Na Wahine O Ke Kai is a 42 mile outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu. In the beginning, the race was only done by men, known as the “Molokai Hoe”, which began in 1952. The first Na Wahine O Ke Kai wasn’t until 1979. The first women’s race finished in 6 hours 35 minutes. The record was set in 2004 with a time of 5:22:12. This years race was won by Team Bradley with a time of 5:22:14 – just two seconds off of Mooloobala’s record in 2004. Second place was won at 5:27:09. Waikiki Beach Boys (3rd place, but still the best team in my humble, biased opinion), came in with a time of 5:32:39. (We also got places 18, 39, and 54 of about 70 canoes).

Our team flew to Molokai in a private jet.

We stayed in nice condos near the beach and had a big carb-up dinner.

The next morning we were up by 4am. They did a Hawaiian blessing and off we went.

This is where we start:

There is one escort boat for every canoe. The escort boats have to stay a ways away from the canoes at the beginning of the race. Our coach was taking pictures from the boat, so I don’t have pictures for the very beginning of the race. The escort boats have to stay a ways away from the canoes in the beginning, so we don’t have any pictures of the actual start.

For the actual start Jenny and I modeled the latest of Dave Young fashions – this season’s fashion being bright orange oversized cut out tank tops to wear over the team jerseys. (My sister’s personal fav – I shall find them and send them to her and Eric). The concept behind this fashion is to help the escort boat find us after the initial start. Jenny and I modeled for only the first 40 minutes of the race. So, there are no orange jerseys here. (It was a good idea though! And it did work!)

Here is part of the beginning of the race. I’m climbing back into seat two. No… the boat does NOT stop for you. Drag your legs and slow your team down. Miss the boat and REALLY slow your team down (and get whacked up side the head by a disappointed teammate). Go ahead and laugh at my butt sticking up in the air. I think it’s a funny picture too.

Then, I suppose I should show you some actual paddling pictures…

Then we near the finish line…

I wasn’t in the crew that came in third. But, the girls that I paddled with still kicked butt. We all started paddling our very first season this last March. I don’t think crossing the Molokai channel this year was even a remote aspiration six months ago. I think it was something we all wanted to do… but thought we would do it next year “if we got good enough”. Well, we had great coaches and really worked well to support each other. So… we got “good enough” faster than expected!

There were more girls than there were seats in the boat for races. Still yet, the girls would continue to help each other strive instead of step on others trying to get into that race seat. I think that’s what made us the Hawaii State Champions in August 2008 (Regatta). When it came time to the distance season, all of us novice paddlers were thrown into the open women category. The experienced women paddlers were a great support and paddling wtih them made us even stronger. The group of us really bonded and had a great race this September. We finished the Na Wahine O Ke Kai together after 6 hours 34 minutes.

Luckily, our team is composed of hard core paddling junkies. Our team has social paddling for the “off season paddling season” for those of us who can’t go without. Our next race is November 2nd – a fundraiser for the US Coast Guard Foundation, in memory of the crew of USCG-6505.

Photos by Dave Young and Andrea Messer