Another controversy over a Lanikai Canoe Club's canoe was not enough to take away the glory of victory for the Kai E Hitu Canoe Club.

The Kai E Hitu men won the main race of the Queen Liliu'okalani Canoe Races last weekend at Kailua, Kona.

Kai E Hitu, a small club based in Kona, won the 18-mile "iron" race on Saturday. They completed the course from Honaunau to Kailua Bay in 1 hour, 55 minutes, 57 seconds.

Members of the winning crew were Bruce Ayau, Mike Field, Kafoa Halalatu, Ikaika Hauanio, Thibert Lussiaa and Lyle Palakiko. Several of them used to paddle for Kai 'Opua a few years ago.

"It means a lot for us to win as Kai E Hitu," Ayau said. "We made a commitment to paddle for this club and we put in the time and it all came to fruition."

Lanikai actually crossed the finish line far ahead of Kai E Hitu, but it was disqualified for using an illegal canoe.

Lanikai used a Tahitian canoe instead of a Hawaiian canoe, and it was around five inches longer than the maximum length allowed of 45 feet.

"We made a commitment a few months ago to paddle that canoe because our sponsor (Ocean Club) paid for it," Lanikai steersman Jim Foti said. "We feel like we're the unofficial winners of the race, but we have no argument about being disqualified. We kind of knew it would happen, even though nobody told us we were officially disqualified until we crossed the finish line."

Members of Lanikai's crew were Foti, his brother John Foti, Kai Bartlett, Andrew Penny, Patrick Dolan and George Leslie.

Outrigger was the official runner-up in 1:57:10.

Team Bradley Hawai'i won the women's 18-mile race from Kailua Bay to Honaunau in 2:08:02.

Members of the winning crew were Noe Auger, Theresa Felgate, Margie Kawaiaea, Cherisse Keli'i, Lauren Spalding and Dane Ward.

"We really weren't sure who was around us, so when we got to the end and saw that we were ahead, we were just so stoked," Felgate said.

The team paddled a new canoe designed by Sonny Bradley, and is being coached for the first time by John Puakea.

Kai 'Opua was second in 2:10:24, and Waikiki Beach Boys third in 2:11:11.

Lanikai's Bartlett won the men's one-person race, and Kelsa Teeters of the Waikiki Beach Boys won the women's one-person race.

There were several other races in various age divisions held on Saturday and Sunday.

There were 119 crews from around the world in the men's field, and 125 in the women's field.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.