Change bubbled under the apparently quiet, almost sleepy surface of
early 1970’s Kihei. A small group of men and women acted instinctively
to meet impending change, and Kihei Canoe Club was born.
“We needed something for the kids to do summertime. We didn’t have all those other things like soccer and Little League in those days, and canoe taught more than sport.” said early member “Papa Joe” Kuuana.
So far, no one individual can be credited with the original idea, but consensus is the earliest organizational efforts came from Leslie Kululoio, George Ferreira Sr., and Moses “Moki” Kalanikau. Other names also crop up frequently in the earliest club records and recollections of early club members.
Noma Wilson (husband Jim another founding member) recalled, “There was Henry “Boxey” Foo Sum, Moon and Donna Kauhane, the entire Hamada family, George Enriquez, Chris and Joe Kuuana. Early club treasurer Bob Lawrence added “Moki Perkins, the Barlows, the Abiera family, Papa Charlie Plunkett, Danny and Mary Palakiko.”
Dorvin and Betty Leis, longtime KCC supporters, club leaders in the late 70’s, spoke of one consistent theme throughout the club’s early years, “Family. One family member would start paddling, usually one of the kids, and pretty soon their whole ohana would be involved.” Son Chuck was the catalyst for their involvement. The first club roster, peppered with Malubays, Twedells, Abacs, Yaps, Babcocks, Hamadas, Kuuanas and Kalanikaus, still numbered only “30 or 40, we all fit into one picture” said Noma Wilson.
Other consistent themes were tradition, education in Hawaiiana, respect and kokua. Especially kokua. Bob Lwarence described it “We usually had few dollars, but lots of willing hands.” An early example of kokua was Helu Ekahi (first canoe), also known as “the blue canoe”, leased then bought from an Oahu club.
Another hard-to-pin-down fact was when exactly did the club form? Best evidence says late 1973 saw the first discussions, planning proceeded in 1974, and the Red and Gold fielded their first crews in 1975. Coaching chores were shared around, as were most other duties, Kihei was the fourth currently chartered canoe club to form on Maui, after Hawaiian and Na Kai Ewalu replaced the old Kahului Canoe Club, and Lahaina CC started up on the west side. The four clubs competed for points at four summer regattas of ten racing events each. Rules were minimal, paddlers could compete in several races, clubs could enter many crews in each event, and county champions were decided at the final regatta, rather than by total point accumulation (current method). Kihei was loosely affiliated with Hui Wa’a, an Oahu canoe racing association, but raced mostly on Maui.
One name shone out in those days, but he would have been the first to insist that others got credit first ... Dutchy Kino, Uncle Dutchy, the Dutchman ... his innovations and contributions to canoe since the mid-50’s had already certified him as one of canoe’s few legitimate superstars, but he left a comfortable position at Waikiki Surf Club to accept the challenge of molding a fresh young club, and mold Kihei he did. He led Kihei to their first county championship in 1976, his first full year as head coach. Kihei won two more titles under his tutelage, 1978 and 1979.
1976 also produced the “miracle crew”, six boys aged 14 to 17. Encouraged by their stellar regatta season, the boys pleaded with Dutchy for a chance to race the 18-mile Maalaea Distance as an “ironman” (no relief paddlers) crew. Dutchy .. no ... period. Then, finally, OK, but you don’t know what you’re getting into. Blissfully ignorant of the difficulties, the boys proceeded to smoke the field until a nine-man crew put in three fresh substitutes to catch and pass the boys bare feet from the finish. New faces for 1976 included Byron Lovell, the Mains family, the Dela Nux clan, Happy and Suzy Aki, the Keahis. 1976 was also the year Maui added a fifth club, Kahana CC.
