CANOE ALLEY SPORTS RESULTS, EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH & MORE
Lāhainā Rises Strong OCC Joins Statewide Paddling ‘Ohana at HCRA Championships
By Rachel Wagenman | Photos by Olivier Koning
➳ Outrigger Canoe Club paddlers joined crews from across Hawai‘i in Lāhainā, Maui this August for the 2025 HCRA State Canoe Championship—an event made even more meaningful by its location. Nearly two years after the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history, the Lāhainā paddling community wel- comed racers with open arms and deep gratitude. Held at Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park, the race stood as a tes- tament to the strength, resilience, and unity of those who carry on Hawai‘i’s paddling legacy. “We want to say mahalo nui loa for standing with our West Maui canoe ‘ohana and helping bring state races to Lāhainā this year,” shared a joint message from Lahaina, Kahana, and Napili Canoe Clubs. “Your presence means so much, not only for our local ven- dors who are still working to stay afloat, but for our community’s sense of normalcy and healing.”
Accompanied to the neighbor island by the Club’s beloved Koa canoes, Kakina and Kaoloa, OCC members gathered beneath the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows’ centu- ry-old tree, twinkling with lanterns and alive with music, for a fes-
tive pre-race evening to reflect on a season of hard work and camaraderie. “There’s a lot of responsibility having the ‘O’ on your back,” says Taylor Doherty, OCC’s 2024 Paddler of the Year. “We have a lot of teams that are doing really, really well, so we want to take that momentum and continue it.” Fueled by the energy of the season, OCC paddlers brought that momentum to race day. The Club earned top-three fin- ishes in 13 events, including seven first-place victories— ranging from the Mixed Boys and Girls (18) crew to the Men 65 division. Also among these were the Club’s novice crews, with first-place finishes from both the Women’s and Men’s Novice B teams, and a first-place win for the Women’s Nov- ice A crew.
PHOTO BY TOMMY PEIRUKI
24 AMA | september/october 2025
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