Nā Lanakila a me ka Hoʻomanawanui: He Moʻolelo no ka Heihei Waʻa o Kumulōkahi
I ka lā ʻekolu o Mei, i ka makahiki o ka Haku 2025, ua hoʻākoakoa ʻia nā keiki o ka ʻāina e kahea ʻia e ka moana, e hoʻokūkū ai i ka heihei waʻa makamae, ka ʻEwalu Makahiki o ka Uncle Eben "Handsome" Kalaʻau Hawaii Kai Challenge, he hanana i kākoʻo ʻia e ka hui Kumulōkahi-Elks. Mai ka nuku o Hawaiʻi Kai a hiki i ke one o Magic Island, ua kani ka pū o ka hoʻomaka, a ua ʻike maka ʻia ka hoʻoikaika a me ka lōkahi o nā hui waʻa he nui.
I waena o kēia mau koa o ke kai, ua kū maila nā waʻa o ka Hui Waʻa ʻo Lōkahi, e hōʻike ana i ko lākou mākaukau a me ka paʻa mau i nā hanauna o ka hoe waʻa. Me ka naʻau haʻahaʻa, ke nānā aku nei au i kā lākou mau hana ma ka ala loa, he huakaʻi he ʻumikūmākahi mile ka lōʻihi, kahi i hoʻāʻo ʻia ai ka ikaika a me ka hoʻomanawanui.
Nā Hōʻailona o ka Hana Ikaika ma ke Ala Loa:
- Ka waʻa i kapa ʻia ʻo "Mauʻumae" (#175), e hoe ana no Lōkahi ma ka māhele Unlimited Male Open, ua hōʻea mai i ka pae ʻelima ma ka papa kiʻekiʻe loa o nā mea a pau, a ua loaʻa iā ia ka wahi ʻekolu ma kāna māhele ponoʻī. Ua hoʻopau lākou i ka heihei i loko o 1 hola, 21 minuke, a me 15.63 kekona. He hōʻike kēia o ka hoʻomaʻamaʻa mau a me ka ʻuhane paio.
- ʻO ka waʻa ʻo "Randy" (#44), e paio ana no Lōkahi ma ka māhele Traditional Male Open, ua hōʻike pū i ka wiwo ʻole, e kau ana ma ka wahi ʻumikūmāono ma ka papa holoʻokoʻa, a me ka wahi ʻehā ma kāna māhele. ʻO ko lākou manawa, 1 hola, 32 minuke, a me 48.47 kekona.
- No nā wāhine koa o Lōkahi, ka waʻa ʻo "Mauna Lani Kai" (#43), ma ka māhele Traditional Female Open, ua hoe lākou me ka naʻauao a me ka hoʻomanawanui. Ua hoʻopau lākou i ko lākou huakaʻi i ka wahi iwakāluakūmāhiku ma ka papa holoʻokoʻa, a me ka wahi ʻelima ma kā lākou māhele ponoʻī, me ka manawa o 1 hola, 49 minuke, a me 26.04 kekona.
He mea nui ka mālama ʻana i kēia mau kuʻuna o ko kākou poʻe kūpuna, ka hoe waʻa, kahi e aʻo ʻia ai ke ahonui, ka lōkahi, a me ka mahalo i ke kai ākea. ʻOiai nā makani a me nā ale e kūʻē mai ana, e hoʻomau mau ana ka ʻuhane o ka hoe waʻa i loko o ka puʻuwai o ko kākou poʻe. E paipai ʻia nā hana a pau e hoʻokiʻekiʻe ai i ka inoa o Hawaiʻi a me kona mau kuʻuna makamae.
English version:
Victories and Perseverance: A Story of the Kumulōkahi Canoe Race
On the third day of May, in the year of our Lord 2025, the children of the land were gathered, called by the ocean to compete in the cherished canoe race, the 8th Annual Uncle Eben "Handsome" Kalaʻau Hawaii Kai Challenge, an event supported by the Kumulōkahi-Elks organization. From the mouth of Hawaiʻi Kai to the sands of Magic Island, the starting horn sounded, and the hard work and unity of many canoe clubs were witnessed.
Among these warriors of the sea, the canoes of the Lōkahi Canoe Club stood out, displaying their skill and steadfast dedication to the generations of paddling. With a humble heart, I observe their efforts on the long course, a journey of eleven miles, where strength and endurance were tested.
Signs of Strong Performance on the Long Course
- The canoe named "Mauʻumae" (#175), paddling for Lōkahi in the Unlimited Male Open division, reached the fifth position overall and secured third place in its own division. They completed the race in 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 15.63 seconds. This is a testament to consistent training and a competitive spirit.
- The canoe "Randy" (#44), competing for Lōkahi in the Traditional Male Open division, also showed bravery, placing sixteenth overall and fourth in its division. Their time was 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 48.47 seconds.
- For the strong women of Lōkahi , the canoe "Mauna Lani Kai" (#43), in the Traditional Female Open division, paddled with wisdom and perseverance. They finished their journey in twenty-seventh place overall, and fifth in their own division, with a time of 1 hour, 49 minutes, and 26.04 seconds.
It is important to preserve these traditions of our ancestors, such as canoe paddling, where patience, unity, and respect for the vast ocean are taught. Despite the winds and waves that may oppose, the spirit of paddling will continue to endure in the hearts of our people. May all efforts that elevate the name of Hawaiʻi and its precious traditions be encouraged.