Click on the cover to see the digitized edition

Na Wahine O Ke Kai
Molokai Hoe
Harrison 'Beanie' Lono Heen
What is tradition?
Paddling Scholarship
SoCal Ocean Racing
Another Dam Race
Canadian National Sprint Champs
Keeping your muscles limber
Canoe surfing challenge

"It was really rough and sloppy, just a lot of stuff coming left-to-right, right-to-left. Lucky the current and wind was pushing us the whole way."
- Molokai Hoe

On the cover Harrison 'Beanie' Lono Heen

2012 IVF World Outrigger Sprint Due Dates
The 2012 IVF World Outrigger Sprint Championships is August 11 thru 15, 2012 in Calgary, Canada. An intent to participate is due October 31, 2011. Information submitted will be used to help in the planning and organization of the Hawaii trials, which will be held on Sunday, January 15 at Keehi Lagoon. The intent to participate fee is $100.00 per Club/Team and $10.00 for each V1 paddler. Trial registration deadline is November 30 with a fee of $30.00 per paddler/person. Late trial registration fee $50.00 per paddler/person.
After the Hawaii Trails, the Hawaii area coordinator will notify each club/team or individual of the results and final payment. The final registration fee is due January 31. Only those who qualify for Hawaii's allotted lanes will be notified. It is mandatory that all Hawaii clubs, teams and paddlers wear the Hawaii Racing Jersey. Hawaii Delegation T-shirts are recommended.
Final registration fee is $60.00 per paddler plus Hawaii Racing Jersey and delegation tee shirt for $45.00.
All forms and payments should be sent to: Luana Froiseth
791 Sunset Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
Email: LuanaFroiseth@AOL.com
or phone 808-732-2639(H) or 808-330-4774.
Make all payments to: HCRA – World Sprints. All payments are non- refundable.

Canoe Surfing Challenge

>>See this story along with photos in the digitized edition of Pacific Paddler >>

By Jeremy Grosvenor
Surrounded by water on the eastern edge of Long island in NY, I have developed an affinity for Outrigger canoe paddling. I love surfing the Outriggers in the waves! When I got an invitation to come to the 6th annual canoe surfing challenge from Chris and Beth Kauwe, of Honi Honi Honey fame, a bolt of 'stoke' went through my body. The Kauwes held the contest during Makahiki season, the Hawaiian year honoring Lono. During this time peace, sports and gardening persists. The thought of chasing waves on a 4-person outrigger canoe with other folks enthralls me. The surf forecast predicted a swell was in en route to Hawaii.

All systems are go! It is 4:45 am on Friday October 21, 2011, and I am 3 miles from the beginning of my 5000 mile sojourn to Kauai. The crickets are wailing, the stars are beaming, it is the beginning of the northern hemisphere fall and I am headed west to Kauai.
On the flight all I can think about is being a passenger on the OC4 and gliding down the waves.
Beth and crew picked me up at the airport and whisk me over to Kalapaki Beach Park. When I got there, I gazed at the beautiful moana where the waves were a splendid knee high - the ultimate energizer. Beth and Chris are a super couple who's life is about sharing. Chris had been getting everything prepared, testing the PA sound system, setting up tables and getting all the prizes ready.

The day of the contest, I needed some practice steering the OC4 so my good friend Carol from NY and I took out the OC4, and she guided me on where the take off spots are. We caught a few waves and I was stoked. Later I met my team, Unrealistic Expectations, and we discussed our strategy… not to huli, have fun and catch waves. There were a total of 24 teams signed up for the event and the first heat of 4-teams started at 8:30 am. The canoe surfing was over the top. The steersmen were gliding and weaving all over the waves. Headstands, paddle 360s, cockroach stance, surfing the ama, riding on shoulders were the antics of the day. This was the finest display of people working together to catch a wave and initiate tricks while the canoe is in motion. As the day sped along, I was in awe of the canoe surfing skills witnessed.
In the final, all the teams pulled out some radical tricks and awesome riding skills. Team Curla steered by 'Scooter' came in first place. They had the coolest canoe with nicely shaped unpainted logs as amas and had to do an impromptu repair on the beach when the forward 'Y' separated from the gunnels.

After the trophies were handed out and the canoes were put away, I decided to take the OC4 for a solo surf session. Even though the waves were mini, the thought of Melvin Pu'u surfing Makaha in a OC4 solo flooded my brain. I stroked into the 1'- 2' foot waves, and it felt as essential as drinking coconuts. Wa'a nalu is sublime.

I'll see you next year at the 7th annual Canoe Surfing Challenge. Come the distance, where ever you are from, and I am sure you will be stoked.