KAILUA-KONA — A joyous celebration of laughs, delicious food and aloha took place this past Saturday afternoon along Hale Halawai’s scenic waterfront.

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KAILUA-KONA — A joyous celebration of laughs, delicious food and aloha took place this past Saturday afternoon along Hale Halawai’s scenic waterfront.

Kai ‘Ehitu Outrigger Team, one of Kona’s premier Hawaii Canoe Racing Association (HCRA) clubs, hosted its annual end-of-the-season pa‘ina underneath the park’s pavilion. The special gathering served as a way for the 300-plus paddlers to celebrate all they had accomplished throughout 2026, while also recognizing that the magical run isn’t over just yet.

The state regatta, slated for this upcoming Saturday at Ke‘ehi Lagoon, will serve as the final and ultimate test for the red and white. While the championship stage is familiar territory for Kai ‘Ehitu after winning the AAA state crown in 2024, longtime head coach Richard Kimitete and company are treating it as if it’s their first time ever competing on Oahu.

“The way we’re preparing ourselves for states is just continuing to do what they’re doing,” Kimitete told the paper. “After every regatta, I tell our coaching staff to tell our paddlers to continue focusing on paddling (throughout the next week) — eat well, sleep long, try not doing things to get yourself hurt. And come to practice every day, ready to be consistent.”

Kimitete — famously known around town for his larger-than-life personality and boisterous spirit through his megaphone at weekly races — has fostered not only an ‘ohana-centered culture within Kai ‘Ehitu, but a winning culture, too. In 2026, Kai ‘Ehitu won all eight of the Big Island regattas in dominant fashion — including the Aunty Maile Moku O Hawaii Championship on July 18, where the club boasted a season-high 288 points.

Several of Kai ‘Ehitu’s crews have gone undefeated the whole season, including in the boys 10, boys 12, girls 14, boys 14, boys 15, boys 16-and-under, boys 18-and-under, mixed 18 and men’s masters 50 divisions.

Kimitete explained that Kai ‘Ehitu’s keiki have become a staple in the club’s success, emphasizing the importance of their contributions not just this season, but into the future.

“The kids have been awesome all season long,” he said. “They’ve been carrying us at the beginning of each race day, making sure we’re ahead in points early. Hats off to them.”

Kimitete attributed the keiki’s success to his talented coaching staff, who have served as incomparable teachers and role models for the youngsters that are eager to learn more about the sport. Some of Kai ‘Ehitu’s youth paddlers also work with Mike Akau and Charlie Becerra of Big Island Junior Va‘a at Honokohau Harbor in the offseason to sharpen their techniques.

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“Because (Big Island Junior Va‘a) had one and two-man canoes, I think that helps our kids a whole lot,” Kimitete explained. “But on top of that, I really believe we have the best coaching staff not just on the island, but in the entire state.”

The rest of Kai ‘Ehitu’s stacked coaching staff consists of Eddie Hayward, Kaeo Peterson, Kua Nolan, Darcy Daniel, Tiapepe Falelupe, LeeAnn Hayward, Tatiana Tan, Charlie Barr, Trey Cox, Richard Chung, Brian Cornel and Craig Yunigues. The coaches, along with several other key members, were honored at Saturday’s banquet for their never-wavering commitment to the club throughout the season.

Kimitete added that seeing the vast number of keiki paddlers in the beginning of the season gave him the confidence that the 2026 campaign would be a special one.

“Seeing the amount of kids that came down without even recognizing what would happen this season made me very comfortable,” he said. “From the get-go, everyone was happy to come down to (Kailua Pier) to jump in and do what they needed to do to get the job done.”

But the job isn’t done for Kai ‘Ehitu. At least not yet.

“Just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing, and I expect us to do very well,” Kimitete said of this weekend’s state championship.

But beyond this season, Kimitete and Kai ‘Ehitu hope to keep building their program into the future, where they aim to have an even stronger culture and team. After all, it’s exactly what Kimitete’s late father, club founder Bernard “Papa” Pierre, would have wanted.

“We hope to keep getting bigger and better, and hopefully people will recognize that we’re trying to do something great here not just for us, but for the whole community of the Island of Hawaii,” Richard Kimitete said. “And the only way to do that is to accept everyone that wants to give paddling a try.

“And hopefully, we can keep this momentum going for a few more years.”

See the paper next month to read how Kai ‘Ehitu and the rest of the competing Big Island clubs perform at the state regatta.

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