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

Molokai HoePaddlers signal toothers, 'hold-up'Nick Beck helps rig the iako to the amaShell Va'a headed to 1st place and a new course recordThe competitors were ready. Months of preparation wasabout to be ignited on the South shore of Molokai. Crewswaited for the start boat to raise the green flag and officiallystart the race. Paddlers took stock of who was aroundthem, jostling for a clear path with no hang-ups, a cleanstart, and to get in front of as many canoes as possiblebefore the first change. Then 'a mouse darted out in front ofa bunch of cats'. Team Pure Light, who had been burdenedwith logistical problems including the sinking of their escortboat on the way up to Moloka'i, started their race. Theteam was supposed to start an hour early (see pg.27), buthad delays. When they began their epic journey, pullingaway from a line of excitable, adrenaline flushed paddlers,it was too much. A crew noticed Pure Light pulling awayand a war-cry arose, sending a chain-reaction down theline of 104 crews. And the race was on. Communicationsbetween officials became hectic, what-to-do? "Turn themaround," came the command from Hannie Anderson, whowas helping Race Director Kalani Irvine on the starterboat. "But they're going" came back the answer over theradio. "Turn them around, NOW," and suddenly a scoreof official boats took off into action, cutting the field off andstopping the charge. Kalani said that it would have beenunfair to the crews who spent months preparing for the raceto finish to find out that the finishing times would have anCamping at Hale O Lono18 December ‘08, Pacific Paddler