HILO — The 2026 Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta season has been flying by.

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HILO — The 2026 Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta season has been flying by.

With the state championship regatta just over a month away at Ke‘ehi Lagoon on Oahu, it’s been all hands on deck for ambitious clubs across the state. Teams are preparing tirelessly but diligently in hopes of qualifying for a spot at state dance, as now every point matters more than ever with just a few chances remaining this season. The top-three finishers in each division earn a ticket to states.

With high stakes in mind, over 1,300 paddlers aged 8 to 81 competed in the the sixth of the eight regattas on the Big Island this season this past Saturday on the Hilo Bayfront, with Puna Canoe Club sponsoring the event under the hot Hawaiian sun.

Puna, which means “spring of water” in Hawaiian, was founded in 1975 by a small group of Kalapana locals who were passionate about the surrounding land and ocean. Per Puna’s website, the key players in the club’s founding were Clarence “Aku” Hauanio, Ipo Kaawaloa, Darnell Mahi, Steve Morris and Anson Smith. Originally, Puna was first called Ku Mala Aka, which is named after the iconic Hawaiian heiau (temple) along Kaimu Beach in Kapalama. The name was then changed a few years later for cultural awareness.

The club claimed the colors yellow and green — yellow for the yellow to the red fruit of the Hala tree and green representing the Maile vine. Both can be found plentiful in the Puna region. The club’s halau was located at Kaimu Beach until 1990, when Pele’s volcanic activity covered the area with lava. Following the loss of the club’s meeting place, Puna was reformed in Hilo Bay, which naturally grew the club in membership.

Thanks to Puna’s family values, competitive spirit and structured leadership, the club has grown to be one of the biggest on Hawaii Island. Most of the club’s members are now based in Hilo, but leadership still mainly hails from the Puna district. The club is led by president Michael O’Shaughnessy and coached by Afa Tuaolo.

Puna has two Koa canoes — both carved in Kalapana. Ali‘i Kai, the club’s first canoe, was carved in 1978 by Rev. John Hauanio. The Kalapana, Puna’s second canoe, was completed in 1988 by master carver Puaniho Tauotaha, who hails from Tahiti.

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Leading the Puna-hosted event was — by not much surprise — Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team: the red-hot, Kona-based club that has taken the island by storm in 2026. Kai ‘Ehitu amassed the most overall points in the sixth straight regatta — collecting 266 points, beating out second-place Puna by over 50 points. Both clubs are in Division AAA, which competes in 31-46 events.

Kai ‘Ehitu won a staggering 17 events throughout the day, including their boys 18-and-under squad of Jai Gamagag, Kekupukoa Naeole-Starkey, Markus Lizarraga, Tautau Hing, Kuhao Puhi and Spencer Allen racing the fastest half-mile bout of the day — crossing the finish line at the 3:34.37 mark. The club has long had a reputable keiki program.

Kai ‘Ehitu additionally won the following divisions: women’s 70 (5:06.23), boys 10 (2:27:34), boys 12 (2:05.35), mixed boys and girls 12 (1:53.44), girls 13 (1:51.15), boys 13 (1:51.33), girls 14 (1:55.51), boys 14 (1:42.42), girls 15 (4:16.84), boys 15 (3:45.40), girls 16 and under (4:19.82), boys 16 and under (3:41.87), mixed 18 (3:52.58), women’s novice (4:20.39), women’s sophomore (4:31.89), men’s senior masters 50 (3:55.03) and the mixed masters 55 (4:17.30).

Kai ‘Ehitu averaged 6.3 points per race.

The hosting Puna club won the following events: women’s 65 (4:42.61), girls 12 (2:07.70), women’s novice (1:52.96), women’s masters 60 (4:55.16) and the senior women’s masters 50 (4:36.51).

Winning Division AA (15-30 events) was Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club, which logged 153 points to edge out Kai Opua Canoe Club. Keoua Honaunau won the following: girls 10 division (2:28.97), mixed novice (1:51.17), men’s novice (3:42.77), men’s freshmen (3:42.66), women’s masters 40 (4:25.31) and mixed masters 40 (3:54.39).

Winning Division A (1-14 events) was Hoemana with 33 points.

Other highlights from the day included the fastest quarter-mile time of the regatta, raced by Antonin Bouchez, Chance Lincoln, Sky Dufaux, Michael Thiemann, Rodney Requelman and Oscar Ahuna of Kawaihae Canoe Club in 1:38.12. The fastest mile of the day was raced by Keaukaha Canoe Club’s Kama Leeloy, Tyler Makaiwi, Golden Boy Pila, Kahiau Kiyuna, Eha Kiyuna and Casey Morris in 7:29.66.

The seventh regatta of the 2026 season will be held July 11 at Hilo Akiona Course, hosted by Paddlers of Laka.

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Team results

Division AAA (31-46 events)

1. Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team, 266 points

2. Puna Canoe Club, 210 points

3. Kawaihae Canoe Club, 201 points

4. Keaukaha Canoe Club, 171 points

5. Kamehameha Canoe Club – Hilo, 103 points

Division AA (15-30 events)

1. Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club, 153 points

2. Kai Opua Canoe Club, 142 points

3. Hui Wa‘a ‘O Waiakea, 126 points

4. Waikoloa Canoe Club, 91 points

5. Keauhou Canoe Club, 60 points

Division A (1-14 events)

1. Hoemana, 33 points

T2. Na Wa‘a Hanakahi, 26 points

T2. Paddlers of Laka, 26 points

4. Miloli‘i Canoe Club, 5 points

5. Kailana Canoe Club, 3 points