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Kīkaha paddlers shine at world sprints in Singapore

If you’ve thought some of the Kīkaha kupuna 70s paddlers were walking a little taller these days, there’s a good reason: They earned a bronze medal as part of a Masters 70 crew in the 500 meter V-12 race at the International Va’a Federation World Sprints Championships in Singapore.

The Kīkaha kupuna crew, which joined Southern California paddlers to race for the U.S., included Craig Holt, Doug Close, Joe Wall, Jeff Kiesel, Marti Traver and Dave Oreiro. 

“It was wild,” Wall said. “This is my third world sprints and the level of competition is difficult to appreciate until you get to this level. We’re talking about one and two seconds between first and second and making the podium or not.”

Oreiro also made it to the finals of the Master 75 V-1 500 meter, where he finished fifth.  

Wall, who has raced in world sprints championships in London and Hilo, said the start of the Singapore V-12 final was “explosive.” 

“Your adrenalin kicks up and you just go,” he said. “The fury of the movement is unreal. At the finish we were exhausted but we didn’t know how we did. We knew we were right up there but we didn’t think we got anything.”

But they did.

“It was awesome,” Wall said.

Kīkaha paddlers were part of crews that raced in multiple divisions at the sprint championships, which were held Aug. 17-31 in Marina Bay. The waterfront racing was broadcast live on YouTube, where it can still be found for those who missed a race.

Also racing in Singapore were Aaron Tyerman, Matt Taufa’asau, Sherie Lou Santos, Crystal Jacobson, Joe Aquino, Fay Tong, Joy Yoder, Alyssa Roberts, Dash Lauritsen and Michael Machado.

Tyerman and Taufa’asau were in crews in two divisions – Master 40s and 50s – that made it to the finals, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

Aquino represented Kīkaha values right from the start, volunteering to help on the dock on the first day and earning a possible new nickname from head coach Gordon Martinez: Aloha Joe. 

Racers in Singapore had to battle hot weather. The day before the start of racing Tyerman said the humidity which was 90 percent.

“We are required to wear PFDs,” he said. “It’s a level of heat I have never experienced in a wa’a.”

Jacobson said racing at the world sprints was an experience she will never forget. Meeting new paddlers, sharing training ideas and building friendships stand out for Jacobson.

“The competition was fierce, and there’s something pretty incredible about lining up alongside some of the best paddlers in the world,” she said. “It pushes you, humbles you, and shows you what you’re capable of.”

Santos, who was in the same crew as Jacobson, was no stranger to international competition, having raced at the 2019 dragon boat world championships. This was her first time in an outrigger championship, however. She called Marina Bay “the most spectacular race venue I’ve ever been honored to paddle in.”

“Getting to meet, chat with, observe, learn from, trade jerseys with, and compete against amazing talent from all over the world for two weeks was a true core memory experience I will never forget,” Santos said. “Cherries on top: I was blessed to not only have had great teammates by my side (including Crystal!), familiar Kīkaha faces cheering each other on across our various divisions, my mom and wife supporting me through the (oppressive!) heat as my No. 1 fans, and the opportunity to explore (and eat my way through) such an amazing country.”

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E Komo Mai showcases Hawaiian culture to nearly 1,300 people

Kīkaha’s 3rd annual E Komo Mai continued the club’s core belief of fostering Hawaiian culture, bringing close to 1,300 people to the day-long event at Owen Beach. 

The Aug. 23 event featured Hawaiian food, music, cultural demonstrations and an introduction to outrigger paddling that put 83 new paddlers in a canoe, said Rachel Higgins, one of the E Komo Mai’s organizers.

“E Komo Mai is how we say ‘welcome’ in Hawai’i and in this same spirit of open hearts, the E Komo Mai event creates a warm environment that welcomes the community to join us in learning about Native Hawaiian heritage and invites everyone to share in our values of aloha and mālama ʻāina, she said. 

Almost 500 plates of ʻono food were served, and Kīkaha came together to provide over 200 hours of volunteer service on the day of the event, Higgins said.

“Kīkaha showed how we can come together to accomplish amazing things,” she said.

