One year before Hawai'i became a state, Joseph "Nappy" Napoleon entered an event in which he would become an institution.

The year was 1958, and Napoleon paddled in his first Moloka'i Hoe.

He's done it every year since, and will do it again Sunday.

Sunday will be his 50th consecutive Moloka'i Hoe — the race across the Kaiwi Channel. It's considered the world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe paddling for men's teams.

"Paddling is his life," said his oldest son, Joey. "When it comes to this sport, I know my dad is something special. This is something nobody might ever do again. Every time somebody tells me he's a legend, I feel proud of that."

Through five decades of evolution in and out of the water, the Moloka'i Hoe has had one annual constant — Napoleon.

"It's gone by fast," said Napoleon, 66. "I can't believe it's 50 years already. I still remember that first one, that's why. I'm never going to forget that one."

The Moloka'i Hoe is a 41-mile race from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki. More than 100 teams from around the world are expected to participate this year.

Napoleon has been a conqueror of the Moloka'i Hoe in the past. He was a member of six championship crews with Waikiki Surf Club in the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

He was on the 1966 championship crew that braved 15- to 20-foot swells across the Kaiwi Channel.

Since 1983, he has paddled with the 'Anuenue Canoe Club — a club he created for his family and friends.

In short, he has a lifetime — or at least 49 years worth — of tales to tell.

"Every year is something different," Napoleon said. "You remember some years more than the others, but they're all special."

FAMILY HIS CREW

But Napoleon's 50th will be the most special, and not just because of the number. On Sunday, he will paddle with a crew made up entirely of his family members.

His five sons — Joey, Aaron, Darryn, David and Jonah — will be in the crew, along with three grandsons — Josh, Sepa and Koa.

"Me and my wife sat down and talked about it, and decided that this would be the year to paddle with all my boys," Napoleon said.

All five of Napoleon's sons were raised in the 'Anuenue Canoe Club, but this is the first time they will all paddle together for a Moloka'i Hoe.

"I joke around with everybody that I have to bring my earplugs with me, because my boys all know how to paddle, and so they all think they know what's right," said Napoleon, who resides in Palolo.

He did complete a Moloka'i Hoe with his four oldest sons — Joey, Aaron, Darryn and David — and other members of 'Anuenue in 1985.

"That was a nightmare," Aaron said with a laugh. "We were yelling, bickering, all the way across. I think that's why we never did it again after that. But we're all older now — more in control — and we realize this one is for dad."

Team Napoleon has not had much time to practice together, and some of the sons have not paddled competitively for several years.

"I wish we did train more for this," Joey said. "But we all know how to paddle, that's the main thing."

As Napoleon put it: "To paddle in this race is not that hard. To win is hard ... so maybe we not going win, but we should be OK."

It helps that virtually every member of the Napoleon clan is considered an avid waterman.

When his sons were young, Napoleon and his wife, Anona, would drive them around the island — literally — to surf at different beaches.

"I think we all started drinking coffee around (age) 10 or 11," Darryn said. "We used to get up early in the morning, jump in the truck and go surf all these different places. We went out to Makaha, then Hale'iwa, North Shore, then come back around the (Windward) side."

Now there is a third generation. Grandsons Josh, Sepa and Koa are all 19. There are 11 other grandchildren in the family.

"This is my first time racing with my Gramps, so it's going to be memorable, big-time," Sepa said.

"Fifty crossings and I get to be a part of it, that's remarkable. This is only my third one, so that's crazy to think I have to do 47 more to do what he did."

ONE OF THE GREATS

Napoleon was a stroker when he first started with Waikiki Surf Club, but later became a steersman. He is considered one of the greatest steersmen in the history of the Moloka'i Hoe, although he claims to have no secret methods.

"I'll tell you something that's true — I don't really know currents and tides and all that," he said. "I just go by how the canoe feels.

"Nowdays, you have all this high-tech equipment to help you read the ocean, help check your heart rate. ... I'm from the old school — I just paddle."

And even after 49 crossings, he said the learning process is not complete.

"This sport is still interesting to me," he said. "I always say I can learn a little bit more every time I go out."

He said his wife has also been a key contributor to his 50-year streak. She will follow the team aboard the escort boat on Sunday.

"We're an adventurous family, and we all love the ocean," Anona, said. "I think if (the Kaiwi Channel) is big, it'll be even better for us."

'ACTING MY AGE'

After parenting five sons, the Napoleons agreed in 1983 to name their canoe club 'Anuenue — for the daughter they never had.

'Anuenue is the Hawaiian word for rainbow. It was the name Nappy and Anona would have given to a daughter, if they had one. The family also uses the name because the club is based behind the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Rainbow Tower.

"It's been a lot of work, but this club has also brought us so much joy," Anona said. "So it really is like our child."

Regardless of how the family does Sunday, Napoleon said, it will be a one-time crew. But that doesn't mean his streak will end.

He said he would like to return with his friends next year.

"We can do this one time as a family because it's the 50th one, and then I can go back to acting my age," he said.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.