Hawaiian Canoe Paddling
2022-2023 Varsity Team Captain
In October of 2021 it was time to choose a school sport. Choosing to paddle was a difficult choice because I felt pretty intimidated. The paddling family (ohana) seem to be a tight one and the history of paddling is taken very seriously in Hawaii and intuitively, I know there were going to be unspoken expectations. Coach Lu’awai has been coaching for over forty one years and his expectations are high on and off the water. Paddling is not just a high school sport over here, it is a way of life.
All this proved true! I quickly fell in love with the sport and my paddling Ohana was created around the constant practices, workouts, meetings and races! I earned my seat in the varsity boat and through dedication and hard work helped to win States with the Hawaiian Canoe Club. I was also very honored to be invited to the International Va’a federation world championship in Windsor England this past summer. I am already training for the 2023 paddling season and will be stepping into team captain for the Varsity girls team.
Awards
I competed and won multiple awards from the International Va’a Federation (IVF) elite paddling event, held in Windsor, England. The IVF celebrates and showcases the best and strongest paddlers from all over the world. Va’a outrigger boats and technique originated in Polynesia and has since spread across the globe.
This event in held every other year and includes a roster of thirty five countries. The competitors age groups range from sixteen years of age up to eighty years old!
Silver - Elite Jr Women V6 500 meter
2nd Place - Elite Jr Women 1000 meter
Bronze - V12 500 meter 19 yr olds
Silver Elite - Elite Open women V12
9th in world - V1 Women Paddler
Named 2021 All Star Paddler in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) !!
My team (Hawaiian Canoe Club) also finished 2nd place at the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association state regatta in August 2022 (see team picture to the left).
Cultural Volunteering
Kaho’olawe Is an uninhabited island in the Hawaiian chain. It is a sacred Island that in modern times has served as the foundation for the revitalization of Hawaiian cultural practices. My canoe team was offered an unusual invitation for 25 people to gain access to a very remote part of this island. The name of this area is called Kuheeia.
In a usual year, there are only nine community access groups allowed and only up to 40 people at a time. In covid times there were only two community access groups allowed since March 2020 totaling 50 people.
After days of mental, emotional and spiritual prep we were ready to go. We had to learn six lengthy Oli (Hawaiian chants) in order to observe correct Hawaiian protocol to come onto the island.
I left my house in the dark and by day break we loaded up the boats and headed over to Kaho’olawe. It was a very physically demanding weekend of clearing ancient paths. It is a very dry and windy island that during WW2 was used as a bombing practice site. We had to also make sure to stay on the paths due to the risk of unexploded live ordinance!!
We worked really hard during the day learning about the cultural aspects of our work (Kuleana).
My experience of being so deeply involved with Hawaiian land stewardship was a huge honor. I feel as a white person born and raised in Hawaii that I’m not quite accepted even though it’s my home. Through this integrating experience I feel a greater degree of acceptance and that I am truly at home here.
Paddler IMUA
In addition to my team’s experience with Hawaiian land stewardship, I also participate in Paddler IMUA, an annual open ocean 9 mile downwind paddle to raise money and awareness for children with special needs
