Aug 6 : The Alcatraz Challenge (San Francisco's Crissy Field)

RACE RECAP: It is a tale of two races really... So there we were - our team of nine spread out between two six-man canoes, waiting for the green flag to rise and begin the 9.4 mile, highly anticipated race around Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay. One canoe took off and had a smooth race despite the crazy currents under the Golden Gate, the choppy water, and the blowing winds under the skillful direction and steering of Charla Schreiber.

The second canoe took off, but was quickly halted by several other competing canoes that undecidedly sneaked up under the ama, and threatened to huli (flip over) the vessel. Thanks to clever (and aggressive) steering from Joanna Beams we broke away from the cluster, however, and didn't let a mere pile-up, pinning, and concussion stop us as we remained in the race. We're told that we went around Alcatraz, but we were too focused (or perhaps too visually challenged due to concussions) to notice.

Thank you to Stephanie, Ona, and Johnelle for paddling with us!!

-Adina Abeles Reporting for KKO

Aug 13 : The Channel Race (San Leandro)

RACE RECAP: Only five of our ten Molokai crew made it to this race - But we paddled with the spirit of the whole team. Thank you Johnelle from Kaimanu for paddling with us again, and for helping us get a canoe and a team together so we could face this 10 mile technical course. Spirits were high, and they wouldn't have been such without Leah Gowran steering us through the choppy, windy waters. The other Ke Kai Wahine included Sharon Campbell, Amy Treadwell, Paula White, and myself. After a good ride down swell for the last few miles, we celebrated taking 2nd place in our division in the San Leandro Yacht club, with drinks, food and good music (but no ATMs for miles). Although the day started out freezing and gray - it ended with sunshine and left us energized to get back in the canoe!

-Adina Abeles Reporting for KKO

Aug 20 : Tony Gora Memorial (Santa Cruz)

RACE RECAP: Well once again, our team was divided in two.  Team one raced with two experienced paddlers from He'e Nalu and had a brilliant start, lightly tapping other canoes out of their way, and pushing themselves into the front of the pack! The wahine that made the second canoe run was first time Ke Kai O U'hane long distance Paddler: Lisa T. Without Lisa, we would not have been able to race at all, so thanks for braving it, Lisa!  I’m happy to report that Leah Gowron was able to save herself from concussion this race by catching an oncoming canoe, before it knocked her and her teammates in the head. Way to get our backs Leah!

The two crews set out under the screams of the rollercoaster and the pirate ship at the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and headed into the calm of the Monterey Bay. The heavy fog in the morning kept the seas mellow as we glided across the water. Our steerswomen, Joanna Beames and Charla Schreiber, led us through the course, and back to the wharf, in record time. Both canoes finished the 11-mile race in under 1:30. At least that's what we thought at the time... turns out the course was only 8.5 miles. Oh well, we celebrated anyway and KKO Team One actually placed 2nd in the Open Women’s division while Team Two placed 4th!  

-Adina Abeles Reporting for KKO

Aug 27-28 : Kilohana Klassic (Redwood City)

RACE RECAP: Team visionary and leader, Uncle Les told us we could win in a Bradley, we just didn't believe him. Maybe because Ke Kai Wahine had never won a long distance race before - at least not a race that this in-depth reporter was able to uncover as of this writing. And maybe it’s because Mirage boats have had a knack of beating us in the recent past.  After we raced the Kilohana Klassic, in Redwood City, however, we now believe Uncle Les about the Bradley. We’ve learned that as long as we are paddling as one - and we've got the right spirit and power - we can win; no matter what the vessel.

Unfortunately we lost three of our paddlers the night before this race to illness. Preferring that they concentrate on getting well for the upcoming two Hawaiian races, we urged them to stay home and rest and we decided to take on the 14-mile Ironman race with just the six of us who were not sick. Actually we questioned whether or not we were up for a straight 14-mile run given the fact that the plans changed so suddenly.