Sharing Hawaiian culture with the community “isn’t just something we do,” said Nellie Bell, Kīkaha president.

“It is our kuleana (responsibility) and our joy to build bridges, welcome our neighbors and bring people together across the Sound,” she said.

Bell had praise for the way the club put the event together.

“None of this happens by chance,” she said. “Bringing this vision to life requires endless dedication, passion, and behind-the-scenes effort. I want to extend a heartfelt mahalo nui loa to each and every one of our club members.”

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A memorable season for Coach Matt

The 2026 PNWORCA season was Kīkaha’s 30th year as a club and it was special from start to finish. We welcomed new members in March, started racing in April, celebrated our milestones in June, raged at the Gorge in July and triumphed at the International World Sprints in Singapore in August. Well done Kīkaha. It was a memorable season for men’s coach Matt Taufa’asau, who shared his thoughts: 

Favorite moment of 2026

“Kauai, hands down. I ran into Braiden’s folks out there and they were wearing the jersey he gave me last year. I love wearing that thing. When I asked if they knew Braiden, they said,

‘We’re his parents,’ and then immediately, ‘You coach Matt?’ That’s Kauai in a nutshell. We have a second family over there and I love it.

“This was my third year in a row doing the Na Pali Challenge and I already want to go back. Who’s in? Worth noting: next year is HCRA state sprints with Na Pali the day after, so it is going to be a big one. Braiden’s folks told me that if we want to bring Kīkaha down, we better let them know soon. So consider this an early heads up.”

Proudest Kīkaha experience

“My visit to Singapore. Watching our Kīkaha folks over there having the time of their lives was something else. Our kupuna took 3rd in the V12. Aaron and I raced, taking 6th in the 50s and 5th in the 40s, and we were beyond stoked. Crystal, Sherrie, Joy, Faye, Dash, CD, Mike, Joe A, Doug, Joe W, Maui Joe: everyone just killed it.

“The other piece was getting to know our sister clubs. Racing alongside them made it clear that Kīkaha fits right in with the upper echelon of PNW and USA paddlers. We belong in that company.

“But the part that stuck with me was dinner over beers. A unique and beautiful moment, and a reminder of everything each of those paddlers had to do to get themselves there. I’m proud of all of it.”

Off-season ask

“There are strong clubs that are out there training all winter. Don’t shut it all the way down. We’re working with the coaches and the board to keep something going for you.

“Get out there and work on technique. Work on steering. Fill in the knowledge gaps you know you have. This is the best time of year to strip it back to basics. Pick one thing you need to work on, and if you’re not sure what that is, ask us. We’ll give you plenty of inspiration. Come back a stronger, better paddler in ’27.”

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Gear up for cold weather OC6 practices with Kīkaha

Warm weather and summer races may be just a pleasant memory this time of year, but colder weather doesn’t mean your paddling has to stop.

And this year, you don’t have to. Kīkaha coaches have decided to extend organized practices through the colder months. Fall/winter practices will be held at the regular time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Sept. 26. Starting on Oct. 3, practices will only be at 9 a.m. on Saturdays. 

Experienced and newcomers are both welcome. You must RSVP on TeamSnap by 5 p.m. the day prior to practice. Coaches will make a final call by 5 p.m. the day prior if bad weather is expected.

Joe Aquino, Matt Taufa’asau and Brian Martin will provide coaching.

In order to participate, paddlers will have to adhere to a list of conditions created to ensure as much safety as possible as temperatures drop. 

Each paddler must wear a PDF starting Oct. 3.

There must be two canoes on the water. No one goes out alone.

Paddlers must tell coaches they have had huli drill training or have demonstrated the ability to recover from a huli before Oct. 3. If you have questions about this, email them at kikaha.info@gmail.com.

Each padder must know how to swim.

At least one coach will have a marine radio.

Each canoe must have a seasoned steersman who has a phone.

Canoes must be covered after every use or unrigged and flipped over to prevent water from filling the hull and potentially freezing.

Weather appropriate clothing is a must: neoprene or a wool base layer, splash top, booties, a beanie and spare clothes in case you get wet. No cotton clothing.

