Proving that bigger is not necessarily better, the Kane'ohe Canoe Club won the opening regatta of the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a season yesterday.

The Kane'ohe Regatta featured around 1,000 paddlers of various ages at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Despite a decline in membership and a downgrade in division, Kane'ohe overcame the numbers to win the regatta.

"We thought we would have a bigger turnout this year, but for what ever reason, a lot of the paddlers didn't come out," Kane'ohe head coach Clint Anderson said. "That's fine. We work with what we got. To come out on top today with only this many paddlers, that's surprising to me. We'll take it."

The Hui Wa'a organization has three divisions based on club size: AAA, AA and A.

Kane'ohe is the six-time defending Hui Wa'a champion in the AAA division, but it was placed in the AA division yesterday because of its decreased membership.

"We had no choice," Anderson said. "We even had to make a lot of our kids race twice just to fill crews."

Still, Kane'ohe's 66 points were enough to outscore the AAA clubs.

Interestingly, Waikiki Beach Boys — another AA division club — placed second overall with 54 points.

Manu O Ke Kai won the AAA division with 47 points.

"Kane'ohe lost a lot of paddlers, but they're still awesome," Manu O Ke Kai head coach Randy Sanborn said. "They still score so many points with their youngsters."

Kane'ohe won six of the 13 youth races.

The Kane'ohe paddlers were boosted by the debut of a new Bradley Lightning fiberglass canoe. The canoe is named Ho'ea Kahekili, which translates to "the arriving thunder."

"Adrenaline from head to toe, it's an indescribable feeling to be in a new boat like that for the first time," said Roz Saizon, who steered the new canoe in the mixed 40 race.

Waikiki Beach Boys made a run at Kane'ohe even though it doesn't have a youth program. Instead, it has emerged in recent years with one of the best women's programs in the state.

Yesterday, the Waikiki Beach Boys women won the novice B, novice A, freshman, sophomore and senior races, and most of those finishes were not even close.

"We're fortunate," head coach Sean Monahan said. "Everybody came back this year, and that's rare."

With that in mind, the Waikiki Beach Boys women have a long-term goal of improving on last year's third-place finish in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai.

"The distance season is our big goal," said Dana Gorecki, who is the club president and a paddler on the women's senior crew. "But regatta is part of the training process to get to that goal, so it was nice to come out and have a good day like this."

Manu O Ke Kai won three races, including the prestigious men's senior race.

"We lost some guys from last year, but the guys who stayed, we're tight," said Moku Sanborn, who steered the victorious senior men's crew. "The bond is there, so that helps."

Manu O Ke Kai head coach Randy Sanborn said he was happy with the AAA win, but not satisfied finishing behind Kane'ohe for overall points.

Manu O Ke Kai is celebrating its 25th year as a club this year, and Sanborn said one of the goals is to finish atop the point standings at a regatta.

"We never won a regatta in 25 years," he said. "When we saw Kane'ohe went down (to AA), we thought maybe ... but they showed how tough they are."

Kalihi Kai captured the women's open-4 and men's open-4 races to win the A division for small clubs.

NOTES

The O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association will start its regatta season June 7 at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

The Lokahi Regatta scheduled for June 14 has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict. The Hui Wa'a clubs will not race that weekend.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.

NA 'OHANA O NA HUI WA'A

MANU O KE KAI REGATTA

At Hale'iwa.

AAA DIVISION (25+ EVENTS)

1, Manu O Ke Kai 47. 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 34.

AA DIVISION (13-24 EVENTS)

1, Kane'ohe 66. 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 54. 3, Koa Kai 47. 4, Lokahi 38. 5, 'Alapa Hoe 21. 6, North Shore 19. 7, Waikiki Yacht Club 2.

A DIVISION (1-12 EVENTS)

1, Kalihi Kai 26. 2, tie, Ka Mamalahoe and Kumulokahi Elks 18. 4, Pukana O Ke Kai 9. 5, Kamehameha 8. 6, Kai Poha 5. 7, I Mua 2. 8, Hawaiian Outrigger 0. 9, Windward Kai minus-4.

1/4 MILE

FEMALE

12: 1, Kane'ohe 2:06.52 (Brianne Park, Breaun Telefoni, Wendilee Domingo, Shyleen Hussey, Cheyenne Espinda, Mahealani Rowland). 2, Kalihi Kai 2:19.25. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 2:21.67. 13: 1, Kane'ohe 2:04.22 (Taylor Bertelmann-Ching, Kiana Tilton, Wendilee Domingo, Sierah Risso, Karley Kobayashi, Shyleen Hussey). 2, Kumulokahi Elks 2:08.88. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 2:11.58. 14: 1, Kane'ohe 2:03.09 (Kahea Anderson, Kiana Tilton, Tawnie Skaggs, Leiana Keyes, Kiana Kamahoahoa, Taylor Bertelmann-Ching). 2, Kamehameha 2:06.64. 3, Kumulokahi Elks 2:08.93. Novice B: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 2:01.46 (Stacey Fineran, Hilary Hutson, Tesla Teitge, Lauren Watase, Kate Matwychuk, Kara Miller). 2, North Shore 2:05.06. 3, Koa Kai 2:05.68.

