Kīkaha beautifully showcased in Hammers+Legends video
For nearly three decades, Kīkaha O Ke Kai has quietly and consistently promoted Hawaiian culture, largely through outrigger canoe racing, but also at community events in the Pacific Northwest. It forged genuine relationships with canoe clubs, community leaders and organizations that shared its values of ‘ohana.
That mindset of ‘ohana – of family – found a larger audience for Kīkaha in January with the release of a YouTube video created by ocean clothing manufacturer Hammers+Legends. It’s a beautifully shot introduction to the club and what it offers, as told by long-time members and newcomers alike.
“Kīkaha is like family to me,” paddler Matt Taufa’asau says in the video. “You come down, you meet people who are excited about this sport but they are also excited about this community, the friends that they make. They care about the culture and how they perpetuate it is at the core here.”
Adds Rose Nash, women’s head coach: “Ever since I found Kīkaha, it’s been so much fun and joy.”
The video was possible because of the efforts of senior club member John Richardson, who had been working for the last year with Albert Wang, owner of the clothing company. Richardson has overseen Kīkaha’s apparel line since 2016 and said his mantra has always been to find high quality items as well as infuse them with an element of fun – if you see someone in a hot pink or highlighter pen yellow Kīkaha jersey, that’s Richardson’s influence.
But in Wang’s company, which was previously known as Talis Crew, Richardson found a line of clothing designed for the Pacific Northwest and its various shades of overcast gray. He worked with Wang, who is based in Shanghai, to create the club’s new jerseys, but said he also wanted to do more with Wang.
“I had been sharing with him last year about Kīkaha’s legacy in our community and expressing my hope to strengthen our collaboration in a way that would bring greater exposure and mutual benefit to both organizations,” Richardson said. “I told him Kīkaha is a strong player. It has had a foothold in the Pacific Northwest for a long time.”
The message clicked with Wang, who wanted to create a unique line of paddling clothing that wasn’t available anywhere else, Richardson said. The idea led to the video, which Richardson described as “a showcase for Kīkaha.”
“His vision for the video was to focus on us and who we are,” Richardson said. “Our history. Our culture. Our influence. He wanted to advocate for us and promote our values. He gets our values. And he sees the impact we have.”
Oahu videographer Tiloi Alapa (@kaulelehawaii on Instagram and YouTube) flew to Tacoma in November to shoot the video in 41-degree weather. A handful of members gathered at the club’s Foss Waterway practice site and for more than two hours they offered their thoughts on the club and paddled for the cameras. Everyone wore the club’s new black and yellow Hammers+Legends jerseys, which became available to members last summer.
The Kīkaha paddlers included Taufa’asau, Nash, Nellie Bell, Gordon Martinez, Sunni Duncan, Jill Sullivan, Eric Stover, Ashley and Aaron Tyerman and Brent Campbell.
As a mixed crew paddled out of the waterway that day, Kīkaha head coach Martinez drove an escort boat for Alapa to shoot from while paddler Duncan shouted instructions from a bull horn.
Alapa had praise for the paddlers.
“Everyone was kind and welcoming from the moment I showed up through the end of the day,” he said. “It was awesome to make small world connections with a few of the members. I live a few minutes down the road from where one grew up and am distant relatives with another. Overall, the day couldn’t have gone better. I hope to be back out there in the future and maybe jump in the canoe next time.”
Da Kīkaha Korner
This month we’re starting a new feature, Da Kīkaha Korner. It’s where we will post shorter stories and paddler profiles. If you want to suggest something to include or someone to profile, please email us at kikaha.info@gmail.com.
Who dat?
Paddler: Rose Nash, women’s head coach
Paddling division: Open Women
Years paddling: Eight years as a keiki and junior paddler in Hawaii and three years in the Pacific Northwest.
Years with Kīkaha: Three years, “and it’s been the best years.”
Favorite race: “Oh, hard question. Love the Manu Baker Sprints but I really enjoy the beach change out race in Sand Point. It’s fun with running starts and relay change outs.”
Favorite paddling experience: “I think my favorite experience is the beginning of a race, from a quick sprint to the Gorge. That moment where you’re sitting at the starting line watching for the flag. The ball of anticipation in your stomach feels like a coiled spring waiting to go and give it your all to leave it all out on the water.”