Lead coaches will report on Slack that each crew returned safely.

Here’s a refresher on huli training

Want to race OC1 instead? Kīkaha can guide you

Winter paddling also features OC1/OC2 racing, starting in January. Racing in the small canoes is a fun way to extend your current paddling season and be better prepared for next year’s PNWORCA distance and regatta season. Your conditioning will improve and your level of experience will increase. 

Also, you will learn to laugh at the cold.

The race schedule is usually announced in late fall but the Kīkaha coaching staff is currently working on a club practice schedule that will focus on the small canoes. Exact practice dates and times have not been set, so stay tuned for more information.

The winter series consists of seven races with points awarded toward a championship. Awards and prizes are given for the top male and female paddler plus the top three winners of each age division. The course locations stretch from Portland to Vancouver with the championship race on Lake Washington in March.

New canoes are available in the PNW through Jimi Spoto at Ozone Northwest. Spoto is a wealth of information, personable and easy to reach. Used canoes, however, are hard to find in the PNW. Ernie Wong of Sand Point Outrigger Canoe Club is often plugged in to the market and a good resource. You can also keep an eye on Facebook Marketplace. Kīkaha members often post boats for sale on Slack.

Here is some equipment you’ll need:

Watertight OC1 or OC2

Rain jacket

Waterproof pants and booties

Waterproof brim hat

Quick dry long sleeve shirt

Personal PFD

Waterproof phone case

Ankle leash

Hydration pack and supplements

Also a set of extra clothes and a warm coat

You might also want to bring a jug of hot water to warm up your feet

A 360 degree look at winter OC1/OC2 racing

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Da Kīkaha Korner

Kīkaha paddlers take on Kona

Kīkaha paddlers have a long history of traveling to the Queen Lili’uokalani Canoe Race in Kona and this year was no different.

The Sept. 3-7 event includes a variety of races – a huli/recovery relay, an 18-mile nine-person change-out race with an iron division, a double-hull race and an OC1/OC2 race. 

Andy Michels took a junior crew comprised of paddlers from Kīkaha and the Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team for the junior race on Sept. 6. Two Kīkaha paddlers – Lily and Henry Wynkoop – joined four paddlers from Gig Harbor: Ryder Wittmer, Kaya Pruitt, McKinzie Grogan and Jackson Kvamme. 

Also racing in Kona were Jen and Kyle Wynkoop and Jill Sullivan. 

Jen Wynkoop was in a Tahitian crew that won the huli/recovery relay. The race includes a huli, after which the paddlers have to right the canoe and empty it before the next set of paddlers can race.

Kyle Wynkoop found a crew for the double-hull race on Sept. 6.

Sullivan raced with a women’s crew from Hui Wa’a O Wakinikona on Sept. 5, when swells generated by Hurricane Lowell created rare surf at the entrance to the pier at Kailua-Kona. Surviving the paddle out to the start was a victory all by itself. 

Michels regularly takes paddlers to Kona but the conditions Saturday left him worried for the juniors on Sunday. 

“My main objective was to get those kids to experience a Hawaii race,” he said “I was freaking out worried. You spend so much money to get there and they could cancel.”

Conditions on Sunday were far calmer, Kyle Wynkoop said.

“The kids raced bright and early at 7 a.m. and did well,” he said. “They got fifth in their division and learned what really good, really committed junior paddlers look like.”

Wynkoop said the double hull race was a challenge.

“We started rough because we were actually on the beach when the horn sounded – whoops,” he said. “All together, we had a great time as a family and soaked in every moment of the paddling world. We even got to meet Braiden’s mom and dad at the luau who are delightful and sweet people.”

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Kai Koa to undergo repairs in off season

Kīkaha’s fleet of canoes were put under heavy use in the 2026 PNWORCA season, receiving a few scrapes and dings along the way. But none of them was damaged as much as Kai Koa, the club’s year-old Kai Waa Hydra. The hull suffered structural damage on the bottom of the hull and was retired for the season early so repair options could be researched. 

