A LEGACY CARVED IN KOA
over the canoes, coaches, crews, and the entire paddling ‘ohana. Gose was also called forward to be recognized for his decades of craftsmanship and care for the Koa canoes. “They’re living beings, almost, that have been with us for gen- erations and generations,” Guild reflects. “We appreciate Domie's years of service and the boats that he's given us.” Today, that legacy continues through Sam Clemens, a long- time beach attendant at Outrigger since 1998 who grew up in Waimanalo with a deep love for the ocean. Over the years, Clem- ens’ learning has been hands-on and immersive—breaking and repairing his own fiberglass canoes and gaining practical experi- ence that has shaped his craft. “I’ve always been an artist and a craftsman,” Clemens shares. “I
really like learning, so I was drawn to the workshop. I was always fascinated with what they were making—what they were building, and I wanted to see.” Recently, he began working alongside Gose to care for the Club’s treasured Koa fleet. That mentorship, however, was set in motion years earlier—when Clemens’ passion for canoe surfing sparked a de- sire to build his own paddle and led him to seek guidance from Gose. “I asked Domie if he would teach me how to build a paddle because I want- ed to make my own steersman’s blade. He showed me how, and since then, I’ve probably built at least a hundred—if not more.” For Clemens, it’s not just Gose’s tech- nical skill that stands out—it’s his mind- set and approach to the work. “Domie has always had that confidence. He knows what he’s doing, and he knows he has the skills to do whatever the job is. That’s what I admire about him,” Clem- ens says. “He also has the patience you need in this kind of art form—because it doesn’t happen in one step. It was fun to work with him this year because he always tells me, ‘There's no rush. Take it easy. We got all day. We got all week. We got all month.’” With traditional canoe building and maintenance becoming a rare and spe- cialized craft, efforts are underway across Hawai‘i to ensure the art form isn’t lost. Dedicated to promoting Ha- waiian canoe racing, OHCRA has rec- ognized this need and now offers grant funding to support the preservation and passing down of these skills. Through a grant-supported internship facilitated
Honoring decades of craftsmanship, Gose meticulously attends to one of the Club’s prized Koa canoes.
18 AMA | JULY / AUGUST 2025
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