In 1977, two more Maui clubs started up, Napili and Hana. The regatta format expanded to 14 events, with first time parity of male and female events, and another first, paddlers’ classifications graded from novice to senior. The big question that year was whether or not pregnant women should be allowed in the canoe, and the answer then was “no” (it’s changed since). Kihei sponsored the first annual Ben Abiera Relays to honor their recently deceased founding father (who had loaned the club enough to buy Helu Ekahi). KCC started the lovely tradition of annual Memorial Day flower- spreadings along the south coast shoreline. Pakalana, named for Dutchy’s favorite flower, became Kihei’s second canoe. The club held regular practices in Maalaea harbor. Kihei’s membership swelled to over I 00, but Hana CC swamped the county in their rookie season for their first and only championship. Kihei pondered affiliation and joined the Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association (MCHCA). KCC named it’s first charter members, Papa Charlie Plunkett, Tutu Rachel Abiera, and Dorvin and Betty Leis. The first wave of the post- 1980 leadership enrolled; Kalei Olsen, Kapena and Polohiwa Whitford, Louie Jean Taylor, Reny Platz, and Rob Hoonan.
1978 brought more new developments. MCHCA codified race rules responding to canoe’s increased participation by limiting paddlers to one race per regatta. Highlights of the year included Kahana’s first regatta (making it five per summer), Kihei’s second county championship, and the Moko Pune (the “I 00- year race) from Hana to the Big Island. Coach Dutchy adapted Kihei’s canoe to the unusual conditions by re-rigging the ama (float) on the canoe’s starboard side, and Kihei finished first across the channel, but lost out to Kai Opua, a crew more familiar with the Big Island’s coastal waters. Herman Hamada produced KCC’s first T-shirts to commemorate the Moko Pune. MCHCA joined HCRA (Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association), and began seeking a koa canoe. Jim Wilson and Rod Paahana rose to lead the club, and one new face in the canoe was Daryl Davis.
In 1979, MCHCA added two keiki and four adult races per regatta (to total 20). Hana sponsored their first regatta (although not for points), and it quickly became a Maui favorite, which it still is whenever Hana can put it on. Kihei topped the county standings a third time, and Miki Ala joined KCC’s growing canoe fleet. New paddlers included “Snake” Ah Hee, Gary Helm, the Nobles, Harold Chai, Jeff Smith, Steve Carnahan, Cleighton Eaton, Bill and Pam Monahan, and the Gerry family.
1980 ushered in a new decade, and a lot of major changes for KCC. Dutchy Kino moved to Hana on a job, Kapena Whitford moved up to head coach, and Polohiwa Whitford ascended to the club presidency. A “new guard” assumed leadership of Kihei, and pilikia (bad feelings) developed between the new leadership and many founding members (who worried that technology would replace tradition, and to some extent they were right).
Politics in canoe is nicknamed paddletics, and KCC @ had their share. Genteel or virulent, paddletics has always been inextricably entwined with canoe. Turbulence among leadership has marked many canoe clubs, and the most successful clubs are those that adhere closest to the principles of ohana and kokua, resolving internal differences with consensus rather than conflict.
The Strokers’ Cup (later renamed Paddlers’ Open by Dara LaBelle) ran for the first time, and became a major club fundraiser. Ka Makani 0 Kihei arrived as a fourth canoe, and the Whitford family’s koa Malama joined the fleet, at least temporarily Regattas went to 22 events, and Kihei took their fourth (and most recent) county championship. Maui Lu resort dedicated a portion of their longhouse restaurant (now Ukulele Grill) for displaying KCC’s amassed trophies (an agreement rescinded in 1989). Oahu’s Keehi Lagoon was first proposed as the state’s permanent canoe racing facility, and then-Lt. Governer Jean King got deeply involved in assisting Maui’s canoe clubs. Kapalua was turned down for MCHCA membership, and Molokai remained in an associate status. The KCC logo was changed (big controversy), the club incorporated as a non-profit organization, and paid insurance for the first time. New in the ranks, the Higa, Waddell, Bosque, Amato, Sharp and Bal families, with Mike Hansen, Albert Molina, Lucky Humiston, Kawika Williams, and canoe chronicler Hugh Brenner.
