Pacific Paddler Contents


Publisher: Ropati Hebenstreit sales: (808) 351-2398 Writers: Bill Rosehill, Dani Gay, Robert Manu Gay, Volkan Buyukacar, Jim Foti, Jeff Keisel, Brent, Beck, Serena Hunter, Peter Caldwell, Keani Rawlins, Randy Botti Photos: Peter Caldwell, Brian Vestyck, hampsterworks.com, James Rojas, Greg Porteus, Eric Ratkowsk, John Woods, Lara Collins, Joss Photo Proof reader: Amy Hebenstreit A MAGAZINE FOR PADDLERS BY PADDLERS Mission Statement: to bring the excitement of outrigger paddling to a larger audience. We feel that Pacific Paddler’s hui of supporters, contributors, subscribers and advertisers is helping the sport grow, not only here in Hawaii, but around the world. Thanks for your contribution to the sport.	Molokai-Oahu: Back to the Future Looking back over the past four years of the Moloka’i crossing , Shell Va’a and Team Bradley have been dominant, establishing records and adding to their respective win streaks. The Moloka’i Hoe and Na Wahine O Ke Kai retain their status as a premier goal on the paddling calendar. Will 2010 mark the beginning of significant changes for race coverage, post-race activities, and sponsorship? Ask a storied name in the sport like Nappy Napoleon about needed race changes, and the answers will include making it an iron event with specific Hawaiian canoe design specifications. In 1957, when the race rules were changed to allow nine paddlers with unlimited substitution, the move was greeted with a favorable response. “By allowing the boys to substitute, there was no over-fatigue, no collapsing at the finish, “ commented race committee chairman Paul Jones. However this year’s innovative 32-mile Eono Hoe iron race from Molokai’s Papohaku Beach to Hawaii Kai on Oahu expanded design horizons with lightweight canoes and generated new excitement in the paddling community. No changes mean a safer race as opposed to the chaos of the first change with over 100 canoes and escort boats for the Moloka’i Hoe. Paddlers can handle longer distance iron events with appropriate training, and 27 crews jumped at the chance to be part of this new challenge. What happens next? Continuing the tradition and history of the two current races and building upon the concept of a separate iron crossing seem logical. This year, spectators will be able to follow the races with a live feed to a big screen at the finish area. Such exposure should certainly be attractive to new major sponsors. With entry fees jumping up to $775, Moloka’i Hoe paddlers might reasonably expect more than a T-shirt, a small medal and a token menu of post-race festivities where once huge crowds celebrated the return of the paddlers. Non-Hawaii crews incur big time expenses and have little prospect for significant prize money unlike Tahiti’s Hawaiki Nui where overall top finishers down to 30th place win cash prizes. Relative newcomers Australia and Tahiti have led the way already in staging world-class long distance paddling events. The Hawaiki Nui three-day event is chafing at the bit to claim the title as the most challenging and prestigious long distance canoe race in the world. In order to retain its status as the so-called Super Bowl of outrigger canoe racing, Hawaii organizers need to take a hard look at their race program and play a little catch-up now. Peter Caldwell	Discount Coupons Jimmy Buffett's

Molokai-Oahu: Back to the Future

Looking back over the past four years of the Moloka’i crossing , Shell Va’a and Team Bradley have been dominant, establishing records and adding to their respective win streaks. The Moloka’i Hoe and Na Wahine O Ke Kai retain their status as a premier goal on the paddling calendar. Will 2010 mark the beginning of significant changes for race coverage, post-race activities, and sponsorship? Ask a storied name in the sport like Nappy Napoleon about needed race changes, and the answers will include making it an iron event with specific Hawaiian canoe design specifications. In 1957, when the race rules were changed to allow nine paddlers with unlimited substitution, the move was greeted with a favorable response. “By allowing the boys to substitute, there was no over-fatigue, no collapsing at the finish, “ commented race committee chairman Paul Jones.

However this year’s innovative 32-mile Eono Hoe iron race from Molokai’s Papohaku Beach to Hawaii Kai on Oahu expanded design horizons with lightweight canoes and generated new excitement in the paddling community. No changes mean a safer race as opposed to the chaos of the first change with over 100 canoes and escort boats for the Moloka’i Hoe. Paddlers can handle longer distance iron events with appropriate training, and 27 crews jumped at the chance to be part of this new challenge.

What happens next? Continuing the tradition and history of the two current races and building upon the concept of a separate iron crossing seem logical. This year, spectators will be able to follow the races with a live feed to a big screen at the finish area. Such exposure should certainly be attractive to new major sponsors. With entry fees jumping up to $775, Moloka’i Hoe paddlers might reasonably expect more than a T-shirt, a small medal and a token menu of post-race festivities where once huge crowds celebrated the return of the paddlers. Non-Hawaii crews incur big time expenses and have little prospect for significant prize money unlike Tahiti’s Hawaiki Nui where overall top finishers down to 30th place win cash prizes.

Relative newcomers Australia and Tahiti have led the way already in staging world-class long distance paddling events. The Hawaiki Nui three-day event is chafing at the bit to claim the title as the most challenging and prestigious long distance canoe race in the world. In order to retain its status as the so-called Super Bowl of outrigger canoe racing, Hawaii organizers need to take a hard look at their race program and play a little catch-up now.
Peter Caldwell