➳ On March 7, Outrigger Canoe Club members once again gathered along the Ala Wai Canal—rolling up their sleeves with a goal of making 1,500 Genki Balls in support of the ongoing waterway restoration. It’s a familiar sight, and one that reflects the growing impact of the Club’s Community Outreach Committee since its creation in late 2024. Formed to bring members together in service, the committee has quickly turned intention into action, caring for the ocean, the environment, and the community spaces that matter most to the Club. Committee Chair Alice Lunt says it wouldn’t have been possible without support from the OCC Board, which encouraged the idea from the start. S ince the committee’s first Genki Ball toss just over a year ago in 2025, Club paddlers have already noticed improvements to the canal, and throughout the year, the acts of service continued. Members marked Honolulu storm drains to keep our ocean waters clean on National Make a Difference Day and also held a Kapi‘olani Park cleanup in partnership with the Elks Club. More recently, the committee branched out to Wāwāmalu (Sandy Beach), where they partnered with Parley for the Oceans on a cleanup and restoration day focused on native planting, invasive species removal, and beach care. “I just think it’s important to give back,” Lunt explains when asked why she took up chairing the committee. She credits her parents with instilling the importance of service within her. “At the end of each of these mornings, people feel good that they did it. It opens their minds to volunteering for these places even when we’re not doing it as a group.” Coming up on June 6, as part of the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Makahiki Kuleana Kahakai, Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, the Club’s Community Outreach Committee will return to the area below Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head) during the statewide Community Restoration Day. The effort will support Kuilei Cliffs, a nonprofit named for the area and founded by OCC Boys paddling coach Keoni Kino to mālama ‘āina. “It’s getting together and doing something good for the community—for where we live,” Lunt adds. “Come out and join us! It’s also a great way to meet other members of the Club.”
march/april 2026 | AMA 7
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