1981 saw Napili CC wrest the county title from Kihei by three points, an entire season decided by the final race in the last regatta. An as-yet-unknown conflict caused the second major club schism in two years (three different presidents, two different head coaches, with the usual chaos), and to date, Kihel has never reclaimed the county title. 1981 was also the first time Maui hosted the state championships, and Kihei’s 12-year old boys shook off a season’s frustration with the first State gold ever for the Red and Gold. However, the overall effects of race facilities and conditions led HCRA (the state canoe association) to hold off allowing Maui to host again until 1989. New paddlers that year included 1995-‘97 head coach Steve Hogin, community samaritan Steve Goodfellow, Christine Moschetti, hula champion Reynette Kama, “Video Vinnie” Nunes from KCC’s sister club Waikiki Surf, Mike Donohue, Jeff Hansen, Duke Alber, longtime club bookkeeper and T-shirt entrepeneur Maggie Wong. Club members Betty Leis, Daryl Davis, Lucky Humiston, Vinnie Nunes and Mike.Gerry spearheaded the original planning and initial construction phases of the old Kihei Youth Center.
KCC elected Vinnie Nunes as 1982 club president, and Rob Hoonan stepped up as head coach. Regatta season added Napili’s (later renamed the Douglas T. Tihada) to make six for summer. That first Napili regatta became memorable as the first (and so far only) Maui regatta canceled for high surf (in Kaanapali?) Tom Fee, a transfer from Hui Nalu (Oahu), revolutionized the club’s steering technique with his ultra- smooth style, steering the senior men’s crew to an undefeated season. Na Kai Ewalu carried off the county title on the strength of their junior division crews, and KCC’s highlight of 1982 was the final regatta, the John M. Lake, when the Red and Gold swamped the opposition with a string of ten straight golds in the middle of the regatta. Manu Kai became the fifth and last of Kihei’s older style Malia-mold canoes.
1983 marked the return of Dutchy as head coach, with Mike Donahoo leading the junior division, but not even their stellar efforts could overcome Na Kai riding kid power to a second straight county crown. Dutchy pioneered a masters men (35 and older) crew that ran off a county record two-year undefeated string of victories, and spawned a senior masters men (45 and older) dynasty that ruled the county waves from 1988 to 1992 undefeated except by DQ (disqualification).
Chuck Olson was elected club president in 1984, and Dutchy served his last year as Kihei’s beach leader, later moving on to help Napili andna Kai in his last years. Kihei’s junior division, decimated by the loss of Mike Donahoo’s inspirational leadership, began rebuilding under Na Kai transfer Kaala Kaio, assisted by his wife Andrea, Daryl Davis and Hugh Brenner. A small but hard core of 27 kids produced a county championship 17-and-under girls crew and a bunch of pre-teen boys that later yielded KCC’s second State gold (Hilo in 1986). Kahana CC won their first (so far only) county championship, and regattas expanded to 26 events. Kihei adult dues had near quintupled from $5 to $22.50. State races at Hanalei that year were judged by many to be the best ever.
1985 was another year of many changes for the Red and Gold. Former state representative Bill Monahan began a two-year tenure as president, Mike Gerry began his eight-year stint as head coach, and he appointed Hugh Brenner to oversee the continuing rebuilding of the junior division. The Novice B men (dubbed the Black Sheep) began a KCC tradition of novice paddlers working closely with kids, and capped a wild season with county gold and fourth at States, best ever by KCC men novice. The club site gained a beautiful wood sign created and donated by alumnus Larry Zollezzi. Hawaiian CC began their perennial reign as county champs, led by Kahi Sindiong, who transferred to them from Na Kai, and attracted along many of Na Kai’s best keiki paddlers. Kihei bought their first Hawaiian Racer (or “rocket”) canoe and named it Hoku Welo Welo (shooting star). The keiki roster swelled to 70. The Hana races were canceled, and several Maui businesses sponsored a replacement regatta for kids, the Kamali’i 0 Ke Kai, which Kihei won.
1986 meant more changes. Albert Molina assumed junior division leadership, and his program brought BCC’s second ever State gold, a 12-and-under boys crew of Ryan Herman, Dana Treadwell, Aaron Gerry, Joe O’Brien, Zane Johnson, steersman Justin Gerry, and alternate Kapio Naone, coached by Don Gerry.