MALE

12: 1, Kane'ohe 2:03.32 (Keawe Long III, Kekai Kamahoahoa, Kamahao Spencer, Bronson Adams, Dylan Char, Spencer Sproat). 2, Kalihi Kai 2:12.66. 3, Kumulokahi Elks 2:14.65. 13: 1, Koa Kai 2:01.03 (Landon Akau, Ryan Smiley, Makana Aguilar, Kaimana Nono-Kawaahau, Brennan Waters, Keanu Chee). 2, Kane'ohe 2:02.26. 3, Kumulokahi Elks 2:11.73. 14: 1, Kane'ohe 1:50.00 (Swayze-Lee Kaaihue, Keoki Silva-Vares, Dustin Ramil-Rivera, David Russo, Russ Kimokeo, Jonah Ganzagan). 2, Koa Kai 1:50.54. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 2:07.94.

MIXED

Specials: 1, Kai Poha 2:10.75 (Tehani Smith, Ha'ahea Ahakuelo-Kepa, Tayzha Cubit, Paris Botelho-Jumorabon, Case McKinley, Kaiahau Freitas, Dane Kaluhiwa, Jeremy Stevens, Trevor Tollefson, Mariah Murdock-Sharpsteen, Barbie Holt, Kayla Uyeshiro). 2, Kumulokahi Elks 2:15.71. 3, Hawaiian Outrigger 2:24.12. 12: 1, 'Alapa Hoe 2:02.55 (Ryan Sanford, TJ Bajarin, Randon Tuitama, Brandee Anglin, Amber Espiritu, Britni Abrigo). 2, Kane'ohe 2:08.73. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 2:11.17. Novice B: 1, Ka Mamalahoe 1:52.11 (Lei Ayat, Celita Milare, Caitlyn Milare, Rich Lozada, Michael Moriya, Thomas Dooley). 2, North Shore 1:53.45. 3, Waikiki Beach Boys 1:54.14.

1/2 MILE

FEMALE

15: 1, 'Alapa Hoe 5:03.68 (Sophia Chun, Ashlen Kinilau, Melanie Camat, Chevelle Hoffman, Lori Mateo, Kaitlyn Bachiller). 2, Pukana O Ke Kai 5:11.48. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 5:13.26. 16: 1, Kumulokahi Elks 4:53.21 (Larina Benitez, Kaylynn Palama, Keana Paez, Maluhia Moses, Welina Bobiles, Carly Perry). 2, Kane'ohe 4:58.52. 3, Kamehameha 5:04.65. 18: 1, 'Alapa Hoe 4:52.77 (Terrie Jean Ohelo, Alexis Gaui, Markie Belmodis, Ariel Mateo, Sophia Chun, Jas Parish). 2, Kumulokahi Elks 5:02.82. 3, Kamehameha 5:14.66. 55+: 1, North Shore 4:57.32 (Linda Cox, Jeanne Dilcher, Debi Kelly, Judy Hegman-Myers, Jennifer Smith, Ruby Alvarez). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 5:05.47. 3, Kai Poha 5:13.37. 60+: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 5:34,14 (Peggy Cutting, Kay Bauman, Darlene Heck, Marilyn Schoenke Basham, Dawn Peerson, Lee Higgins). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 5:52.07. 50+: 1, Kane'ohe 4:50.24 (Kehau Ahakuelo, Joanie Ishiki, Pam Kuehl, Renee Smith, Cheryl Farias, Tweetie Anderson-Perreira). 2, North Shore 4:51.43. 3, Waikiki Yacht Club 5:07.68. Novice A: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:15.51 (Ellen Argo, Kathryn Stanaway, Nicolette Rowe, Leah Lawyer, Jenny Lutz, Laura Birse). 2, Kane'ohe 4:50.13. 3, Kalihi Kai 5:01.06. Open 4: 1, Kalihi Kai 4:25.63 (Violet Carrillo, Ama Keama, Jo-Jo White, Bernie Suafoa-Tyrell). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:31.53. 3, Pukana O Ke Kai 5:05.41.

