The mission of the Keauhou Youth Paddling and Racing program is to provide a well-balanced competitive sports and cultural environment that will teach, develop and nurture youth in the sport and science of canoe racing and Hawaiian culture.
Paddling teaches discipline, teamwork, respect, and responsibility — values that are central to Hawaiian culture and carry into everyday life. In the canoe, each paddler has a role, and the canoe only moves well when everyone works together.
Our youth program includes:
Practice is from March through August.
Races are held on Saturdays during the regatta season. Transportation is available to and from select schools in Kailua-Kona. A small fee covers insurance.
We welcome new and experienced paddlers. Whether you're returning to racing or just beginning, there’s a place for you on our lineups. To register, see New Member Registration on our website.
Questions? Email: contactkeauhoucanoeclub@gmail.com
Keauhou Canoe Club's youth program introduces keiki and teens to outrigger canoe paddling — the sport, the ocean, and the culture that has sustained both for generations.
The Keiki Program welcomes new paddlers of all experience levels. Keiki learn how to enter and care for the canoe, listen and respond to crew and steersman, and understand that paddling is done together, with respect for the waʻa (canoe), the ocean, and one another.
Youth paddlers focus on developing race-level skills while learning to move the waʻa as one crew. They build strong technique, timing, and awareness of the ocean, while learning to listen, respond to the steersman, and understand their kuleana (responsibility) in the canoe.
Training emphasizes discipline, consistency, and respect — for the waʻa, for the crew, and for the conditions on the water. Through racing, youth paddlers learn to compete with focus and respect, carrying themselves with aloha and representing their club and community with pride.
Both keiki and youth paddlers compete in the MOKU O HAWAI’I regatta season from May through August at locations across Hawaiʻi Island, racing by age group in boys, girls, and mixed crews. There may be other races where youth teams participate in special races outside of HCRA/MOKU or, in some cases, the Queen Liki'uokalani race held every year in Kailua.
Beyond racing, we partner with ‘ohana and our greater community to bring Hawaiian knowledge into the program across four areas:
If you are a member of the community and would like to visit our youth racers to bring wisdom in any of these categories, please contact a coach, or email us at contactkeauhoucanoeclub@gmail.com.
We want every young paddler to leave with more than racing skills — with a strong sense of discipline, connection, and belonging that they carry into life beyond the canoe.
The following is a list of current dates/times that you may register and/or submit payment for your crews.
