The Moloka’i Hoe is back after a four year absence. The legendary va’a race is scheduled for Sunday, October 13 in Hawaii. It will be broadcast live on TV on Polynésie la premiere. For this 72nd edition, only two Tahitian teams are participating: Shell va’a, reigning champion and Popora te hoe mamu.
The latest version of the Men’s Hawaiian Canoe Paddling Championships going back to 2019. Covid then fires in the town of Lahaina on Maui they forced the organizers to cancel the event four years in a row. So there is a great return that was announced last May by the organizer: the O’ahu hawaiian canoe racing association (OHCRA).
We could not organize this race without receiving an invitation from the people of the island. It took the time it needed, we shouldn’t put anything in place, especially after the health crisis, after the fires in Lahaina. We wanted to reconnect with the community as before, inviting the rowers to gain a better understanding of the culture and the peaceful life to protect it for future generations.
Kapula Schultz, president of OHCRA
The V6 race, 76 kilometers long connecting the island of Moloka’i to Oahu, is one of the most famous in the world. A great moment that Polynésie La 1ère invites you to follow live and only from 7:30 am on television, with Maruki Dury.
Two Polynesian teams compete: Popora te hoe mamu and Shell va’a.
The Bora Bora team is aiming for the podium. The athletes have been preparing since August and leave with confidence.
We have the means! We are just two local teams from Tahiti, Shell and us. I’m not going to underestimate the Hawaiian teams but without the other Tahiti teams, we have a much better chance of being on the podium.
Marc Manate, president of Popora te hoe mamu club
Main problems in the eyes of the president: the “three dimensional change” Who is “very technical“, the body of water they don’t know well and the swell.”We checked the weather forecast, there will be surf tomorrow, as usual: Moloka’i Hoe has never been calm. It will be more difficult, especially if the waves come from the side” points out Marc Manate. It is obvious that they count on the support of families. There are 17 people in the delegation including nine references in total.
The second Polynesian team, Shell va’a, is a strong opponent. Defending championThe team already has twelve victories in this event and a speed record. Not a secret, the athletes are on the water from dawn to master the technique. And, it is true art.
The basis is the weight, the length, the variation of the oar stroke with the glide of the canoe, the homogeneity of the crew, the quality of the oar stroke.
David Tepava, Shell va’a coach
The team is made up of young people: they are all under 25 years old. Two new staff have arrived this year: the first comes from the EDT club and the second, Vairoa Teraiharoa, is from Bora Bora. He believes the club is an elite school in the discipline. These newcomers can rely on the experience of their peers. “There are three elders left. It is our responsibility to give knowledge to the youth” affirms Sly Ly Sao, who has been a member of the club for seven years.
Other clubs from different countries around the world also made the trip to Hawaii. In total, seventy-five teams of men will start on Sunday morning in youth, open and veteran divisions up to over 70 years of age, or over a thousand rowers.
An “Aloha Festival” was held for several weeks on the islands with the Moloka’i Hoe race to close the festival.
On their return from Moloka’i, the Tahitian teams will continue two weeks later with the Hawaiki nui va’a.
2024-10-13 03:21:00
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