MALE

15: 1, Kane'ohe 4:15.72 (Jonah Ganzagan, Austin Rosa, Kai Leong, Kepa Souza, Keoki Silva-Vares, Zeke Marshall). 2, Koa Kai 4:16.37. 3, 'Alapa Hoe 4:17.98. 16: 1, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 4:06.81 (Rod Mahuiki, Kawika Nunes, Alii Popa, Cole Kaaekuahiwi-Pavao, Cody Pila, Elijah Valdez). 2, Kane'ohe 4:18.14. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:20.35. 55+: 1, Koa Kai 4:04.84 (Dan Gagich, Benjamin Ancheta, Billy Rees, Dickie Chow, Jeffery Tario, Bill King). 2, Lokahi 4:05.54. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:36.36. 60+: 1, Lokahi 4:29.14 (Wayne Babineau, Marshall Giddens, Randy Fernandez, Mort Watson, Bernard Chun, Joe Mastrantonio). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 4:30.84. 3, Kalihi Kai 4:59.76. 50+: 1, Lokahi 4:01.32 (Michael Cushnie, Rodney Ouchi, Mark Inouye, Daniel Ellis, Walter Oshiro, Lance Ponce). 2, Koa Kai 4:06.36. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 4:12.22. Novice B: 1, Kalihi Kai 4:09.32 (Peter Kalei, Waiokeloa Stanley, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Travis DeFries, Christian Roxburgh, Kelena Ho'okano). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 4:18.53. 3, I Mua 4:26.76. Open 4: 1, Kalihi Kai 4:08.78 (Walter Fox Jr., Che Sabol, James Kaalekahi, Captain Cook Bugreyev). 2, Kane'ohe 4:09.58. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 4:29.29.

MIXED

55+: 1, Ka Mamalahoe 4:32.68 (Scott Thompson, Michael Tosaki, Charlotte Meyer, Wanda Chong-Mendonca, Ted Kunishige, Christine Nishi). 2, Koa Kai 4:34.83. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 4:35.10. 60+: 1, Koa Kai 4:56.21 (Karen Nishimura, Lori Auhll, Chuck Arthur, Billy Rees, Chris Gaylord, Dickie Chow). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 5:10.02. 3, Lokahi 5:13.41. 45+: 1, Kane'ohe 4:31.84 (Ben Smith, Ace Esau, Tweetie Anderson-Perreira, Renee Smith, Cynthia Kaaihue, Faauuga Tootoo). 2, Koa Kai 4:36.11. 3, North Shore 4:36.71. 40+: 1, Lokahi 4:09.43 (Walter Oshiro, Bozo Vierra, Darlene Morikawa, Iwa Bush, Stan Nishikawa, Mark Tomomitsu). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 4:12.20. 3, Kane'ohe 4:13.30. Open 6: 1, Ka Mamalahoe 4:00.34 (Julie McLaughlin, Joah Couillard, Scott Burgess, Elias Nakahara, Carolyn Seto-Mook, Blaize Seto-Mook). 2, Kane'ohe 4:03.87. 3, Koa Kai 4:08.65.

1 MILE

FEMALE

40+: 1, Lokahi 9:00.27 (Karen Dunai, Bozo Vierra, Carol Jaxon, Darlene Morikawa, Ellen Ishida-Babineau, Iwa Bush). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 9:19.79. 3, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 9:34.93. Freshman: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:35.29 (Susannah Johnson, Cherie Lee, Jen Polcer, Lisa Kopacz, Julie Aio, Meredith Takara). 2, Koa Kai 9:31.30. Sophomore: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:45.29 (Andrea Messer, Sandra Vajcs, Verena Snively, Andrea Hall, Katy Grubbs, Rachel Bruntsch). 2, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i 9:08.86. 3, North Shore 9:27.13.

MALE

18: 1, Koa Kai 8:18.10 (Ryan Kam, Chad Kim, Andrew Lum, Dane Malinovich, Michael Taniguchi, Perry Wang). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 8:27.26. 3, 'Alapa Hoe 8:46.64. 40+: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 7:34.46 (Brian Amantiad, Koa Sanborn, Greg Pavao, Richard Moore, DJ Oga, Moku Sanborn). 2, Koa Kai 7:35.91. 3, Waikiki Beach Boys 8:04.17. Novice A: 1, Lokahi 7:51.83 (Donald Hayes, Jesse Tom, Jayson Whitman, Carlin Yamashita, Thomas Murtaugh, Csaba Kutrovics). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 7:53.49. 3, 'Alapa Hoe 8:02.65. Freshman: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 7:44.34 (Johnny Verive, Patrick Switzer, Jerry Smead, Franco Arango, Jan Tillmann, Michael Winter). 2, Pukana O Ke Kai 8:12.28. Sophomore: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 7:53.80 (Jeremy Willson, Christopher Veith, Attila Pohlmann, Patrick Nguyen, Paul Jamison, Dane Keohohou). 2, Manu O Ke Kai 7:57.38.

1 1/2 MILE

Senior Women: 1, Waikiki Beach Boys 12:33.96 (Rachel Bruntsch, Andrea Messer, Jen Polcer, Dana Gorecki, Kaui Pelekane, Kelsa Teeters). 2, Lokahi 14:01.93. 3, Manu O Ke Kai 14:10.85.

Senior Men: 1, Manu O Ke Kai 11:37.24. (Brian Amantiad, Pete Celebre, Greg Pavao, John Hoogsteden, Moku Sanborn, Bobo Tantog). 2, Waikiki Beach Boys 11:53.65. 3, Lokahi 12:18.87.