CANOE ALLEY SPORTS RESULTS, EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH & MORE
Honoring Service, Sharing Aloha OCC Volunteers Power the Na Koa Wounded Warrior Regatta
By Rachel Wagenman
PHOTO: KELLI HERGERT
for the day with the blessing of the Canoe Racing Committee, and dozens of members volunteer as steersmen or help return ca- noes to their home clubs when the last race is pau. As Haine notes, “The Masters Men scheduled their practice around when the race was over, and they came down and got two of the boats.” Champions were crowned in both the Veterans and Gold Star divisions, but the real victory belonged to the camaraderie and aloha shared among paddlers and sup- porters alike.
freedoms. “They’ve gone through a lot to protect the country—and here I am living large in Hawai‘i getting to surf and canoe. So that’s the way I say thank you back,” Haine shares. The Haine family is well-represented at the regatta. His daughter Natasha also served as a volunteer race director this year, continuing the family tradition of hands-on support. “Natasha is the brains behind it. Anything she touches, she makes it better,” Haine adds. His son Noah also pitched in, helping the day run smoothly. Outrigger Canoe Club support runs deep at the event. Club canoes are loaned
➳ Each summer, Waikīkī’s Fort DeRussy Beach comes alive for the Na Koa Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta, part of the Duke Kahanamoku OceanFest celebrating the life of Hawai‘i’s greatest waterman. The annual event pairs the healing spirit of the ocean with the courage of America’s service members, bringing together wounded warriors, Gold Star families, and retired veterans for a day of friendly but hard-fought racing. Outrigger Canoe Club member and race director Marc Haine has been donating his time to guide the regatta to success for 13 years. It’s a cause close to his heart as a way to give back to those who safeguard our
26 AMA | novemBer/december 2025
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