Under the brilliant steersmanship of Charla “Admiral” Schreiber, we started the race in the front of the pack. Sit back, here comes the play-by-play you’ve been waiting to see about this record-breaking event... We were in the top three canoes at the onset - with two co-ed teams ahead of us, (soon, we would no longer be able to see them as they pulled away from us) and another Wahine crew was slowly creeping up behind us as we heard their chant "Hut! Hut! Ho!" getting louder and louder. In front of us was a huge tanker, that was using the same channel as the canoes. Luckily for us, the strategic Ms. Schreiber realized that in a fight between tanker and canoe - the tanker would most likely win - and she steered us clear, but at that time the other Wahine crew passed us, the same women's crew that has been beating us for the last 5 races.

Not at all in the mood to give up, when we approached the half way point, under the San Mateo Bridge, we came upon the “turn” buoy.  It was the magical maneuver at this buoy that won the race for us. While in stealth mode approaching the buoy, we had caught up to the other Wahine crew and we were now paddling along side, or slightly behind them, when we heard the command whispered from the back of our boat, "Paula, pick it up four strokes on the next change."  And we were off... We passed the Wahine boat, making it to the turn buoy first when the steerswoman commanded “Uni!” “Uni!” Unclear if this was a sushi menu item or a paddle command, the front of the boat sat frozen... Thanks to our seat 3 paddler, Roxayne Spruance, both seat 1 (Paula White) and seat 2, (me) suddenly got the plan and planted our paddles out to the left side of the bow with the rest of the crew pulling hard to help create a fantastic sprint race turn that literally flung us into the lead. This techinque is just not done in long distance races and was very unexpected. We made it around the buoy, and "walked away" as fast as we could, never to hear "Hut! Hut! Ho!" from any other crew the rest of the race, including the co-ed boat that attempted to take us.

We didn’t see another canoe hit the beach for at least 2 minutes after we finished the race and took #1 in the Open Women’s division, beating all boats in the competition with the exception of two co-ed crews. We had a race time of 2 hours and 14 minutes, setting a new record for our club as well as for any women’s crew to race the Kilohana Klassic!

-Adina Abeles Reporting for KKO

Sept 3-4 : Queen Liliokolani Race (Kona)

RACE RECAP: The 34th annual Queen Lili’uokalani race is now history! We were more than proud to represent Ke Kai O’Uhane as the first women’s crew from Monterey to ever paddle in this event. The day started out warm with an inspiring pule (prayer) for all the paddlers sung by the hosting club amidst a huge and colorful assortment of canoes. Shortly thereafter, the speakers were blaring a peppy tune from the Black Eyed Peas encouraging us to “Get it Started”. Filled with excitement and awe at what we were about to embark upon, we danced among the amas as we readied our “Hawaiian Racer” canoe and ourselves for the challenge that lay ahead.
 
Our 9-man “change” crew lined up behind the more than one hundred 6-man “iron” crews on a starting line that stretched for nearly a mile across magnificent blue Hawaiian water. Helicopters and official’s boats signaled the start of the iron race, and 15 minutes after that we were off and running with 20 other 9-man teams. Leaping out to a strong start, we paddled hard for 20 minutes before our first “change” – where three fresh paddlers jump off the chase boat and line themselves up in the water in front of the oncoming canoe. As their hands reach the gunnels, the paddlers being changed out roll off the other side of the canoe leaving their paddles behind. The incoming paddlers snatch up the paddles and fall into sequence with those who have remained in the canoe, nary missing a beat. The warm water was a real treat compared to the chilly temperature of our beloved Monterey Bay, and for once nobody minded jumping in! All of our changes were smooth, the crew blended and paddled well, and a mere 2 hours later we were nearing the finish line, the 18-mile race seeming to have flown quickly by.

 
And we must have been “flying”, because when the tally was taken we had actually passed 63 of the “iron” crews – meaning that we had beaten them despite their 15 minute head start! That put us 51st out of the 125 canoes that raced that day, and an impressive 6th out of the 13 canoes in our Hawaiian Racer class. Later that night, all of the crews came together to celebrate the event by participating in the torchlight parade through downtown Kona; rhythmic drums and the light from hundreds of torches lending the perfect atmosphere to this island’s history, and to the placement of the second jewel into our triple crown.

