Historic Leilani Koa Canoe Returns to the Kaiwi Channel

The Outrigger Canoe Club's Junior Boys will be making history as they paddle the revered Leilani koa canoe across the Kaiwi Channel during Sunday's Molokai Hoe canoe paddle race. For the young team, it is a celebrated honor to continue a tradition steeped in Hawaiian culture and outrigger canoe heritage.

A Tradition of Courage and Resilience

The Molokai Hoe, a grueling 40-mile outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu, is not just a test of strength, courage, resilience, and leadership but also a symbol of the legacy embedded within the word "Koa." This prestigious event will see the Outrigger Canoe Club's Junior Boys carry on the tradition through their participation with the legendary Leilani canoe.

The Legacy of Leilani and the Outrigger Canoe Club

Leilani, a Hawaiian koa wood canoe built in 1936, is deeply intertwined with the history of the Outrigger Canoe Club and the channel crossing. With a record-setting history, including a 2024 crossing completed in 5 hours, 10 minutes, and 54 seconds, Leilani is hailed as the most accomplished koa canoe in channel crossing history. Outrigger Junior Boys’ Coach Guy Pere described it as, "the most special canoe out of all of the Koas."

Duke Kahanamoku's Connection to Leilani

Leilani's significance goes beyond speed and endurance. In 1968, the legendary Hawaiian waterman and Olympian Duke Kahanamoku's ashes were scattered aboard this canoe in Waikiki waters, carried by his undefeated crew from the 1940s. Junior Boy Robbie Long reflected on this history, sharing, "They scattered Duke Kahanamoku's ashes in it. It's a very special canoe."

Young Paddlers Seek to Continue the Canoe Legacy

The idea for the Junior Boys to paddle Leilani emerged from their own initiative. According to Coach Pere, "They approached the coaches just questioning if it was possible." After discussions with club officials, the historic decision was made to allow the junior team, consisting of 16- and 17-year-olds, to take the cherished canoe across the channel.

For some of the team, such as steersman Teva Reynolds, this will be their first time paddling the Leilani in open ocean conditions: "We've never paddled it in open ocean waters, in regatta, so it's going to be definitely a learning curve for me steering it and just kind of in total with everything but I'm looking forward to it." Team captain Owen Williams also expressed the significance of sharing this legacy: "This canoe has so much history; it's way older than I am and some of my uncles that paddle in the masters and they're getting emotional just talking about it with me."

Molokai Hoe 2026 Broadcast Details

The 2026 Molokai Hoe takes place this Sunday. Fans can watch the historic canoe and its young crew compete live starting at 7:30 am on KHII, KHON2.com, the KHON2 YouTube channel, and the KHON+ app.

Source: khon2.com.