• Course / Divisions –
  • Short Course – 6 Mile Course | Novice, Jr’s, 60+, 65+ 70+ (Men / Women / Mix)
  • Long Course – 8 Mile Course | Open, 40+, 50+, Unlimited (Men / Women / Mix)
• Date and Time – Saturday, March 15th Race Start: 8:30 am / Coaches Meeting: 8:00 am
• Fees – $180 per crew
• Payment – Payment can be made the day of via cash or check made payable to Kaioni Canoe Club.

ONLINE REGISTRATION:

• To register crews, please use this RD LD Crew Registration link.
• All paddlers MUST be validated in the HCRA System or pay an additional day-of registration rate of $35.
• Crews need NOT belong to the same club to participate in OHCRA preseason races together.
• For in-person registration, check in with/ TEAM KOKUA for canoe assignments and last-minute registration. Registration opens at 730am.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• OHCRA rules will apply. You must be a registered member of HCRA.
• State clubs must provide COI with the club name and OHCRA as additional insured (Paddlers’ names must be listed as club members)
• Crews affiliated with an out-of-state club are subject to approval
• Canoes must have their racing number displayed on the right front of the  canoe
• Your club is responsible for removing all tires and rubbish from the  rigging site to avoid a fine

CREW REQUIREMENTS:

• All crews will consist of 6 paddlers of the same gender except for mixed crews which shall have 3 male and 3 female.
• An Open crew (non-age limiting) can include up to 3 Jr’s paddlers ages (15-17yo).

Race Background:

This race is being held in honor of well-known canoeist Joseph Stew Kalama, who has coached many canoe paddlers past and present and is the founder of Kai Oni Athletic & Canoe Club. In recognition of his life’s dedication to the art of Hawaiian canoe building, designing, and paddling, this race will hopefully be acknowledged.

Joseph “Stew” Kalama was born on October 5, 1920, in Honolulu and was raised in Honokua, South Kona, by his grandparents. Uncle Stew used to watch his grandfather Joseph Kekuanoni and his uncle Charles Mokuohai work on building canoes. Their canoes were mostly for fishing. He was taught what to look for in a log and what part of the log to use for the hull. He watched his grandfather and uncle work, never thinking he, too, would become a canoe builder. After losing the koa canoe “Uwila” in the Molokai channel in 1966, he was inspired to build a koa canoe. He acquired a log and, in 1969, finished building the “Kanaiaumoana” around the dimensions of the Uwila. He is one of the founders of the formally called Hui Waa & Surfing Association. He introduced fiberglass canoes into canoe “regatta” racing in 1972 to accommodate canoe clubs being formed in the association. Uncle Stew is the “piko” of any paddlers, coaches, and canoe clubs that fed off his wealth of knowledge. He won the first Molokai Hoe in 1957. Uncle Stew passed in 1994 from a stroke but will be forever remembered. Mahalo, Uncle Stew, for being the person you were.