Rowing Victory: Kai Opua Secures AA Regatta State Championship Title
Kai Opua Canoe Club Wins Division AA State Title at 2025 HCRA Regatta
The Kai Opua Canoe Club from Hawaii Island has emerged victorious in the Division AA category at the 2025 Hawaii Canoe Racing Association (HCRA) State Championship Regatta, held on Maui.
Kris Hazard, the club's president, praised the squad for competing hard and representing Hawaii Island with pride. The team managed to tally 131 points, finishing ahead of second-place AA finisher Healani Canoe Club by a significant margin.
Kai Opua's success was not limited to Division AA, as they also won one divisional race – the mixed novice quarter-mile event. The club clinched silver in the women's novice quarter-mile bout as well. In the girls 16-and-under half-mile race, Kai Opua placed second.
The club also secured two bronze medals. One was in the girls age-12 quarter-mile race (2:18.51), and the other was in the women's masters age-60 half-mile bout (4:44.07).
Despite being in a rebuilding phase this season with a smaller-than-usual roster, Kai Opua has shown resilience and determination. The club's average of 10.9 points per race in the regatta is a testament to their consistent performance.
Meanwhile, Keaukaha Canoe Club tied with Kilohana Hoe Waa for first place in Division A, accumulating 71 points and averaging 11.8 points per race. Keaukaha also claimed one division victory in the men's junior mile (7:36.05).
Other Big Island clubs that participated in the regatta include Kamehameha Canoe Club - Hilo, Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club, Hui Wa'a 'O Waiakea, Keauhou Canoe Club, and Paddlers of Laka.
The guidance of head coach Mesepa Tanoai and women's coach Mel Kelekolio was instrumental in Kai Opua's success. New girls coach Paul Streiter was also credited for helping his crews reach new heights throughout the season and for breaking through at states.
Keaukaha Canoe Club won three bronze medals across the 44 races, but no specific details about the performance of other Big Island clubs are available in the search results. For more detailed information, it would be best to contact local clubs or check the official HCRA or Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association (MCHCA) website for updates on race results and club achievements.
- The Kai Opua Canoe Club not only excelled in the Division AA category, but they also demonstrated their versatility in sports by participating and excelling in various events at the 2025 HCRA Regatta.
- With their victories in Division AA and the mixed novice quarter-mile event, the Kai Opua Canoe Club has become a force to reckon with in the community's sports scene, defying expectations despite being in a rebuilding phase.
