This weekend, our Na Leo O Ke Kai keiki and juniors head to San Diego to participate in Shaka Fest 2019. The festival is a celebration of Hawaiian culture, arts and athletics from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at De Anza Beach in Mission Bay. Have a great time, ohana!

First general practice of the year for the adult crew is March 16.

Whether you’re joining us to just get on the water for some fun, or if you’re looking to step it up competitively this year, everyone is welcome!

Are you coming to the Aloha Festival on March 9 and 10th at Tempe Beach Park? We’ll be there with our beautiful green, white and grey unlimited canoes. Visit our tent and find out how to join in our adventures or look for us behind the counter at Paradise Hawaiian BBQ. We’ll be there dishing up manapua (YUM!) and stories. If you miss out this time, connect with us on Facebook and come out in the canoe. We are always recruiting and looking for good people to join our community. 

Na Leo O Ke Kai kicks off 2019 with SoCalOceanRacing winter series races in OC1 and OC2 – congrats to Shauna Hecker on her first OC1 event (3rd place, Hano Hano, short course) and women’s coach Alicia Lin Kee (3rd place, Lanakila Classic, short course, OC2) looking toward the kick off of the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association OC6 season:

A new race season is not far away, but until then the holidays are upon us, the potlucks at work, holiday parties, football Sundays, Happy Hours, treats and homemade goodies. To help keep on your fitness goals, here’s an article on how we can train according to our body type. Since we are all built differently, it offers some insight on how certain types of workouts can help you get to your fitness goals quicker. Have a wonderful holiday with family and friends and see you in 2019.

The small boat season is upon us. Na Leo paddlers Vince San Nicolas (also our men’s coach) and Shauna Hecker took their race chops 31 miles down the Chattanooga River in Tennessee. Vince paddled a prone stock; Shauna an OC1 into some nasty headwinds and chop, particularly in the last 10 miles. Vince came home with a 1st place (the moon pies got eaten!). Congratulations you two. That takes heart!

Next up, Another Dam Race in Parker, AZ, and the SoCal winter series . Bring home those medals, AZ paddlers!

September brought the last 9-man change race of the season, the championship Catalina Crossing. Na Leo O Ke Kai fielded a men’s team on Sunday’s 31 mile paddle from Catalina Island to Newport Beach, supported by boat coaches Alicia Lin Kee and Carol Ducosin. Beautiful day, flat conditions and the perfect ocean for our paddlers making their very first crossing (5:05) – congratulations guysand thank you Chris Silvester for the awesome photos you take every year.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Malia canoe cast from an original koa canoe. It was brought to Arizona by Uncle Lono in the 90s, and named after him following his passing in 2005. Lono was renovated this spring – coming alive again in its full king’s colors of gold and red. Keeping Lono company is a new kid in town, Moana. Also a Malia canoe, bought and brought to Tempe Town Lake thanks to Aunty Diane Escalante (by way of Havasu OCC), Moana was named by the keiki crew and renovated this summer in Na Leo green.  Sundays never looked so good! To find out more about what the keiki team is up go, check out the Keiki Facebook page. . Looking good, Na Leo!

If you wonder how paddling in Arizona differs from everywhere else, three things come to mind: triple digit temperatures, sunscreen reapplication and haboobs! Last Monday’s practice had all three! Keep cool Na Leo 8).

Haboob building over Tempe Town Lake