Five canoe paddlers have lost their high school eligibility by participating in the Moloka'i Hoe on Oct. 8, a race that awarded prize money to the winning club.

Two paddlers from Maryknoll and one each from Kaiser, Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific competed in the Moloka'i-to-O'ahu race for Hui Nalu, which did not receive prize money.

However, Hawai'i High School Athletic Association bylaws stipulate that "A student-athlete has ... become ineligible for further high school competition by ... having competed for money in any organized athletic activity."

Maryknoll coach Kapono Ciotti tried to restore his two paddlers' eligibility by submitting a letter to HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya, but members of the HHSAA executive board affirmed yesterday that under the bylaw, all the paddlers in question violated the rule and are ineligible for league and state championship competition.

In his letter, Ciotti cited the Honolulu Marathon, which awards prize money but also includes many high school athletes. However, Amemiya and others pointed out that in the marathon and in pro golf tournaments, high school athletes sign a waiver declaring their amateur status.

Also, in a letter to Amemiya, Maryknoll athletic director Pattie Heatherly said the paddlers from her school and their parents were warned about the rule before the race.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.