Photos by Peter Caldwell and Ropati
A look at the girl’s perpetual trophy told the story. Since the initial HHSAA State Championships in 2002, there were no names except for the traditional ILH powerhouse crews from Kamehameha and Punahou. Once again, the favorite going into the girl’s finals was the fast-stroking Kamehameha crew. Form held in the preliminary heats as both Kamehameha and Punahou advanced directly to the finals. Pac-5 paddled out to the start in lane 5 after taking the alternate route to qualify, finishing third in their heat and then first in the semis. As the canoes hit the turn on the downwind leg, the orange-clad Wolfpack crew had the edge much to the surprise of many observers. An upset was in the making if they could hold off Kamehameha in the sprint back to the finish for the half-mile race, and that is exactly what they did by 1-½ canoe lengths to take the title in a time of 4:15:54. Coached by David Ahia, the ecstatic winners had three girls from La Pietra, two from University High, and one from Hawaii Baptist.
Kamehameha took the boy’s event in 3:39:69 holding off Mid-Pacific and early leader Seabury Hall from Maui. MPI and Kamehameha had battled together for most of the ILH season with the Warriors having the edge and the favorite’s role. Another upset seemed a possibility at the turn, but Kamehameha took the lead heading back, and Mid-Pacific could not reel them in down the stretch. Kamehameha almost made it an ILH sweep in the mixed race, but Kalaheo took out the Warriors with Nanakuli third. After finishing second in last year’s State Championships, this time Kalaheo got the job done with a time of 3:47:31.
 Overall it was a good year of high school racing with more participation, lots of excitement and enthusiasm as always, and good conditions for the championship event at Ke’ehi Lagoon.
Peter Caldwell