covering hawai'i's state team sport since 1996 - Pacific Paddler

Hawaii Island Hoe Wa`a
As we start a new year of
outrigger canoe paddling, Hawaii
Island Paddlesports Association
is celebrating 2008 as its 10th
anniversary season. A big Mahalo
Nui Loa to the volunteers that have
brought H.I.P.A. through it's first
decade; the dedicated people
who have served on the board of
directors (all of you), the people
February ‘08, Pacific Paddler www.pacificpaddler.com
who have supported Jane Bockus in
race registration and timing, the sponsors
(Steinlager, Starbucks, Patagonia,
Hammer Gel, Pepsi, et al), the escort
boat drivers, the safety jetski operators,
the State of Hawaii DLNR (Mahalo
Sally), the American Canoe Association,
the devoted people who have grown
the youth programs to an epic level
(Margie, Gerard, Cheryl, Delbert,
Lyle and more), to all of the over 500
members we've had in the past ten
years and finally to my wife Ann, who
has not only tolerated my involvement,
but has joined in. To that end, H.I.P.A.
was very proud to be the sole recipient
of a national award from the American
Canoe Association. In November 2007
H.I.P.A. was awarded the national
“Stroke of Excellence” award for
2007 for “Superior Performance and
Program Development”. This is a direct
result of the hard work of the volunteers
mentioned above. Oh, BTW, lest we get
cocky about 10 years, the fist race of the
2008 season was the 22nd annual Stan
Cann Classic, we've got a ways to go.
Each season the H.I.P.A. board of
directors has sought ways to improve
the paddlers' experience, this year the
quantum leap was “on-line registration”.
Over 100 members took advantage of a
new on-line registration system created
through the hard work of paddler Bud
Carlson of Kilauea Webworks. Paddlers
were able to go to www.hawaiipad-
dling.com prior to the first race, fill out all of the
registration information the association needs as
well as pay their season dues. This allowed for
shorter lines and quicker race registration at the
first races of the year, which in-turn allowed the
races to actually “start on time”. Additionally, with
support from Patagonia, paddlers who registered
on-line prior to the season received a special 10th
Anniversary capilene paddling shirt.
The first two races of the year look like a 2007
hana hou, with Nick and Cherisse Agorastos
picking up where they left off last year and taking
the top spots on the long course – stay tuned.
As we drive to races on Saturday mornings,
it is very cool to see the trailers of OC-6 canoes
going in the opposite direction for High School
Regattas. The next generation of paddlers are
getting a good head start. In early season results,
Konawaena High School looks like the school to
beat. It sure would have been cool to have had
outrigger canoe paddling in high school back in
the day (at Kalani High).
As always, when on Hawaii Island, listen for
Outrigger Canoe Paddling reports on the radio
on KWXX-FM -101.5 Kona and 94.7 Hilo. Go
outside, enjoy paradise, and I'll see you on the
water.
Randy Botti
www.pacificpaddler.com Pacific Paddler, February ‘08