Happy New Year
January 2025

 

Aloha!

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
We will come together to organize the 2025 season on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. at The Moorings Clubhouse (6370 Hawaii Kai Drive).

We encourage all members to attend and participate to help make Hui Nalu Canoe Club your Club.
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A SUCCESSFUL 2024

Hui Nalu had successful regatta and long-distance seasons, entered a record number of pre-season crews, ran a fun Kala Kukea Iron Challenge and annual Kaupiko Regatta, put on a successful Kaiwi Coast Run & Walk, participated in community engagements, updated our website and Club calendar, started registering online, and purchased a new Bradley!

Running a club with over 500 members, we depend heavily on leadership within our Club.

In 2024, we were fortunate to have great coaches; our Head Coach, Bob Rocheleau, Assistant Head Coach, Jerry Yoshida, and 28 members stepped up as division and assistant coaches. We are currently searching for a new head coach, as Bob will need to step down to attend to personal matters, and we need some division coaches.

 

For many years, Grace Fitz-Patrick, Lesley Ilitzky, and Diane Warncke have headed our registration team.

Kristy Matson, Ceci Symanski, Jackie Donovan, Ginny Lee, Rome Stein, KT Scott, and Tiffany Arapari managed the regattas and the many components that accompany them.

Our OHCRA reps were Andy Stenger and Kevin Mokulehua, who attended monthly meetings.

Toma Turner was our equipment manager, and Graham Taylor and Kitty Daniel handled the halau.

Rome Stein led communications, and Tiffany Arapari managed our website.
Gavin Hanoa and Nalu Kukea directed the Kala Kukea Iron Challenge. Reney Ching supplied the bentos, and KT Scott ordered the medals, designed merchandise, and ran the Silent Auction. Claire Poh ordered the Club logo wear and the Kaupiko merchandise.

 

Reney Ching organized and supplied Keiki Ice Cream Social, with parents helping to serve.

Rome Stein organized interesting community engagements. Mehana Kukea led the Juniors in some educational community activities.

Nalu Kukea was in charge of our safety protocol.

 

MAHALO to the Kaiwi Committee, led by Kat Perez and Sophie Hastings, for organizing this fundraiser! This massive undertaking takes months to organize and benefits Hui Nalu Canoe Club, including the yearly scholarships offered to qualified junior members going to college and other non-profit organizations in East Oahu.

This year, one of our goals was to involve ALL our members, from the keiki to Masters, to kokua, as it benefits all of us—Mahalo to our membership for stepping up to kokua.  It takes many volunteer members to run the Hui Nalu Canoe Club. These are just the leaders. Working with them are many others who kokua’d. Mahalo to our members and their kokua to make the Hui Nalu Canoe Club a thriving community!

A HUGE MAHALO to Carol Jaxon, who, for 10 years, was the Kaiwi Coast Run & Walk Race Director. In 2013, she took Kelly Fey’s vision, a longtime Hui Nalu member, to walk or run the beautiful Kaiwi coastline road, and she turned it into an annual experience that is now enjoyed by thousands yearly.

Wishing you and your `ohana a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cat Kam-Ho, President
Kapono Brown, Vice President

 

HOKULE`A COMING TO TOWN!
Hokule`a will sail into Maunalua Bay on Saturday, February 8, 2025, and depart on Friday, February 14, 2025.

During her stay in the marina, there will be community canoe tours, an opportunity to help stand watch while she is anchored in the marina, educational talks, and other community engagement activities. PVS is still in the planning stages. Mark your calendar for the dates!

 

As Hokule`a is part of our canoe `ohana, we hope you will take the time to visit the crew and learn about our canoe culture: https://hokulea.com/

 

Just to remind you, a survey was sent out in the previous newsletter - if you've submitted, MAHALO!  If you haven't, take this opportunity to tell us what worked and what we need to work on. Your input is essential.. Help us serve you, by submitting a brief survey! It only takes minutes! 

The 2024 Kaiwi Coast Run achieved its first ever, sold out event of 3000 participants. The committee worked tirelessly to assure that the entire event would run as smoothly as it has been under the directorship of Carol Jaxon over the years. Based on what we heard from club members, friends and participants this was a very smooth year from packet pickups to the finish line!

I would like to thank the Hui Nalu membership for all of their volunteer support and participation for the Kaiwi Coast Run. This race would not be possible without the positivity and assistance from the Hui Nalu members, and please know that you are appreciated.

Though I have had many years of experience planning large events, mostly all food related, this has been one of the most rewarding event planning experiences for me. I look forward to continuing to plan and execute the Kaiwi Coast Run for the next 5 years, and hope to make the club proud of what has been created as the most beautiful running race in the islands!

Mahalo,
Kat Perez