Canoes launch from the Hale o Lono Harbor off the west side of Molokai and travel approximately 41 miles across the Kaiwi Channel to Fort DeRussy beach, Waikiki.[1] The channel is said to be one of the most treacherous spans of ocean in the world, with the current record time for the passage being under 5 hours. [2]
The canoes used for the race are roughly 40 feet long by about 2 feet wide and weigh about 400 lbs each. Each canoe is stabilized by an ama, a 10 foot long float connected to the canoe by two wooden struts called iako.[2]
Teamsedit
Six paddlers sit evenly spaced inside the canoe. A steersman sits at the back and controls the canoe's course with his paddle. The person in the lead seat sets the pace. All paddlers except for the steersman stroke on alternate sides of the canoe. At predetermined intervals, the person sitting in the second seat calls for paddlers to switch sides.[2]
Early race crews consisted of 6 men who paddled the entire distance. Today's crews consist of 9-10 members, of which those not paddling follow in an escort boat. Crew changes occur every 20–30 minutes in mid-channel. During these changes, paddlers exit the canoe on one side while their relief enters from the other side.[2]
Historyedit
The first contest, held in October 1952, consisted of three competing koa wood outrigger canoes of six men each. The course at that time was 38 miles long, starting from Molokai’s northwestern Kawakiu Bay. The first canoe reached the Waikiki finish line 8 hours and 55 minutes later.[1]
Na Wahine O Ke Kai (Women of the Sea)edit
A women's equivalent of the Molokai Hoe was proposed two years after the first men's race, but coaches and officials believed the Kaiwi Channel was too treacherous for women to participate. In 1975, two crews made the first unofficial crossing. Since then, the women's race attracts up to 80 crews and 700 paddlers each year. The women's race also covers a 41-mile stretch, starting at Hale O Lono at Molokai's southeast corner and finishing at the Hilton Hotel on Oahu. The current women's race record is a little under 5 1/2 hours.[2]
Further readingedit
Official site
Official Na Wahine O Ke Kai site
Referencesedit
^ abc "62nd annual Molokai Hoe outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu set for Oct. 12. Watch it all live online". Hawai'i Magazine. 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
molokai, moloka, annual, outrigger, canoe, race, between, islands, molokai, oahu, hawaii, race, hawaii, largest, annual, sporting, events, drawing, participants, from, hawaii, mainland, well, internationally, participating, countries, include, australia, zeala. The Moloka i Hoe is an annual outrigger canoe race between the islands of Molokai and Oahu Hawaii The race is one of Hawaii s largest annual sporting events drawing participants from Hawaii and the U S mainland as well as internationally Participating countries include Australia New Zealand England Germany Japan Hong Kong and Tahiti 1 Canoes launch from the Hale o Lono Harbor off the west side of Molokai and travel approximately 41 miles across the Kaiwi Channel to Fort DeRussy beach Waikiki 1 The channel is said to be one of the most treacherous spans of ocean in the world with the current record time for the passage being under 5 hours 2 Contents 1 Canoes 2 Teams 3 History 4 Na Wahine O Ke Kai Women of the Sea 5 Further reading 6 ReferencesCanoes editThe canoes used for the race are roughly 40 feet long by about 2 feet wide and weigh about 400 lbs each Each canoe is stabilized by an ama a 10 foot long float connected to the canoe by two wooden struts called iako 2 Teams editSix paddlers sit evenly spaced inside the canoe A steersman sits at the back and controls the canoe s course with his paddle The person in the lead seat sets the pace All paddlers except for the steersman stroke on alternate sides of the canoe At predetermined intervals the person sitting in the second seat calls for paddlers to switch sides 2 Early race crews consisted of 6 men who paddled the entire distance Today s crews consist of 9 10 members of which those not paddling follow in an escort boat Crew changes occur every 20 30 minutes in mid channel During these changes paddlers exit the canoe on one side while their relief enters from the other side 2 History editThe first contest held in October 1952 consisted of three competing koa wood outrigger canoes of six men each The course at that time was 38 miles long starting from Molokai s northwestern Kawakiu Bay The first canoe reached the Waikiki finish line 8 hours and 55 minutes later 1 Na Wahine O Ke Kai Women of the Sea editA women s equivalent of the Molokai Hoe was proposed two years after the first men s race but coaches and officials believed the Kaiwi Channel was too treacherous for women to participate In 1975 two crews made the first unofficial crossing Since then the women s race attracts up to 80 crews and 700 paddlers each year The women s race also covers a 41 mile stretch starting at Hale O Lono at Molokai s southeast corner and finishing at the Hilton Hotel on Oahu The current women s race record is a little under 5 1 2 hours 2 Further reading editOfficial site Official Na Wahine O Ke Kai siteReferences edit a b c 62nd annual Molokai Hoe outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu set for Oct 12 Watch it all live online Hawai i Magazine 2014 10 10 Retrieved 2015 04 16 a b c d e Events Molokai Hoe Outrigger Canoe Races visitmolokai com Retrieved 2015 04 16 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Molokai Hoe amp oldid 1027248201, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
