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The 411
Outrigger Race
Circa 1999: Buffy Greer, Jorgia Blair, Rachelle Hubler, Shawn Vernon, Debbie Talley, Stephanie Lorge. Photo by Brian Ramdwar.
Mana Lima Ikaika Wa'a
Moloka'i Channel race, the oldest and most prestigious outrigger canoe race in the world. Begun in 1952 for men and 1979 for women, the race currently attracts an international field of top crews and combines a colorful history with a rich tradition.
Billed as the world championships of the sport, crews contending for the title must train and prepare for months in order to put themselves in the best position to win. The great intangible is the unpredictable Moloka'i (Kaiwi) Channel that has a well-deserved reputation as one of the roughest interisland channels in existence.
The outcome of the race generally hinges on how crews deal with conditions that can vary from water as calm as a lake to the most fearsome and turbulent, with extreme winds and huge waves. Once out of the channel, the next challenge and sometimes a critical factor is trying to unravel the best solution to often complex coastal currents and tide factors encountered off O'ahu. For the winners, it is a tribute to a combination of excellent preparation, conditioning, teamwork and strategy that all come together to make the difference in a most memorable and satisfying athletic accomplishment.
This is Hawaiian!
