Adult and Keiki Head Coach Vince San Nicolas, as a child traveled the world from Belgium to Korea and everywhere in between, before finally settling in Hawaii. He graduated from Kapolei High School in 2011, where he lettered in volleyball, then moved out to Arizona. He wanted to find a way to connect back to the island culture and the water itself, thus enters Na Leo ‘O Ke Kai. Vince has competed in many races in California, Arizona and Hawaii, including his first Moloka’i Hoe in 2015. In 2022, he was a member of the USAORCA elite men’s crew for IVF World Sprint Championships in London and he completed his 6th Chattajack race (31 miler). He also competes in prone and SUP.

Women’s Coach Alicia Lin Kee was raised on the island of Molokai. Outrigger paddling was a big part of Alicia’s upbringing with both parents paddling competitively in Hawaii. Alicia graduated in 1996 and moved to Arizona to attend college. She met Na Leo in 1997 while going to college. Although she never paddled while living in Hawaii, she wanted to reconnect with her Hawaiian culture. In 2006, Alicia joined the Na Leo ‘O Ke Kai Ohana. She quickly fell in love with the paddlers’ positive energy, the feeling of belonging to an Ohana, and the sport of paddling. Alicia has competed in Arizona, California, Hawaii, New York, Nevada, Oregon, and Tennessee. Alicia is also an international paddler and has competed in three IVF World Sprints Championships (Calgary 2012, Brazil 2014, and London 2022). Alicia wants to travel the world doing what she loves to do, paddle!

Keiki Assistant Coach Malie Kawamoto.