That race, originally decided as a Hawaiian CC gold by race officials, resulted in a six-month controversy that eventually led to a decision for Kihei, the resignation of Hawaiian head coach Sindiong, and the revamping of MCHCA paddler registration procedures. 1986 was the first year since 1981 that Klhei seriously challenged for the county title, winning three regattas of six, and it’s noteworthy that it was fueled by the junior division’s resurgence. Regatta events now numbered 28, and race days extended from 8 AM to almost dark. Hana, aided by Kihei and Napili, staged the Hana races, the last until 1991.
1987, a very quiet year, started on a very sad note for all of canoe, with the news of Dutchy Kino’s death just before summer regatta season. The Kihei regatta was permanently established at the club’s home beach, Ka Lae Pohaku, and renamed to honor co-founder Moki Kalanikau. Na Kai transfer Bill Pray was elected club president, and Ed Gillet of San Diego astounded the world by paddling a solo kayak from Monterey, California to Kahului in 63 days.
1988 was an up-and-down year as Kihei and Na Kai fought a seesaw battle for second in county, Na Kai gaining the nod by 10 points at the final regatta. Kihei’s sartorial splendor was immortalized in Lou Zitnik’s loud shorts report, and the state race was dubbed the regatta that wouldn’t die for finishing way after sundown at sun-and-wind-blasted Keehi Lagoon on Oahu. Kihei started the year by revamping the format of their Ben Abiera Memorial, creating a booster club to formally recognize non-paddling supporters, and acquiring a big yellow and white suncover tent. Darryl and Chris Cramer began a three-year tenure as keiki leaders. Doug and Sandy Akina kokua’d big time by providing a regatta bus for kids from Akina Bus.
1989 had many headlines and headliners. Several junior division paddlers earned academic and athletic awards, Rosee Hogin became the first female member of Maul Kiwanis. The first Pali Ironman (originally titled the Polli’s-Pali Iron-man) became the first cash-prize canoe race on Maui, which Kihei won. The famous “buoy crew” staffed too, in stories of their rescue in February. Alumnus Heather Driggers died at 17 in a fiery wreck. Kihei finally dedicated land for a permanent canoe hale, aided by council persons Linda Lingle and Wayne Nishiki, and parks director Marilyn Kahoohanohano. The club traded in Helu Ekahi for a second “rocket”, named the same. Tommy Tasson and his freshmen crewmates, nicknamed “Huevos de Fierro”, sparked club spirit all year. Regattas expanded to 30 events, and Kihei capped a heady season at States in Hanakao’o Maui with a silver from Senior Women Masters and gold from a 12-mix crew of Brandon Kaiwi, Seely Little, Kai Spencer, Tesha Santana, Jared Betty and steers Tanya Lincoln.
KCC opened the new decade in March 1990 by sweeping all $ 1 000 of cash prizes at the Pali Ironman, then donating the entire amount to the Maui Community Arts and Cultural Center at the behest of the club keiki. Kihei raised money for another “rocket”, Hoe Mana (spirit of the paddlers) at a very successful silent auction/pancake breakfast co-sponsored by Breakers restaurant. The club ended a so-so (third in county) season with their first (and only) adult gold, at States in Hanalei, a sparkling performance from Novice A women Greta Owen, Cindy Heberton, Deborah Belezos, Aimee Anderson, Sara Thompson, steerswoman Pam Carroll, and alternate Claire Sheehan, coached by Leslie Stahl. 1990 was Kihei’s first entry (after a nine- year hiatus) in Na Wahine 0 Ke Kai, the women’s world championship of long-distance outrigger racing.
