Pacific Paddler February 2013 - (Page 12)

Hawaii Island Paddle Sports Photos by Susan Bland Anderson Reports of the death of HIPA are greatly EXAGGERATED. The Hawaii Island Paddlesports Association (HIPA) is alive and kicking on the Big Island. We started the new year with a new group of offi- cers, directors and advisors that are all dedicated to bringing innovation to the organization for the benefit of the paddling community. They have a wealth of knowledge and paddling experience and share the common goal of making HIPA a benefit to all it’s members. HIPA maintains a canoe storage facility and Halau at Honokahau Harbor in Kailua-Kona. HIPA also hosts a race series that will stage nine races in 2013. Races are held every other week and are balanced between East and West side venues. Please check out our website at www.hawaiipaddling.com The annual Stan Cann classic is always the first race of the HIPA season. This race has been run almost annually since 1987. There was a special event on January 4, 1990 and the race was not held that year. This year it was held on 01/05/2013 and it was truly a Cann family team effort! Stan Cann was the race director, Dee Cann was the chef, Malia Cann was in charge of timing and awards while Kai’ea Cann won the Men’s division of the Long course. Typical Hilo winter weather presented a bit of a challenge to all race participants. Sunshine and rainy downpours took turns throughout the morning, leading to some truly spectacular rainbows. Deep, rolling ocean swells were running 6- to 8-feet with an occasional 10-foot set coming through. The race ran in three separate heats with a short course of approximately 6 miles, a long course of about 9 miles, and a Junior course that ran the buoys in Hilo Bay. Many paddlers entered more than one race to truly earn that second plate of Ono grinds at lunch! Jackie Rey's Paddle Relay The 2nd event on the 2013 HIPA schedule was the Jackie Rey's Paddle Relay. High surf and gusty winds made for a thrilling race for the 77 paddlers who braved the conditions to take part. The registration table opened promptly at 7:30 am with Jane Bockus and crew expertly welding the paperwork. The first paddlers started outside Keauhou Bay at 9 a.m. and raced 6 miles to the transition area on Kamakahonu Beach at Kailua Pier, with their partners tagging off and racing back to the finish line inside Keauhou Bay. Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill sponsored the race as a fundraiser for the West Hawaii junior pad- dlers of Kai Opua, Kai Ehitu and Keauhou Canoe Clubs. Every participant received a beautiful cap and enjoyed the delicious lunch catered by Jackie Rey's chef Muzzy Fernandez. The solo Surfski entry team, George Abood and Lambert Lee Loy beat out the fastest twoman canoe t eam by six seconds on the home stretch after turning in to the finish line inside Keauhou Bay. The first canoe to cross the line (2nd overall) was the OC2 paddled by Keauhou 60+ men paddlers, Richard Everett/Bob Bruce & Gary Capri/Robert Vatter. The first OC1 team, finishing fourth overall, was Afa Tuaolo and Grant Kojima, in the 50+ division, followed by 18-39 men, Puni Freitas and Ina Ynigues. The Women's OC2 division was won by open paddlers, Nicki Enos/Cheryl Villegas & Melanie Kelikolio/Angela Faanui, with the OC2 Mixed over-50 division being won by Kaeti Ecker/Terry Neubert & Carolyn Strawn/Freddie Berengue. The first OC1 women's team to fin- ish was Leilani Shackelford and Maile Leslie. For information about all upcoming events, check out the website http://hipa.squarespace. com/ 12 Pacific Paddler - February 2013 Sheila Cadaoas http://www.hawaiipaddling.com http://www.hipa.squarespace

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler February 2013

Kanaka Ikaika's Waterman's Series
Maui Canoe and Kayak Club
Kauai Hoe Wa’a
Hawaii Island Paddle Sports
Vaka Eiva, Cook Islands
Santa Barbara - Return to the Pier
Unknown Factors
Hoena Wale No! Only Paddling! #1
Another Dam Race
Moloka’i World Championships
Keeping a Healthy Back
Law Enforcement Regatta
You can paddle, but can you swim?

Pacific Paddler February 2013