Na `Ohana O Na Hui Wa`a

2020 Hui Wa‘a Pre-season Distance Schedule

Pre-season Races Cancelled

Hui Wa‘a distance races are between about 6 and 12 miles in length and average from about an hour to an hour and a half to complete. These races are all “iron,” that is, there are no water changes required.

As well as kicking off the season, these races serve as fundraisers for the clubs sponsoring them. All Hui Wa‘a member clubs are required to enter at least as many crews as there are races in the current season. For example, if there are nine pre-season distance races in a season, then each club must enter at least nine crews over the course of the season. A club’s obligation could be met by racing nine crews in a single event or by entering one crew in each event of the season.

2020 Hui Wa‘a Regatta Schedule

Regatta Season Cancelled

Keep in mind that parking and traffic may be difficult at many regatta sites. Ke‘ehi Lagoon generally has ample parking, but other locations can be very congested. Be sure to allow yourself enough time for travel and to find parking.

We have a responsibility to keep our race venues clean and in good repair. When you are setting up and taking down your tents, please make sure you do not drive on the grass, especially at Ke‘ehi Lagoon. Remember that dogs are generally not allowed on our beaches. During and after each regatta please ensure that your area is clean.

Lane drawing for regattas is scheduled for the Tuesday prior to each regatta. Club reps draw lanes for the events they plan to enter. Competitive divisions are based on the number of events a club enters:
  • “A” for 6 to 12 events,
  • “AA” for 13 to 24 events and
  • “AAA” for 25 or more events.

Trophies are awarded to the top three clubs in each division. In the event of a tie, a coin toss will determine which club receives the trophy.

2020 Long Distance Race Schedule

Date	Day	Event	Course
8/8	Sat	Na Pali Challenge	Hanalei Bay - Kikiaola, Kaua‘i
8/15	Sat	Duke Kahanamoku: women/Lanikai CC	Kailua Beach - Waikīkī
8/16	Sun	Duke Kahanamoku: men/Lanikai CC	Kailua Beach - Waikīkī
8/22	Sat	Kailua Bay Challenge: men/Kailua CC	Kailua Bay
8/23	Sun	Dad Center Race: women/Outrigger CC	Kailua Beach - Outrigger
8/29 - 9/2	Thu/Sun	Queen Lili‘uokalani Races/Kai Opua CC	Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island
9/13	Sun	E Lau Hoe: women/OHCRA	Maunalua Bay - Nanakuli
9/20	Sun	Henry Ayau Memorial: men/Hui Lanakila	Maunalua Bay - Nanakuli
9/27	Sun	Na Wahine O Ke Kai: women	Moloka‘i - O‘ahu
10/11	Sun	Moloka‘i Hoe: men/OHCRA	Moloka‘i - O‘ahu

Long distance races range in length from the 18 mile Queen Lili‘uokalani Races to the 41.6 mile Ka‘iwi Channel crossings. Most races involve water changes, in which up to 3 paddlers at a time (six at a time for upper age group crews) are rotated in and out of the canoe while the rest of the crew continues paddling. Water changes add a level of complexity to distance racing, making it important that each crew is able to perform fast and efficient changes for the duration of the race.

The Ka‘iwi Channel races from Moloka‘i to O‘ahu, Na Wahine O Ke Kai for women and Moloka‘i Hoe for men, involve paddling in open ocean conditions, for which the Hawaiian outrigger canoe was designed. These races allow our canoes and crews to perform at their limits. Canoes are rigged with spray covers (“canvas”) and must have escort boats to carry extra crew members, coaches and helpers.