1991, Mike Cordi began a two year term as KCC president, and Kihei tried a coaching plan designed to raise the competitive edge, using an expanded coaching cadre and specialized conditioning, technique, and diet coaches, and continually shuffling crew lineups. The men’s crews responded with an amazing 89% races won of races entered. Hui Na Pookela CC and Lae Ula 0 Kai cultural organization began MCHCA competition, and Kihei made a third serious attempt to unseat county champ Hawaiian CC, falling just short at the John Lake. Twin highlights of the year were Lahaina CC’s Keiki 0 Maui regatta, won by Kihei when 17 junior division alumni made a surprise reappearance to spark the win, and States in Hilo with a twin-silver performance from Novice B women and Open 4 men. Hoe Mana was christened in May.
1992 was difficult for Kihei, who entered the season with high hopes, only to fall to fourth in county. The loss of several veteran paddlers and communication problems among the coaching staff contributed to a lackluster effort, and the continuing improvement of competing clubs took advantage of the situation. The Open 4 men, Ray Wimberley, Derek Biggs, Evan Riemenschneider and steers Kawika Williams won our only state medal, bronze. One shining light for KCC was the junior division, led by coach Don Gerry and an inspired staff of new coaches, the kids came out in droves, and made outstanding strides forward in training.
1993 started unusually for Kihei. A first-ever leadership retreat responded to a membership survey by pledging to reclaim the spirit of respect, ohana, aloha, kokua and fun sparked to life so many years past by their founding ohana. The first fruit of that resolve was the Nokekula 0 Wai Hou, the long- awaited club koa canoe, purchased from Lanikai (Oahu), on a note cosigned by one anonymous kokua. KCC’s coaching staff underwent considerable change ... Head coach Mike Gerry resigned to “Take care of our business, run Silver Cloud Guest Ranch, and do a little more grandfathering”, and “coaching by committee” was the buzzword. Bob Harley replaced Jeff Hansen as men’s coach, then Bob had to retire for health problems. Christine Moschetti replaced Nancy Cramer (who transfeffed to Napili) as women’s coach. Hugh Brenner took over as junior division coach for Don Gerry, who retired to enjoy a long-awaited summerlong vacation with his family Retumingj unior coaches Tobi Hartman, Judy Ann Williams and Mary Dirks (now Farnworth) were joined by “Bully” Kapahulehua, Kawika Williams, Rod Paahana, Roger Agdeppa, “Sarge” Duncan, junior division alumni Stafka King and Kartna Kiang, andjunior division members Casey Sherman, Troy Kumulaa and Selena Maestas, and Kihei fielded their strongest Junior Division since 1986. Still, it was a tough year, a rebuilding year for KCC. The club made excellent advances, particularly in their return to their philosophical roots, focus on the keiki.
1994 was a setback year for KCC. The club roster shrank drastically due to a “paddletical” conflict early in the year. Kapena Whitford, originally penciled in to return as Kihei’s head coach, decided instead to form a new canoe club, Malama Ula. He and wife Polohiwa decamped in a virtual replay of mid- 1 98 1, taking along many of the clubs most talented paddlers and coaches; the junior division staff was hardest hit. New club president LaJuana Donahey and head coach Steve Hogin vowed to reweld the remainder into a viable and enthusiastic organization. They stressed the intimacy, ohana and kokua inherent in a smaller and humbler club, and new shoulders arose to carry the load.
1995 saw more veteran paddlers depart via transfer, and dozens of new faces in the novice ranks, an entire “new guard”, and many welcome transfers from other clubs. Bill Pray took office again as president, and Mike Gerry returned as head coach. KCC county standings stayed in the lower half as the club concentrated its adult paddlers in the unclassified categories and novice crews. An early season scare provided a huge setback ... head coach Gerry collapsed during a race and was rushed to the hospital with a heart problem that caused him to retire. Steve Hogin took over as interim coach, and rallied the crews, but KCC was only able to field an average of I 1 crews (out of 31 events) per regatta, and finished seventh in county among 9 active clubs. At season’s end, Roger Hanson took over as interim keiki coach when Hugh Brenner stepped down from all club duties for a one-year sabbatical.
