The Queen Lili'uokalani Long Distance Canoe Races are scheduled to run this weekend at Kailua, Kona.

The two-day event is the largest long-distance race in the world, in terms of paddler participation. More than 250 crews — which equates to more than 1,500 paddlers — from around the world are expected to race this weekend.

The highlight of the event is the 18-mile "iron" races otomorrow.

The women's iron race runs from Kailua Bay to Honaunau. The men's iron race runs from Honaunau to Kailua Bay.

Crews use an iron format, meaning there are no relief changes for the six paddlers in the canoe.

Most of the state's top teams are expected to participate, along with crews from California, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.

Top contenders in the men's race include Outrigger, Keauhou, Team Primo and Hui Lanakila. Top contenders in the women's race include defending champion Waikiki Beachboys, Hui Lanakila, Outrigger and Hawaiian.

There are also shorter races Sunday for one-person canoes (OC-1), two-person canoes (OC-2) and double-hull canoes (12 paddlers per crew).

HCKT PADDLERS WIN 16 MEDALS IN GEORGIA

Paddlers from the Hawai'i Canoe and Kayak Team combined to win 16 medals last week at the U.S. Sprint Nationals at Lake Lanier, Georgia.

The Dolan brothers — Pat and Ryan — led the team in the senior division; Kalei Kahookele led the way in the juvenile division.

Pat Dolan won a silver medal in the men's 500-meter K1 race; Ryan Dolan won a silver medal in the men's 200-meter K1 race. The brothers also combined to win silver medals in the 500-meter and 200-meter K2 races. They also won bronze medals in the 1000-meter K2 race.

The senior division features the top paddlers in the nation.

Kahookele won a gold medal in the juvenile 5000-meter K1 race. He also combined with Hawai'i paddlers Alex Cheung and Trenton Tam to win a gold medal in the juvenile 1000-meter K4 race. Kahookele and Tam also won a bronze medal in the 1000-meter K2 race.

Other paddlers from Hawai'i winning medals were Giulia Anderson, Rachel Fujita, Kati Erwin, Hoku Keala and Ryan Murphy.

KAILUA EVENT HONORS FORMER PRO SURFERS

The Kailua Shorebreak Classic youth surfing contest ran last weekend at Kalama Beach.

More than 120 surfers ranging in age from 4 to 18 participated in the event.

Age-group winners were Kaeo Hassett (6-younger), Breissa Hennessy (7-9), Hunter Johnson (10-12), Timmy Metcalf (13-15), James Fisher (16-18) and Sea'ana Gentry (open girls).

The event was created in 2005 to honor three former professional surfers who lost their lives within one year of each other: Jason Bogle, Peter Miller and David Aluli. All three grew up surfing in the Kailua area.