Puakea Foundation of Hawaii, Inc » Races

Makapo Paddlers Take Third Place!

Roxanne — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:05:47 +0000

This past weekend the Puakea Foundation sponsored the Makapo blind racing crew from the Makapo Canoe Club in California at the world famous Queen Liliuokalani Canoe Race in Kona. This crew took third place in the Koa Division, Women 40+ and is an outstanding accomplishment by any measure. (Uncle Bobby also donated a hand-made paddle to help them fund raise for this trip!)

This is one of the globe’s most popular long distance canoe races. And one of the most challenging as it is an “iron” race – meaning there are no crew changes and each paddler commits to the entire 18 miles from Kailua Bay to Honaunau near Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The foundation would like to thank Kirsten Williams and Mike Atwood for joining us in making the opportunity available!

During the race weekend, Uncle Bobby also gave a two hour workshop about wood-working and the art of paddling and canoe-building. Many other blind paddlers joined us and were able to feel for the first time the rigging of the canoe and the texture of various woods immersed in water.

The entire weekend gives a whole new meaning to shining a light on this traditional polynesian sport!

Kialoa Battle of the Paddles Supports Puakea

Roxanne — Mon, 02 May 2011 04:13:49 +0000

Kialoa Paddles is celebrating their 20th anniversary with a special event at their Battle of the Paddle Standup Race at Duke Kahanamoku Beach May 14-15 and they are sharing their success with the Puakea Foundation of Hawaii, Inc. A special welcoming party and aloha concert for competitors will be hosted by Quiksilver Waterman Collection on Friday evening, May 13, featuring local musicians. Event proceeds will directly benefit the Hawaiian Community.

At this year’s Battle of the Paddle Hawaii stand-up paddle race, Kialoa Paddles, Hinano Life (clothing) and Paddle Surf Hawaii, will be having a fundraiser at their booth.

Special t-shirts have been created. As goods cannot be sold on Duke Kahanamoku Beach, we will be giving the shirts away for free alongside the fundraising. They will have laptops at the beach where participants can donate to the foundation via the website. All money collected will go to the Puakea Foundation.

Please plan to join us and get your special edition t-shirt! Itʻs gorgeous and only available for a short time. Learn more and register for the event here. If you can’t make it, it will be broadcast live on Oceanic SURF Channel 250 and 1250HD. There will be keiki races and vendors and SO much going on!

Please show your support by joining us live and by “liking” the Kialoa Paddles Facebook page.

If you cannot attend, you can still get one of these awesome t-shirts by joining the foundation or renewing your membership!

It’s just $25 plus $5 for shipping and handling. Choose your member type and size, enter your email, and click PayNow to get yours!

T-shirts are now SOLD OUT! Mahalo to everyone who purchased one and thank you for your support of the Puakea Foundation.

Getting Ready for Molokai

Roxanne — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:12:46 +0000

It is long distance racing season and the Foundation is preparing to send crews on the Kaʻiwi Channel 41-mile crossing. They will be racing in the koa canoe, which is rarely used these days as most clubs use their fiberglass boats.

If you are racing for the Puakea Foundation, you will need to complete these two documents (PDF’s):

Puakea Membership Form (PDF)

Puakea Foundation Adult Waiver Form (PDF)

Please download and sign theses forms, then give them to Alana.

Aloha and paddle strong, paddlers!

Queen Lil’uokalani 2006

Roxanne — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 21:56:12 +0000

In 2006, the Masters Women raced the Ho’ola, a koa canoe built by Bobby’s dad in the 1950′s, in Kona for the big Queen Lil’uokalani Canoe Race.

They raced “iron” – which means the entire 18 mile course with no crew changes.

Na Wahine O Ke Kai 2005

Roxanne — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 21:53:02 +0000

One of the goals of the Puakea Foundation is to race the koa canoes whenever possible. For example, there are many communities that have never seen a koa canoe, even though the sport of outrigger canoe racing is well-established. It is also a goal of the foundation to support paddlers of all ages in racing activities.

A crew of Golden Master Women (all 50 and older) participated in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai in September, 2005. This 12-woman crew featuring paddlers from Hawaii and California, earned Third Place out of six canoes in the division of women aged 50 years and older in 2005.

Their time of 7 hours 29 minutes tells us us what a grueling race this was! Uncle Bobby served as their coach, and he picked a winning course by studying the currents out in the Ka’iwi Channel – 41 miles between Molokai and Waikiki, Oahu. Many special mahalos to the Leeward Kai Canoe Club for loaning the Puakea Foundation a canoe for this women’s long distance race.