1996 started on a high note. New president Tom Zelk proved to have a positive flair for organization, and several projects began with great hope, including preliminary plans for a permanent clubhouse. KCC suffered a serious jolt with the sudden death May 6 of longtime stalwart Sara Gerry. A memorial for Sara at the club site on Mothers’ Day attracted over 20 single- and double-hull canoes, as well as several one- man craft. A humorous note lightened the day as Sara had her final say, when a crew had to return shoreside to retrieve Sara’s ashes, accidentally left behind. Sara had always said “If I’m late for anything, I hope it’s my own funeral.”
1996 also brought the return of Uncle “Bully” Kapahulehua to lead the junior division after a very successful three years building Malama Ula’s keiki corps. His inspirational leadership attracted a horde of enthusiastic kids, family supporters, and novice paddlers, and while the point totals weren’t fabulous, the feeling around the clubsite was (and still is). KCC’s first Force 5 canoe, 0 Kalini Nani, arrived courtesy of Bob Moody and other contributers. Uncle Bully and the keiki corps completed assembling a year-round kids’ program that saw it’s fledgling start in 1993 and had developed slowly since. The junior division attended extracurricular classes in Hawaiiana and culminated the year with an “immersion camp” over the Christmas break, ten days of intensive Hawaiian language and skills training, for which they did their own fundraising.
1997 has been an uplifting experience for all of KCC. Unprecedented numbers of new paddlers, both keiki and adult, have flocked to the Red and Gold, with many veterans returning from previous years. Several founding kupunas, honored at KCC’s 1996 season-ending awards ceremony, have joined with the club’s current leadership, to offer advice and help coordinate an upcoming club reunion. Steve Hogin returns as head coach. New president Tracy Thoreson, (aided by VP Jim Hylkema, treasurer Mike Farnworth and secretary Irene Sevenau, MCHCA representative Bev Leonard) announced several new developments. The club’s premiere pre-season race, the Ben Abiera Memorial Relays, was planned to join with Hui 0 Wa’a Kaulua (double-hulled canoe-building and -voyaging society) and the Ho’omana’o Canoe Sailing Classic (a 75-mile Lahaina to Honolulu race) to present a three-day paddlesports festival in Lahaina late in May. The event went on as scheduled, but was scaled down considerably when the major sponsor, Steinlager, backed out at the last minute. KCC also formed a production company to produce an annual fundraiser for Kihei schools, named Spring for Education. KCC will be responsible for the inaugural event, running concurrently with the Pali Ironman on March 15, and then turn the production over to a community committee. KCC’s annual pre-season fundraiser, the Paddlers’ Open, on April 19th, attracted 3 7 crews, the third most crews ever, local businesses sponsoring crews of employees and friends racing a quarter-mile in one of eight divisions. One controversy was the sale of our koa canoe to - --, a cultural organization that has given the Nokekula 0 WaiHou a good home and guaranteed excellent care, and the canoe will still cruise the ocean occasionally as a ceremonial lead boat for cultural excursions to Kahoolawe. Many veteran paddlers felt the koa was unsuitable for racing, yet even so, the vote was very close. One benefit of the sale is that KCC enters the 1998 season with a very positive bank balance for the first time in it’s history. One major disappointment for 1997 was our “missing” awards ceremony at the year-end banquet, but it was generally agreed by most members that the club and many pivotal leaders had expended a great deal of time and energy to KCC’s unprecedented expansion in membership numbers and program activities, and could be forgiven the oversight.
Our December election for KCC’s Board of Directors was invalidated for lack of a 5 1 % quorum, and rerun in January of 1998. New Board members Hugh Brenner, Lou DiLiberto, Bully Kapahulehua and Thomas Lum (Junior Division) joined with holdovers Irene Sevenau, Ryn Hughes, Lynne Strobbe and Bill Martin to pledge even greater efforts for 1998. The Red and Gold, with many new faces, and some of the familiar ones, stands poised to greet a new season with all of its challenges, prepared now to do just what Papa Joe said all along... “give the kids something good to do ... Canoe teaches more than just sport.”
BackPaddle to KCC home page
Global INTOUCH Home Page