As of early September, Kīkaha leaders had received three repair estimates, ranging from $3,500 to about $9,700, said Nellie Bell, club president. 

Eric Stover, club vice president, said each estimate needs careful consideration.

“We’re diligently evaluating a few different reputable repair shops for Kai Koa to make sure we land on the right fit, and an update will be shared once a decision has been made,” Stover said. “The repairs are expected to be completed before we need Kai Koa next season. More to come as the off-season progresses.”

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Aw’ryte!

It may not be as sexy as a new canoe, but Kīkaha’s new 10-foot-by-8-foot storage shed will greatly improve life at the club’s Foss Waterway practice site. The shed, which was about $1,400, was purchased with Tacoma Creates grant money. It will be assembled once the club tackles the canoe jenga at the practice site…

Kīkaha members will gather from 9 to 11 a.m. on Oct. 3 to store our canoes for winter and clean up our Foss Waterway practice site…

If you’re looking for a challenge or just a bowl of hot soup, make sure to be at Kīkaha’s annual Chicken Long Race Solo/Relay on Oct. 17 at 7 a.m. at Jack Hyde Park… 

Save the date: Kīkaha’s annual Christmas party will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6. There will be ono food, music and maybe even a visit by Santa, who knows who has been naughty or nice or hasn’t helped load canoes…

Aw’ryte!

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Who dat?

Paddler: Jacob Turner

Club activity: “I’m a paddler, and I also work on the newsletter team and the website team.”

Years paddling canoes: 8 years

Years with Kīkaha: 1 year

Favorite race adventure: “My favorite race adventure was training for the Henry Ayau Memorial Race on Oahu. We were out on the big water outside the wall of Hilo Bay on the Big Island, and the weather shifted on us while we were out creating constant 8 to 12 foot swells. We did water change-outs and probably huli’d the boat about 15 times. It was exhausting, but such an exhilarating experience because we were out so far you could barely see land. Our steersman and seat five got a lot of slack for causing us to huli over and over, but it was a great bonding experience … risking it a bit together for the good of the team and the race. I remember that practice like it was yesterday.”

Favorite paddling experience: “My favorite paddling experience was being part of a really close-knit club in Hilo, Hawaii – Kamehameha Canoe Club. My daughter was born while I was a member, and everyone in the club knew her and watched her grow up. It felt like family. We celebrated birthdays, new babies, anniversaries, all of it down at the halau where we kept the boats on the beach. That same close-knit, family feel has translated here to Kīkaha in Washington. Even after just a year, I feel a similar sense of community in Tacoma.”

Why paddling: “I paddle because it’s good for my overall health: physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional, all combined. I learn a lot from the water. The ocean is one of the most unforgiving places but also one of the most nurturing, and that dichotomy is fascinating to experience. Paddling this man-powered boat, which Polynesians have done for centuries, connects me to a rich culture, to myself, and to the community.”

Best club advice you’ve ever received: “The best club advice I’ve ever received is that a good paddler can paddle any seat. A lot of people say they don’t paddle seat one, or seat five, or whatever. But my coach Stan, on the Big Island, always told me the best paddlers paddle any seat. That’s stuck with me, and I never turn down the opportunity to paddle in any seat.”

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Kīkaha O Ke Kai, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that paddles out of the Foss Waterway, would like to say mahalo to its sponsors and supporters: Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Papa Ola Lōkahi, Nordlund Boat Company, Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern & Eatery, Tucci Energy Services, Hawaiian Paddle Sports, Aloha Carpet Cleaning, Moku ‘aina Wakinekona Hawaiian Club, Dirty2Dreamy Ceramic Coating & Detail Service, Tumi Tax, Teamsters Local No. 313, Puget Sound Upfitters and TJ’s Lei Stand.  

Talk Story seeks to cultivate a strong, unified identity for Kīkaha O Ke Kai, reflecting the spirit of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. It is dedicated to sharing club news and managing information promptly. It aims to provide members and supporters with a newsletter that enhances their connection to the club and represents our shared values on and off the water.  You can contact us at kikaha.info@gmail.com.

All pau for now!