38

DH Mixed Open

1. False Creek :32:54

2. Kai E Hitu 3 :33:34

3. Singapore 2 :34:25

4. Laeula O Kai :34:35

5. Proud Mary :35:46

6. FRVS Frankfurt :36:05

7. Singapore 3 :36:40

8. Kapolioka ‘Ehukai OCC :37:05

9. D.O.C.C :37:13

10. Team Nohea :37:15

11. Hui Lokahi O Ke Kai :37:17

12. New Hopo :37:23

13. Salish Slani Va’a Mix :37:45

14. Dragon Zone :38:06

15. 12 Pack :38:28

16. Ikuna Koa :38:51

17. Calgary Canoe Club :38:56

18. Kilohana Mixed :40:18

19. Pure Light :40:48

20. Kilauea :41:32

21. Keaukaha CC :42:30

22. Waikoloa CC :42:55

DH Mixed 40+

1. Panamuna :33:42

2. Kailua CC :34:03

3. Surfpark :34:07

4. Kawaihae CC 8:35:24

5. Na Kai e Walu Masters :35:38

6. Keahiakahoe :35:45

7. GRPC III :38:01

8. Pitwater :38:35

9. Ohana Waa :39:30

10. Dragon Zone 40’s :40:01

11. Keauhou Canoe Club :40:17

Stock Class

19 – 29 Male

1. Bullet Obra :26:42

2. Evan Obra :28:38

30 – 39 Male

1. Kaleo Ka’aihue :27:39

2. Rodney Palafox :34:04

3. Abra Shouse :37:06

4. Jacob Schneider :40:07

40 – 49 Male

1. Joey Napoleon :29:47

2. Reggie Balidoy :29:48

3. Guy Yamada :30:41

4. Keith Cabral :32:02

5. Juan Cruz :33:27

6. Jim Collins :35:45

7. James Mahuna :39:15

50 – 59 Male

1. Charles Lieu :30:13

2. Les Hopper :31:17

3. Bill Dominao :34:17

60 – 69 Male

1. Chief H :33:49

2. Mike Prohorott :40:36

30 – 39 Female

1. Kahea Waiwaiole :30:58

2. Donica Shouse :34:26

40 – 49 Female

1. Marjorie Kahookele-Pea :32:34

2. Tammy Hipa-Napoleon :34:10

3. Cindy Wright :35:49

4. Andrea Conrad :36:39

5. Michelle Dominao :41:57

50 – 59 Female

1. Victoria Tahayesu :36:30

2. Laura Gharazeddine :45:58

3. Linda Vandervoort :47:39

Unlimited

14’ Male

1. Mel Ahlo :43:23

2. Raydon Vasquez :44:54

3. Drift Wood :45:58

16’ & UP Male

1. Dylan Lacy :37:55

14’ Female

1. Paddling For Hope :50:42