For the Lanikai Canoe Club, the start is an important component of the end result.

That's why the Lanikai boys 12 crew is considered a key to the club's success — both short term and long.

For the short term, the Lanikai boys 12 crew will try to help the club win the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta on Saturday at Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i.

The boys 12 race will be the second of 39 races at the state regatta.

"What happens in the beginning of the regatta kick-starts the whole club for the rest of the day," Lanikai boys 12 coach Scott Freitas said. "The boys know that. I tell them that we want them to start the regatta on a positive note. They don't have to win their race, but if they do their best and have a good result, it really fires up the rest of the club."

The rest of the club has been riding the momentum of the boys 12s all year.

As a crew, Lanikai's boys 12s went undefeated against O'ahu competition this year. As an overall club, Lanikai went undefeated as well, winning all seven regattas in the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association.

"It's been a wonderful season for those boys," Freitas said. "I'm actually a little surprised at the success because we didn't do that well last year."

As a result of Lanikai's overall success in the OHCRA organization this year, it is considered a strong contender to win the AAAA division for the biggest clubs at Saturday's state championship regatta.

Hawaiian Canoe Club from Maui is the six-time defending state champion. However, Lanikai qualified a state-high 38 crews for Saturday's regatta (Kailua has 36 and Hawaiian has 31).

The Lanikai boys 12 crew is aware of the situation.

"We might win the regatta by two or three points, so it could be our crew that helps win the regatta with our points," said Alaka'i Freitas, who is the coach's son and the steersman for the crew.

The season started with more than 20 paddlers, but Scott Freitas said nine have emerged as the leading candidates to represent Lanikai at the state regatta (only six get to paddle in the race).

The nine paddlers are: Jake Armstrong, Stavros Bessonoff, Riley Ellis, Alaka'i Freitas, Aaron Madden, Colin McCreary, Drew McWhirter, Ben Scholfield and Walker Smith.

All of them are from the Lanikai/Kailua area. Some of them are already considered paddling veterans.

Although 12 is the youngest age-division in regatta racing, Lanikai allows paddlers as young as 9 or 10 to join the club.

"It's kind of like a farm system, where the kids can get better and better every year," Scott Freitas said. "By the time they hit 12, they already have their feet wet."

Still, Saturday's race will not be easy for the Lanikai boys.

For starters, the boys 12 race is only one-fourth of a mile, and it lasts a little more than two minutes. Only a few seconds can separate the top five or six canoes.

At the OHCRA Championship Regatta two weeks ago, Lanikai edged Kailua by 4 seconds in the boys 12 race.

At the state race, Hawaiian, Kane'ohe from the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a association, and Puna from the Big Island are expected to bring strong boys 12 crews.

"I'm pretty nervous because you don't know how good the other crews are, especially from the other islands," Alaka'i Freitas said.

Madden, who sets the pace as the crew's stroker, said: "I try not to worry about any other (canoes). You just have to try and get to the finish line as fast as you can. If you get there first, great. If not, then you just have to work harder the next time."

Lanikai's boys 12 crew has worked hard all season. Scott Freitas said the practices include long-distance paddling — around 2 miles — as well as sprint paddling, and beach running.

"We try not to put the pressure on the kids," he said. "But they know that every little point is important to the club, and that there's a reason why we practice hard."

There is also a long-term goal.

Lanikai has long been known for its successful open men's program, and Scott Freitas said the hope is that the youth paddlers of today will become the adult paddlers of the future.

"The nucleus of our club is the kids," he said. "What we're trying to do is teach them to work from the bottom all the way to the top. I'd love to see these kids grow up and take over the men's program one day."

STATE REGATTA DEDICATED TO MICHAEL TONGG

Saturday's state championship regatta will be dedicated to Michael Tongg, a former president of the HCRA who died this month.

Memorial services for Tongg are scheduled for Aug. 12 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's coconut grove. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:30 a.m.

There will also be a scattering of ashes at the "Tongg's" surf break near Diamond Head at 3:30 p.m. That will be followed by a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the 'Anuenue Canoe Club site, next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon. For more information, go to www.tongg.com.

AAAA (21 CREWS OR MORE)

Lanikai (38), Kailua (36), Hawaiian (31), Hui Nalu (29), Outrigger (28).

AAA (13 TO 20 CREWS)

Kane'ohe (20), Kihei (19), Kahana (17), Hui Lanakila (16), Puna (16), Hanalei (13).

AA (7 TO 12 CREWS)

Healani (12), Kai E Hitu (12), Kai 'Opua (12), Keahiakahoe (12), Leeward Kai (12), Lokahi (12), Pu'uwai (12), Waikiki Beachboys (12), Kaiola (11), Na Molokama (11), Wa'akapaemua (11), Koa Kai (10), Lae'ula O Kai (10), Keauhou (9), Tui Tonga (9), Keoua (8), Niumalu (8), Waimanalo (7).

A (1 TO 6 CREWS)

'Alapa Hoe (6), Kalihi Kai (6), Waikiki Surf Club (6), 'Anuenue (5), Kai Oni (5), Kawaihae (5), Ka Mamalahoe (5), Keaukaha (4), Kukui O Moloka'i (4), Manu O Ke Kai (4), Hana (3), Napili (3), Kai Poha (3), Keola O Ke Kai (2), Honolulu Pearl (2), Kilohana (2), Na Kai Ewalu (2), Wailea (2), Kailana (2), Kamehameha-Hilo (2), Paddlers of Laka (2), Moloka'i (2), North Shore (2), Windward Kai (2), Makaha (1), Waikiki Yacht Club (1), Waikoloa (1), I Mua (1).

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.