It’s hard to believe, but we are already more than halfway through the 2011 Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association (MCHCA) season. Lae ‘Ula O Kai, Wailea, Napili and Kahana have all played host during this year’s events, and there are just three regattas left to determine who will be competing in this year’s state championship races.

Some of our West Side clubs already have a stronghold in their division after just four regattas, and Napili’s keiki lead the charge. As it stands, their Girls 12A (Tavi Viela, Andilyn Alavazo, Kiana Nakoa, Ana Lukela Kobatake, Lina Nolan-Criste and Noe Keahi) are in the top spot with 18 points taken from a possible 20. The Mixed 12s (Lina Nolan-Criste, Ana Lukela Kobatake, Matini Perlas Kaai, Andilyn Alavazo, Ikaika Viela, Kila Vierra) are also occupying first place with a total of 15 points.

Napili’s Girls 13 (Diamond Freitas, Hailani Keahi-Ng, Kehau Lani Brown, Courtney Ruidas, Christy Mae Ruidas and Carly Jaramillo) have won gold every week so far this season, with a total of 20 points; eight points ahead of second-place Lae ‘Ula O Kai. The Girls 15 (Jordan Ruidas, Chelsey Erickson-Vierra, Kanoe Delatori, Aloha Kaaihue-Ah Puck, Tricia Kama and Kaliko Pasco-Dusenberry) have taken maximum points from their races, too, with 20 on the board.

The team in black and yellow also has the Boys 12A, Boys 13, Mixed Novice B, Girls 16 and Mixed 18 all in third place in the standings, and their Girls 14, Boys 14, ND Men’s Novice B all in contention in second place.

Lahaina Canoe Club’s Boys 12B (Ren Kitaichi, Jacob “Jake” Kuiper, Chris Salunga-Kahaialii, Anis Bel, Agustin Lara and Kainoa Reponte) are occupying the top spot in their division after winning three consecutive first-place finishes and one second.

Kahana Canoe Club has their Women’s Novice B in fourth place — but with only four points separating them from second — and Napili is right behind them with three, so there is a lot to paddle for. It’s also a tight division in the Mixed 18s, where Kahana currently sits in first place with 12 points.

In the Women’s Novice A bracket, Kahana is in third place with seven points, and Lahaina has four. With first place Hawaiian and second-place Kihei on 18 and 11 points, respectively, there is some catching up to do.

In the Men’s Novice A division, Lahaina is five points behind Hawaiian in second with ten points. With Napili and Kahana both on just a point, it could all change in the next few weeks.

Kahana’s adult men’s crews are looking good, with their Men’s 60 putting the pressure on Kihei and Lae ‘Ula O Kai, who currently sit in first and second place. The team that hosted our last regatta also have their Men’s 55 in fourth and their Men’s 50 in second with 14 points. Their Mixed 60s are also third with seven points. The team in green also has their Sophomore Men and Women in fourth place, separated from second spot by six and three points, respectively.

Kahana’s Junior Women are enjoying a successful season so far; Kristina Dougherty, Dawnalyn Fujiwara, Danielle Kuck, Emily Janchevis, Lani Kane and Chistina Yorkey are not only topping their division after competing in three of the four regattas, but they have also clocked in one of the fastest times in the State of Hawaii in their one-mile sprint, finishing in a time of 8:26:12. The same crew is also in pole position in the Women’s Open bracket, sitting on top with 18 points — seven points ahead of Hawaiian in second place.

Napili’s Women’s 50 are in fourth place, while their Junior Men and Mixed Open are both in third, with eight and seven points taken from the regattas so far.

In the tightly contested Men’s 40 race, Lahaina sits at the top with Wailea — both crews with 14 points. Kahana is just four points behind them with ten.

With “States” being held here this year, the competition is most definitely on. Teams from across Maui are “stacking” their crews, and everyone wants to be racing here in Lahaina on Aug. 6. We have just three more race days in which everything will be decided — it’s going to be exciting! Mahalo for reading and a huge Imua to our West Side clubs: Kahana, Lahaina and Napili.