
OC6 LONG DISTANCE
RACING PROGRAM
Athlete participation levels are smaller than regatta, mostly adults, and races are scheduled at various sites around the Big Island. Distances range from 5-30 miles in the local races. Races on the other islands and the North American Championships on Catalina Island draw Keauhou crews annually. Keauhou Canoe Club sponsors two races.
The Moloka'i Hoe is an annual men's race between the islands of Molokai and Oahu which began in 1952. The race is one of Hawaii's largest annual sporting events, drawing participants from Hawaii, the U.S. mainland as well asinternational competitors from Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Canada, and other countries. Canoes launch from the west side of Molokai and travel approximately 41 miles across the ocean to the Hilton Hawaiian beach in Honolulu. The channel is said to be among one of the most dangerous channels in the world, with the current record time for the passage being under 5 hours. Crews of 9 men (under 65) or 12 men (65 and over) race across 41 miles of open ocean using a chase boat to carry hydration and nutrition and change out paddlers every 20 minutes. In 2015 a group of Keauhou paddlers, paddling as came in 4th place right behind three Tahitian crews—the highest placement by our club ever in this event. The Men 40 and Men 65 came in first in their age groups.
A women's equivalent of the Molokai Hoe was proposed two years after the first men's race in 1952, but coaches and officials believed the Kaiwi Channel was too treacherous for women to participate. In 1975, two crewsmade the first unofficial crossing. Since then, the women's race attracts up to 80 crews and 700 paddlers each year. The women's race also covers a 41-mile stretch, starting at Hale O Lono at Molokai's southeast corner and finishing at the Hilton Hawaiian Hotel beach on Oahu. The current women's race record is a little under 5 1/2 hours. Crews of 10 women (under 60) or 12 women (60 and over) race across 41 miles of open ocean using a chase boat to carry hydration and nutrition and change out paddlers every 20 minutes.