Coach's Comments - Oct. 2008

Aloha Everyone,

This is Coach Kimo to talk about what’s coming up this month in October. Today is Thursday, October 2, 2008.

Time waits for no one! Summer is past and the holidays are right around the corner. Long distance paddling season is almost pau and I got to escort my daughter, Pomai, across the Kaiwi Channel from Molokai to Oahu in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai Canoe Race on Sunday, Sept. 28^th.

It was her second crossing and her women’s crew of 10-ladies made it across “Lake” Kaiwi safe and sound. It was “horse race” paddling with strictly brute power from start to finish. There were no waves and no wind. Just nice rolling flat seas with a very small breeze.

I got the privilege of coaching the Women’s Open-2 Crew, which was also made up of two Rec paddlers; Lynn Bailey and Christy Matsushige. Including them, there were three other ladies who never crossed the channel before. We made sure that these first-timers were going to complete and cross the finish line as a team together.

Overall, these women were strong, confident, and determined, ready to share their adventures with other paddlers they never met before. They have never paddled together and it was the most rewarding experience sharing this adventure with them.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rec Paddling Season will end Saturday, Oct. 25^th. It will also be our church’s clean up day called, “Make A Difference Day” (aka, The Spirit of Aloha). Rec and competitive paddlers will be serving in a joint cleanup of our Sand Island canoe site. It will include maintenance of our equipment; canoes and paddles. Also, be mindful of my mom’s old saying, WORK FIRST, PLAY AFTER! When we’re done working – then we’ll make time to paddle!

“Brunch On The Beach” will be Saturday, Oct. 11^th. It will be our last Great Get Together!

Shuttle paddlers will be needed Sunday, Oct. 12^th. I will need FIVE mixed crews (men & women) to shuttle our racing canoes from Waikiki to Sand Island after the men’s Molokai Ho’e Canoe Race, about 2:00pm, at Hale Koa/Hilton Hawaiian Village beach. New Hope has four men’s crews and one crew from Coach Aka’s, “Pure Light”. Keep in mind that crew selections are subject to change and cancellations.

Rec Ohana has also been asked to participate with the New Hope’s women’s crews to host the men’s potluck after the Molokai Ho’e at Magic Island, immediately following the race, about 4:00pm. Help includes; SET-UP; tents-tables-chairs-coolers, etc. SERVERS; during the potluck. BREAKDOWN; bagging left-over’s, breaking down equipment, cleaning the area.

I would also like all our shuttle paddlers to join us from Sand Island, after returning the canoes home. We can work out details for shuttling cars before hand. I will be announcing who our point of contacts will be from our competitive women’s ohana this Saturday at Rec.

ACKOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you Coach Ken, Lita & Jimmy and Mrs. Coach for covering for me this past Saturday, Sept. 27^th. Thanks to everyone who participated in Rec on the beach that day and to the shuttle crew that brought one of the canoes home from Waikiki. It touched my heart deeply to see our Rec Ohana paddling out from the beach and spotting them from our escort boat Sunday afternoon after the race. I called Jimmy to paddle over to us and everyone gave them a loud “shout”. Thanks again gang!