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The spirit of ohana is at the heart of Kahana Canoe Club

By Staff | Jul 28, 2023

Kahana Canoe Club’s Men’s 55 crew has qualified for the state championships. PHOTO BY CHANDA ROBERTS.

LAHAINA — Coming up on 50 years since the Naleieha family established Kahana Canoe Club at the Sadang property a few miles north of Kaanapali, the spirit of ohana remains the driving force of the organization.

Closing in on the completion of the inshore regatta season, the Purple and Green focus in on qualifying crews for the state championships later this month at Hilo on the Big Island.

The Keiki O Maui Regatta, hosted by Lahaina Canoe Club last week at Hanakao’o Beach Park, marked the sixth event of the 2023 Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association.

Kahana presently has three crews — the 13 Girls, 12A Girls and 55 Men — qualified for the championship regatta.

They are striving to get as many crews as possible to Hilo, and as slots open up for the event, clubs will be able to “buy” a lane for top crews that didn’t qualify over the regular season.

Above the competitive goals of the club, the focus is on family. That effort is led by a board of directors headed by President Kawehi Kaina, Vice President John Kuia, Secretary Katie Austin and Treasurer Robin Ehrlich. The dedicated coaching staff is headed up by keiki mentor George Vierra and Jeff Roberts for the adult crews. Assistant coaches include Jamie Kranberg, Mamo Hussey, Jeff Higgs and Garth Cobb.

Kahana has been competing in the “A” Division for the smaller MCHCA clubs. As of the Keiki O Maui event, the club has been entering 13 of the 48 races that make up the regatta slate.

KCC has ten canoes total and will be shipping its two koa canoes to Hilo for the state championships.

The keiki paddlers were treated to new paddles this year to stroke to the regatta titles that qualified them for the state regatta.

Club spokesperson Katie Austin expressed the gratitude of the club and recognized the family and community support throughout the years.

“Special thanks goes out to Waterworks Sports Napili, Tru Excavation, Westside Towing and all the businesses and organizations that help not only Kahana, but all of the canoe clubs,” she said.