Video of the women paddling out to the starting line from Hale O Lono n Molokai from You Tube.
Last minute private plane ride up to Molokai with Head Coach Jim, his father in law is the plane's pilot. Joey, Jim's wife is one of our steersmen. This is a one engine Piper.
We are up in the air and flying by Waikiki towards Molokai. Smooth ride! Fantastic view.
Looking at Molokai in the distance. Tomorrow the ladies we be paddling back over this channel to Oahu - 41 miles total from Hale O Lono Harbor to Waikiki Beach at the Hilton Hawaiian Villa Pier.
Rare aerial view of Hale O Lono Harbor where all the canoes are ready for the race tomorrow.
They are all rigged and ready to go. There were 72 crews entered.
Some of us at the Kaluakoi condos getting ready for dinner and waiting for the sun to set.
Needless to say, the sunset was spectacular!
Here is the first crew's canoe. Everyone is making their final preparations before the blessing and heading out to the starting line right outside the harbor entrance at 8am.
This is at the 30 minute mark and we had a fantastic start. The ocean is fairly clam with favorable tides and currents. Beautiful day. Out of 72 crews our ladies were in 6 position overall at this point.
As you can see, the conditions are totally flat. Nice little bumps to surf. Our crew had ladies ranging in age from 21 to 50 something. In this picture in seat two is our youngest crew member and one of our 50's in seat one.
Still holding strong in the front of the pack. it was so exciting! You can see other escort boats each with other canoes.
How do you like our sparkle zebra green and white paddles? I had the owner of Kialoa paddles, who is a family friend, come up with something cool for our women a few years back. Each paddle is unique. The back side is sparkle green. when you are good enough to make the cut for the first crew for the Molokai race, you get the best canoe and the best of everything...crew paddles, boat coaches, and escort boats.
You can see Molokai in the back ground now - almost to Oahu. Yes, we had pink duct tape to be girly. We had ti leaves tied to the back of the canoe for good luck.
Makapuu in the back ground now, this is about the 4 hour mark. Aiming straight for Diamond Head.
Finally, there is Diamond Head and Waikiki. There are some of the crew mates in the water in front of the canoe ready to make a water change - we do this about every 15 to 20 minutes changing 3 women each time. Each crew had 10 crew members.
My Uncle Gale driving our escort boat. Love him! Awesome boat and awesome waterman. He has been an unbelievable mentor to me this year. He also drives for the men's first crew when they race. Jim, the head women's coach, steers the men's first crew.
Jim and I looking on at the crew. They are doing so well! So stoked!
Final turn on the buoy into the channel to the finish line! Well done Lanikai ladies! Our crew finished 10th over all! The best our club has done for the women's program in a very long time. I am so grateful to have been a part of this event.
All of our first crew with Jim. Happy! Lanikai had a total of 4 crews entered. So proud of all our ladies!
What a great day! Next year I hope to be in the canoe with these women although I definitely loved helping coach. The best I have done in this race myself is 13th over all. My escort and coach was my Uncle that race. It is my dream to win this race someday. My Uncle and Dad won the mens Molokai race for Lanikai canoe club in 1974. Some of these pictures were taken by me and some obviously were not, since aI am in them. Hope you enjoyed my abbreviated version of my Na Wahine O Ke Kai adventure this 2011. Men's race coming up........
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