Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 11, 1 November 2015 — 9th Annual Pailolo Challenge [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

9th Annual Pailolo Challenge

he Pailolo Challenge is an incredible 26-mile downwind eanoe

race from D.T. Fleming Beach on Maui to Kaunakakai Pier on Moloka'i. It was held on Sept. 12, 2015 and the race attracted many for this one-of-a-kind open oeean paddling experience. Channel crossings have held fundamental historical and eultural value. In ancient times, building and sailing voyaging canoes required the entire eommunity. Some collected materials from the forest, others weaved the sails, others carved the hulls, others lashed the parts together,

others prepared supplies for the voyage and others prepared the rituals that protected the crew at sea. This event brings hundreds of paddlers from all over the world together for a eulturally significant experience of open oeean paddling. While the popularity of outrigger eanoe racing extends worldwide, Hawai'i provides one of the few opportunities to paddle inter-island. The modern open oeean ehannel racing offers prestige and ehallenge. The wind and oeean swells ean churn up unpredictable and difficult conditions. This year, 97 crews participated in the event. Those who participated were from Kaua'i, O'ahu, Hawai'i Island, Moloka'i and Maui. But there were also had crews who traveled fromCalifornia, New Zealand,

Canada, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore. Unlike the races that cross the Kaiwi

Channel where there is a women's race and a men's race, crews of men, crews of women and mixed crews all participated on that day. The first to cross the finish line was Hui O Mana Ka Pu'uwai from Kaua'i, who competed in the Men Open Iron Unlimited division. They completed the 26-mile race in the time of 2 hours 50 minutes and 27 seconds. This annual outrigger eanoe race is organized eaeh year by the Hawaiian Canoe Club. They have hosted the race since its ineeption in 2007. The mission of the

club is to perpetuate and preserve the art of Hawaiian eanoe paddling by providing an environment rooted in traditional Hawaiian values that promote personal growth, character development and achievement in physical fitness. The club was founded 50 years ago by John and Kealoha Lake they wanted to expose Maui keiki to Native Hawaiian cultural practices and values through eanoe paddling. Values and principles such as respect for the kūpuna, fostering the keiki, and nourishing 'ohana values. The 10th Annual Pailolo Challenge will be heldon September 17th, 2016. Registration for this event will be open in the spring of 2016. For more information you ean eheek out their website at www.pailolo.com. ■

j LEO 'ELELE ^ J AĪNA > TRUSTEE MESSSAGES / > LAND & WATER

A-i J Cūlette Y. Machade

TrustEE Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i

Hui o Mana Ka Pu'uwai from Kaua'i to cross the line at the 9th Annual Pailolo Challenge, and finished in lst plaee for lron Men Unlimited division - Photo: Courtesy Johann Meya/808photo.me