It was an exciting day for the OluKai sailing canoe team, Team Kamakakoa, as they take both legs of the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association Race Series #2. The race began at Kahului Harbor on the north shore of Maui and swept around the West Maui Mountains to finish one mile a head of Waa Tui Tonga at Ka’anaplai Beach on the southwest shore of Maui. Team Kamakakoa raced approximately 40 miles in a record time of 2 hours and 25 minutes.
On Saturday June 5th, Team Kamakakoa along with six other canoes (all members of the HSCA) provided free canoe rides to visitors and locals wanting to experience the excitement of sailing and paddling in a Hawaiian sailing canoe. From 9am to 3pm, the teams gave a record number of 480 people a tour on the 7 canoes.
The weekend culminated on Sunday as OluKai’s Team Kamakakoa broke and set a new course record sailing from Ka’anaplai Beach across the Pailolo Channel to Hale O Lono on the island of Molokai in 3 hours and 20 minutes. This Pailolo Channel is one of the windiest and roughest of the Hawaiian Island channels.
The next HSCA race is July 10 from Hale O Lono, Molokai to Kualoa, Oahu. Stay tuned for a full race recap!
