Pacific Paddler magazine - June 2012 - (Page 36)

Honoring Sprinters take your mark by Cheryl Skribe 'Aunty Mary' MARY KAIPO MALAMA SERRAO Malama Serrao and her family moved to the island of E. Serrao and bought a home in Ewa Beach in 1959. Outrigger Canoe Racing began in 1969 with the Her love to perpetuate the sport of Hawaiian Born on the island of Kauai, Aunty Mary Kaipo O‘ahu after World War II. She met her husband Albert assistance of Pu’uloa Hawaiian Civic Club and Aunty Edie Van Gieson (Leeward Kai Canoe Club) holding a pilot program at Parish Dr. in Ewa Beach introducing the sport of Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Paddling in the Ewa Community. In 1970, Aunty Mary then moved on to Leeward Kai Canoe Club helping Edie Van Gieson where her eldest son Kala paddled for a few years. Aunty Mary then became an Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA) official helping out Tongg. Chris Ferrias and later with Mel Kalahiki and Mike Along with 15 years of OHCRA’s Race Director, Aunty Mary was a member and served on the board for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (HCRA), International Va’a Federation (IVF), Na Interscholastic Association (OIA). Opio Canoe Racing Association (NOCRA) and Oahu She has been able to focus her attention on her family and her community. In 1998, Aunty Mary co-founded the Pu‘uloa Outrigger Canoe Club, and today serves as Senior Past President/Ex-Officio of the club. She is also a member of the ‘Ewa-Pu‘uloa the Hoakalei Cultural Foundation's board of directors. Hawaiian Civic Club and serves as Vice President of Opio & POCC canoe meetings and lane drawings Aunty Mary continues to go to all OHCRA, Na with her daughter Kau’i and usually attends the first and last race of each season as she wanders around visiting her friends and reminiscing of the past. Her most memorable moments in volunteering for these organizations were traveling with Mike Australia, Japan and New Caledonia. Tongg & Edie Van Gieson to Tahiti, New Zealand, Aunty Mary says her goal for the club is to be around to see when developer Haseko builds the canoe halau which she has been working on for many years. Sprinting has entered the ranks in the West Coast racing scene in Canada. And for good reason! This year sprinters from around the world are coming to Calgary. Nestled in the foothills of the Rookie Mountains, Calgary will play host to the 2012 World Outrigger Championships in August. So it makes sense that we better be prepared to race! The first of the sprints racing series was Kanu-U-Hakit in Victoria on March 10th. This is a fun course pitting two canoes head to head over 1500m with one turn. The tides are crazy here making it a real steersman’s course. Each race means different water conditions in terms of depth and current. You never know what you are going to get out there. The racing was close with the winners in each category making their moves in the turn. The Gorging Women ate up Gorge Outrigger to take the women’s division final. The Gorge Outrigger men found the strength the fight off the more veteran Comox men in the final stretch to claim the podium in the men’s division and in the very popular mixed division, it was a “gorge vest” with the Gorging Mixed Gold beating their club mates for the gold. The day wasn’t complete without a team dive and swim in the frigid spring waters of the Victoria Gorge! Vancouver Ocean Sports played host to the second sprint challenge on May 5th. Huli = 0, Race heats = 40, Racers = 205, Crews = 32. Given it was a beautiful day in English Bay, the power boats were out in force making the course bumpy and confused. It was a real test for all those racing V1 for the first time. There were many impressive races and photo finishes in both V6 and V1. We are looking forward to more sprint racing in Calgary where the flags of the world will fly alongside our maple leaf. See you soon! 36 Pacific Paddler - June 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler magazine - June 2012

Pacific Paddler cover June 2012
Contents (video)
Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association - States (video)
Kauai World Challenge
Steinlager Kaiwi Channel Solo OC1
Steinlager Kaiwi Channel Relay (video)
The fourth annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a
Koa Kai Laulima (video)
Kala'iomalulani Race (video)
Maui Canoe and Kayak Club (MCKC)
Live paddling on iPhone
Honoring Aunty Mary Kaipo Malama Serrao
West Coast racing scene in Canada
HIPA is no more
Aloha Aka Hemmings (video)
Hawai’i Adaptive Paddling Association - new start
Quiksilver Waikiki Paddle Festival (video)
What is a 'staph' infection?

Pacific Paddler magazine - June 2012