MEMBER PROFILE
the wrong way yet.”
His father earned a place in the Club’s distinguished Winged “O” society in 1969, an honor bestowed on Outrigger’s top athletes, and Haine later followed in his footsteps in 2002. Receiving the title of Winged “O” entails a life- long commitment to actively uphold the athletic mission of the Club, a goal Haine took seriously, especially as a former president of OCC. “I wanted to emphasize that we need to be a club of sport, and that a lot of our eort needs to go back into teaching and training the kids,” he explains. “We want to be where we’re pushing our kids to be the best they can possibly be.” Haine sees one of the Club's greatest strengths in its ability to cultivate an environment where older members mentor and support the younger generation, helping them learn and grow. “There’s a real cycle of taking time to teach and train the next generation. The older kids are teaching the younger kids how to do it right,” he says. “That’s a huge part of this club, and that’s what we really want to continue.” As a former board member of the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation and the Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Festival, and a recipient of the Daniel K. Inouye Community and Leader- ship Award, Haine’s dedication to teamwork in canoeing mirrors his commitment to community service like strokes in a synchronized paddle. Just as each stroke propels the canoe forward, his selfless eorts in helping others propel his com- munity towards new and enriching experiences they may never have otherwise encountered. “You don’t wanna take, take, take—you gotta give,” Haine explains. “If you live in that world, you’re gonna have a better, happier life than
someone who doesn't give back.” One organization particularly close to his heart is the Na Koa Wounded Warriors. While serving as Race Director over the last decade, Haine has made dreams come true by helping veterans and their families race Hawaiian canoes. “It’s emotional for me sometimes. One guy, he’ll paddle with no arm. They’ll tape the paddle to his arm,” Haine explains, placing a hand on his oppo- site shoulder, touched by the memory. “I’m motivat- ed by the fact that I can give people a chance to get in a canoe that they would never get.” Haine relishes in sharing his expertise in water- sports. From high-ranking military oµcials, including
22 AMA | march / april 2024
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker