From the President’s Desk
ALOHA, OUTRIGGER CANOE CLUB! Summer is officially here, and with it came a quintessential Outrigger Canoe Club weekend—action-packed and full of joy.
June kicked off with a vibrant beach scene as the Surf Jam and Scratchfest energized our sliver of paradise. The condi- tions were pristine for endless fun; we even had a visit from a monk seal who wanted to catch some of the action. The most incredible part of the day was watching members and their families, young and old, create core memories that
will last a lifetime. Congratulations to all those who entered, and a huge thank you to the Surf and Paddle Board committees for putting on incredible simulta- neous events. Soon after, the fun began again as our Canoe Racing program descended onto Kailua Beach for the King Kamehameha Day Regatta, the second regatta of the season. The weather was perfect, and seeing the camaraderie and competitive juices flowing was a reminder of how important canoe racing is—not just as our namesake sport, but in bringing our membership together across generations and backgrounds. Paddling with our Club is what made this New Yorker feel like Hawai‘i was my home. I have been fortunate to have made many lifelong friendships that began in the canoe with the “O” on our jerseys. Now I get to witness new friendships form, from our keiki all the way up to the golden masters, as crews train and compete together. I also get to experience the warmth and kindness of our community as my young son cheers his little heart out for all his “paddling aunties and uncles.” We are incredibly fortunate at Outrigger to have such a rich mix of opportunities to enjoy our campus and one another’s company. Whether on land or sea, the spirit of togetherness thrives.
Lastly, I want to highlight an incredible accomplishment by Pat Dolan. Last year, he set the record for the fastest Kaiwi Channel crossing on an OC-1. Pat is always pushing himself, and winning the Molokai Challenge on the surfski has always been a major goal. Sure enough, this past May he was able to accomplish that goal, setting a new course record by finishing in 3:09:44. It’s the first win for Hawai‘i on the surfski since 1978. Pat’s achievement is not only a personal milestone, but also a moment of pride for the entire Outrigger community. Join me in congratulating him on this historic win!
Art Mallet president Outrigger Canoe Club
4 AMA | JULY/AUGUST 2025
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