Shell Va’a dominates Molokai Hoe and fortunately becomes number 13

Although it took some time to get going, Tahitian outrigger paddle powerhouse Shell Va’a delivered another world-class canoe racing masterclass, finishing with the familiar combination of lightning speed and smooth power to dispatch the competition.

Shell Va’a delivered another awe-inspiring performance to add to its remarkable string of successes, claiming its third straight Molokai Hoe World Championship presented Sunday by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority. The grey, red and gold clad Tahitians made a statement in their iconic white canoe named ‘Lightning’ by crossing the finish line in 4 hours, 35 minutes and 7 seconds to claim their unprecedented 13th victory in the last 15 Molokai How -races.

Wailea Canoe Club (4:48:39) of Maui finished second, more than 13 minutes behind the champions. Team Oceania (4:52:09) rounded out the top five, finishing with a time limit of less than five hours, racing under the Keaukaha Canoe Club banner; Popora Te Hoe Mamu (4:54:44), representing Bora Bora, Tahiti; and Lanikai Canoe Club (4:58:07) from the windward side of Oahu.

“We’re very happy and we’re looking forward to coming back and trying to win again,” said Shell Va’a paddler Iorama Teahu, one of four returners from the 2019 championship team.

Joining Teahu in the winning canoe were Charles Teinauri, Sly Ly-Sao, Raihere “Isidore” Tevaearai, Erimereta Tautu, Keoni Sulpice, Brice Punuataahitua, Vairoa Teraiharoa and Raihiti Marere.

The 68th edition of the men’s world championship race on Sunday ended a four-year series of cancellations caused by external factors. From 2000 to 2022, the race was closed out of an abundance of caution during the COVID-19 pandemic; in 2022, a modified race was held on Oahu to give the Molokai community more time to prepare for the host kuleana. Last year, the race was called off to give those affected by the devastating wildfires in Maui a chance to grieve and recover.

The race field on Sunday featured 75 crews making the 41-mile journey from Molokai’s Hale O Lono Harbor to Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, including teams from Hawaii and teams from Arizona, California, New York, Brazil, Hong Kong and Japan. and Tahiti.

Light winds and manageable waves made for ideal conditions as paddlers found their footing throughout the morning and early afternoon while navigating the unpredictable Kaiwi Channel.

According to accounts from race officials and rowers, Shell Va’a trailed after a slow start, but eventually pulled ahead and took the lead as canoes passed La’au Point at the southwesternmost point of Molokai.

Shell Va’a sprinted away from the field and opened a mile-and-a-half lead over Wailea with almost 10 miles to go. Five miles from the finish, Shell had extended his lead to two miles, and had ridden some of the bigger waves around Diamond Head to help make the final mile to victory.

“I’ve paddled against Shell for the last 15 years and they are a great team, a lot of respect for those guys and their program,” said Wailea helmsman Kekoa Cramer. “We are thrilled to represent Maui, Wailea and Hawaii, and we are super excited about it. The Molokai Hoe is the best race in the world and it is a privilege to paddle from Molokai to Oahu. We want to keep it going so our kids can paddle and everyone else can experience this special race.”

Wailea’s second team also included Triston Kaho’okele-Santos, Dane Dudoit, Kevin Dudoit, Joshua Kekupa’a Nae’ole, Nalu Sampson, Alfred Santos, Kainoa Tanoai and Chase VonNordheim.

Shell Va’a won its eighth straight title and set the Molokai Hoe record in 2011, finishing in 4 hours, 30 minutes and 54 seconds – almost eight minutes faster than the previous record, which it also held.

Shell’s bid for nine straight titles was denied in 2014 when Tahitian rival EDT Va’a, which paddles under the banner of a rival energy company, claimed the Molokai-to-Oahu crown. After Shell Va’a reclaimed the Molokai Hoe in 2015 and 2016, Red Bull Wa’a emerged on top of the two-time defending champions by 31 seconds in 2017, as the Kona-based crew mixed paddlers from Hawaii and Tahiti.

Following the trend, Shell Va’a returned in 2018 to win its unprecedented 11th title in 13 attempts by nine minutes and five seconds ahead of number two Red Bull Wa’a. Shell then claimed its twelfth victory of 2019, the race’s final race before the four-year break, in runaway fashion, beating Team OPT of Tahiti by almost 13 minutes – a margin it bettered on Sunday on its way to claiming of the three-peat victory.

“The conditions there were nice today and the waves were small enough to keep the canoe moving, and it was a piece of cake with Bora Bora all the way on the other side,” said Team Oceania captain and veteran rower Mario Mausio. “We were fighting all the way and trying to close the gap on Wailea, but they just made too much ground on us. Shell has an unreal fitness regime and training programme, but they can be beaten – we knew they lost a few races in Tahiti. But they just got into the swing of things and dominated today.

Team Oceania finished in third place with Mitch Zandstra, Tyler Makaiwi, Jordan Lee Loy, Pharrel Grbic, Jose Lizardi, Rusty Crabbe, Eric Deane and Ali’i Youderian.

Lanikai had a well-known roster that has helped the club improve in the long-distance season over the years. Karel Tresnak Jr., Moehau Paie, Raven Pokini, Igor Sobreira, Nick Foti, Manny Kulukulualani, Aaron Norris, Jimmy Austin and Sean Havens represented the green and white Lanikai team that is looking for its first Molokai Hoe title since 2005 – the year before Shell Va’a started its momentous run.

“You always want to do your best in this race, and the guys left it all out there today, but it’s frustrating,” Tresnak Jr. said, reflecting on the five-hour race his team has trained for over the past year. “We can get there, it just comes down to guys training mornings and evenings for a number of years… and focusing on building those skills. It will take years before they really get close and have a chance.

“Shell is on a different level; they make mistakes, but when you are so fit and strong, power seems easy. Sure, catching them is doable, not next year, but maybe in five or ten years you’ll give yourself a chance with the top guys. That’s all you need, the channel is crazy so you just need a chance!”