Why paddle: “I love being on the water and part of an amazing crew and canoe club like Kīkaha. I grew up in the paddling world. Both of my parents being paddlers and water people, I grew up on the water in Hawaii. The ocean has always held a special place in my heart.”
Best paddling advice you ever received: “That it’s a full body connection, engaging your legs, leading with your hips. And to just send it!”
Canoe rigging set for March 9, first practice March 11
Kīkaha’s 2025 season will start with canoe rigging and cleanup at the club’s Foss Waterway practice site at 9 a.m. March 9.
The first weekday practices will be on Tuesday March 11 and Thursday March 13 (5 p.m. show, 5:30 p.m. go).
The first Saturday practice will be on March 15 (8:30 a.m. show, 9 a.m. go).
Aw’ryte!
Mahalo to Brent Campbell for building new storage racks for OC1 canoes at our practice site… Good luck to Kīkaha’s 70s kupuna men, who are racking up more frequent flier miles with a trip to Newport Beach, California to compete in the 2025 IVF World Distance Championship trials Feb. 1-2. Dave Oreiro, Craig Holt, Doug Close, Joe Wall, Mike Machado and Lon Kincannon will compete in the V-6 event… Campbell is also traveling to California for the V-1 trials… The distance championships will be from Aug. 13-20 in Niteroi, Brazil… Congratulations to paddler Aleks Reavis and his wife Jessica who gave birth to their first child on Jan. 8. Nico Keola Reavis was 6 pounds, 7 ounces and everyone is doing great…
Kīkaha member Drea Park offers another workout to help make you a better paddler
We’re starting 2025 with another killer workout routine from Kīkaha member Drea Park. Her strength and endurance workout will leave your arms and legs shaking but just picture yourself powering through the Gorge race and you’ll thank her. Park is a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, online fitness coach and nutritionist through International Sports Sciences Association.
Strength Endurance Workout Program
Cardio Triple Threat (8 minutes total)
3 exercises back to back
Set an interval timer for 30 seconds active and 30 seconds rest for each exercise.
3 rounds plus finisher
- Lateral hop. You can use a small agility cone, medicine ball or a plate to hop over.
If lateral hops are too much for your knees, you can do speed skaters.
- Bob and weave squat
- High knees
Finisher for 2 rounds: Set an interval timer for 25 seconds active and 10 seconds rest.
You can use dumbbells, a kettlebell, sandal or resistance band.
- Alpha Wood Chop – Left
- Alpha Wood Chop – Right
Strength Triple Threat (10 min total)
Set an interval timer for 20 seconds active for each movement and 20 seconds rest between each set.
Round 1 (3 sets)
You will start Set 1 with a curtsy with the left leg for 20 seconds, then switch to a curtsy with the right leg for 20 seconds, ending the set with a narrow squat for 20 seconds.
Note: Movements can be performed with no equipment and just using body weight or can be intensified by using kettlebells, dumbbells, plates or any weight that is on hand.
To perform a curtsy lunge, stand tall and step back, crossing one leg behind the other, while keeping your hips squared, and avoiding pivoting your hip backward or stretching your foot too far toward the other. Bend both knees, with your inner thighs crossed, keeping most of your weight in the front leg as you bend both knees until the front leg is at a 90 degree angle and back knee is a few inches from the floor, returning to standing position
After completing Set 1, you will have a 20 second break before moving to Set 2, where you will be performing bicep curls for 20 seconds (both palms facing forward), then 20 seconds of hammer grip curls (repositioning palms inward) and ending Set 2 with a hold curl (no movement, elbows bent, 90 degree angle, palms facing upward just holding the curl). After completing Set 2 you will have a 20 second break then move on to Set 3 where you will be performing a left side single arm tricep kickback for 20 seconds then switching to right side single arm tricep kickback for 20 seconds, then ending with a dual arm tricep kickback.
Once you have completed Set 3 you will have a 20 second break then repeat all three sets again for Round 2.
For Round 3 you will only complete Set 1 for 20 seconds then ending this Triple Set with a squat hold finisher for the remainder of the time which should be 1 minute.
To perform a squat hold, stand with feet a little bit more than shoulder width apart, slowly lower yourself by bending your knees into a squat position, being sure to try to keep your back straight and making sure your knees are aligned over and in front of your toes, engaging your core and holding that position.
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.