Paula A. White reporting for KKO

Sep 25 : Na Wahine O' Ke Kai (Molokai Women's)

Our Molokai adventure literally began with a whirlwind, as days before the race we anxiously watched Hurricane Jova approaching the Hawaiian Islands. But, as it would be throughout the race, fortune was on our side and Jova faded mere hours before race day, leaving clear skies and calm waters in its place.

The island of Molokai proved every bit as welcoming as we’d been told, and we spent a few excited days there preparing for our departure at the Hotel Molokai. Our borrowed canoe, “Kealoha,” graciously loaned to us by Club Healani from Oahu, was a very special craft indeed. Named after the grandmother of the club’s founders, she had made the voyage many times before – the only one of us who could make that claim! We looked after her with traditional rigging, and she in turn transported us safely across the channel back to her home.

The start of the race proved somewhat confusing, with 72 canoes on the start line and as many chase boats idling nearby, along with an exciting appearance by an attentive helicopter hovering over the first 45-minutes of the race. Once the flag was dropped, there was no doubt: Na Wahine O’ Ke Kai 2005 (The Women of the Sea 2005) was underway! Our starting crew sped along the dramatic coastline, as our chase boat and first change paddlers anxiously awaited her arrival at La’au Point. That first change was quite a scene, as bobbing swimmers, canoes, and chase boats all wove together in a wild and wake-filled frenzy. Once beyond the point of the island of Molokai, the race calmed down considerably as each participating crew plotted its strategy as to what angle to take across the channel… Head north to ride the swells into the beach at the end? Or steer a straighter course to try and make better time on this relatively flat day?

We had been expecting large swells and mighty winds in this notoriously challenging Hawaiian channel, but instead, the day proved long and hot and relatively flat with 3’ to 4’ swells and a light head wind creating a whole lot of work for the Ke Kai O’Uhane wahine crew who are used to the cool, foggy conditions of our Northern California bay. Thus the majority of the race was a great deal of paddling hard, blending with each other's strokes, and focusing as best we could; remaining alert to the coaching of ‘Coach Ric’, who rejoined our wahine team for this historic crossing.

With Oahu in site, we were met with swift currents and choppy waters as we approached our next goal - Diamond Head. What a beautiful, long, arduous, never-ending passage this quest to reach Diamond Head became. It was just before the turn at Diamond Head that we spotted a school of Spinner Dolphins jumping and playing just off the port side of our canoe, as if to welcome us to our final stretch! Keeping a nice steady pace, we arrived at Diamond Head to find a welcoming gift… The Waikiki skyline! The tiny buildings grew in size as we picked up the pace and took advantage of the bigger swells to gain on competing canoes that had crashed into us at the start of the race. You could see the other boats scrambling as we paddled deeper and stronger but still at a nice steady pace. As the final change out for new paddlers began, Coach Ric strategized with our chase boat captain and crew and decided not to go for a final change out of the crew. I’m happy to report that this paid off for our team as we passed a slew of canoes on the way to the Hilton Hawaiian Village (the big rainbow tower on the beach) finish line!

After 6:54 minutes of racing across this incredible channel, we placed #35 out of the 72 canoes racing and #29 out the 60 in our Open Women’s division.

As if the pre-season build-up, starting flag, mid-channel grind, and finish line weren't exhilarating enough, our welcoming committee was downright overwhelming, especially seeing Ke Kai family and Uncle Sam's tear-streaked face. The guidance and support that we received from those present in body and all the many more present in spirit was truly inspirational, and this writer fell asleep last night with the booming chant of "Ke Kai O'Uhane!! Ke Kai O'Uhane!!" still echoing across the Hawaiian waters from our chase boat and from Hunter's drums on the finish line at the beach; both so clearly still ringing in my head, heart, paddle, and soul. I am so very proud and thankful to have been a part of this crew, and to have represented all of the Uncles, Aunties and club members from Monterey in its first women's crew to make this crossing. It may happen again for one or all of us, but nothing ever takes the place of that first time. We are grateful for our gentle introduction to the channel, and the overwhelming support of all of Ke Kai O'Uhane that made this not only possible, but so incredibly memorable as well.

Paula A. White, Sandy Shore & Donna K. Phillips reporting for KKO