LAHAINA – On the back of racing six crews at “states” last year, Kahana Canoe Club has come into the 2012 Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association (MCHCA) regattas with good numbers and lots to look forward to.

With 167 members and 20 keiki wearing green this season, Kahana is the West Side’s second-biggest hale.

Kahana ended the 2011 schedule with 217 points and finished in seventh place in the A Division at the 2011 Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championships at Hanakao’o Beach.

The club’s Freshmen Men, Junior Women, Senior Women, Men’s 60, Men’s 50 and Open Women all contributed toward the 38 points won at the state regatta, helping them place above 23 other clubs.

And several crews already seem to be on track for a berth at “states” on Oahu again this year. The Men’s 65 (a new division in 2012) crew is already in pole position in the standings to-date with one gold and three silver medals, and the Sophomore Women are also in first place at press time.

With the season winding down, plenty of Kahana’s other divisions are in line to make a bid for the satate races, too.

There are just two more race days to determine who will be racing at “states” in Keehi Lagoon – one in Kahului Harbor, Na Kai Ewalu’s John Wilmington III Regatta on July 14, and the County Championships at Kihei’s Ka Lae Pohaku Beach on July 21.

Kahana has also made a new addition to the Maui long-distance racing schedule with the Maui Nui Canoe Race.

The first official Maui Nui race was introduced in 2011 after much planning, practice and hard work. It looks set to become an important and popular part of long distance racing in Hawaii and possibly the world.

The race spans three days and involves over 100 miles of paddling from Maui to Molokai, Molokai to Lanai and from Lanai back to Maui.

The Maui Nui Canoe Race is set for Oct. 19-21. For more information about the course and how to enter, visit www.mauinuicanoerace.com/.

Kahana will also have more fundraisers coming up in the months ahead, including their annual smoked meat booth at the Maui County Fair from Sept. 27-30.

For more information about KCC, their fundraisers and how to join the club, visit www.kahanacanoeclub.com.