Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 23
Working on a change chart at our hosts', Alex and Diane's house in Oxnard, CA
Mahalo for aloha
Riding open ocean swells on a human powered, 40-foot long canoe with
five of your friends is arguably the greatest 'feeling' one can experience in
outrigger canoe paddling. On the windy island of Molokai, the paddlers of
Wa'akapaemua thrive on this 'feeling'.
When the opportunity to become the first Molokai team to compete in the
Catalina Challenge presented itself, the boys of the 'Friendly Isle' teamed up
with a couple of Maui boys to experience the California paddling scene. For
one wide-eyed paddler, Conrad Martin - who's never left Hawaii in all his 29
years, the scenery was a sensory overload.
On the relatively calm 30 mile race between Catalina to Newport,
the 'feeling' of gliding on a swell was far and few between for our crew.
Inexperience along with a broken t-top, missed water changes, and not
knowing how long the last leg from the entrance of Newport Harbor to the
finish was - or where the finish was, all contributed to a downward spiral
that ended in 10th place overall, 8th in the unlimited division. Despite experiencing what can only be described as 'culture shock,' the trip proved to be a
necessary learning tool.
One week later at the 10th Annual Pailolo Challenge, the slightly-moremature Wa'akapaemua crew defended their home turf successfully, finishing
2nd overall, behind Team Primo's 9-man crew, and 1st in the iron unlimited
division. The conditions along the 26-mile course between Maui and Molokai
were well above average and there were no shortages of crews recalling
catching the longest rides of their lives. The friends, acquaintances, and bonds
made at these races are all because of the good 'feelings' that come with canoe
paddling. Let the tradition continue...
In closing, the paddler's of Wa'akapaemua, Troy Heen, Brandon Kansana,
Lohiao Paoa, Conrad Martin, Kingi Gilbert, Kaimi Kealoha, Kaeo Abbey
and Ekolu Kalama, would like to thank Alex and Diane Gonzales for their
hospitality and gracious hearts and for making our time in California a
memorable one. We look forward to improving upon our finish next year at
the Catalina Channel Crossing, bumps or no bumps!
BY WA'AKAPAEMUA PADDLER, EKOLU KALAMA
OCTOBER 2016
PACIFICPADDLER.com
23
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler October 2016
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 1
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 2
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 3
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 4
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 5
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 6
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 7
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 8
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 9
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 10
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 11
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 12
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 13
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 14
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 15
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 16
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 17
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 18
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 19
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 20
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 21
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 22
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 23
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 24
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 25
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 26
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 27
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 28
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 29
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 30
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 31
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 32
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 33
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 34
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 35
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 36
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 37
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 38
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 39
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 40
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 41
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 42
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 43
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 44
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 45
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 46
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 47
Pacific Paddler October 2016 - 48
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