The Lahainaluna High School team is sponsored by Napili Canoe Club and uses its facilities, equipment and outrigger canoes.

LAHAINA – A veteran coaching staff led the Lahainaluna High School paddling teams through the 2018-19 season and finished the year with a promising outlook for the future. With a strong first-year roster, the Lunas can look forward to top-flight finishes as the younger student-athletes gain experience in the sport.

Led by Manny Portables, Courtney Asato, Bear Keahi, Eva Bryant, Ola Medeiros and Adam Quinn, the Luna paddlers started the season in top form, but scheduling conflicts with other school-related obligations hampered that effort. The team persisted, and by season’s end, the junior varsity mixed crew moved up to the third spot in the Maui Interscholastic League standings.

The Luna team is sponsored by Napili Canoe Club and uses the facilities, equipment and outrigger canoes of the organization.

A highlight of the season was the presentation of the Billy Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship of $1,000 to Dakota Delos Reyes, the girls team captain and program leader, that is sponsored by NCC and the Gonzalez ‘Ohana.

Delos Reyes was joined by Meile Wegner, Taylor Ganer, Marley Calapini, Kauanoe Keahi and Kapua Nakoa on the Lady Lunas crew that qualified for states. Also on the girls varsity roster are Shannon Aguinaldo, Sage Bonnell, Tamia Duldulao-Kahaialii, Kihani Edrosolan, Stacia Eng, Logan Hanohano, Naomi Henriques and Kaylin Oliveira.

The boys lineup was led by Justin Kaupe Deleon, Charles Jimenez and Peter Shim. The roster included Zarian Luis, Masahiko Masuda, Chance McCabe, Koapakaonalani Purdy, Javin Turalva-Albano and Ikaika Viela.

Coach Portables noted the ongoing effort to purchase a canoe and new paddles for the school program is moving forward and is supported by Lahainaluna and other community donors.

“We send our mahalo out to everybody that supported the team, especially the parents, Napili Canoe Club, AD Scott Soldwisch and Athletic Trainers Jon Conrad and Rebecca Cohen,” he said.