Military canoeing enthusiasts prepare for Molokai race

Volkan Buyukacar
Contributing Writer

Every year hundreds of outrigger canoe teams from around the world travel to Molokai to race at one of the most fierce long-distance outrigger canoe races. The race starts from the island of Molokai, runs through one of the roughest channels between the islands for 40-plus miles, and comes to an end in front of the Ilikai Hotel at Waikiki Beach.

Men and women compete in two different events. Women will compete in the na wahine race on Sept. 26, and men will compete in the Molokai hoe race on Oct.10.

This year, a handful of active duty military members from all forces will compete against teams from the U.S. mainland, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and Canada.

Maj. John Sampson, Marine Forces Pacific; Capt. Tracy Sampson, Marine Corps; Lt. Michael Rigoni, Navy; Lt. James (Trae) Young, Navy; Master Sgt. Elizabeth Sabog, Hawaii Air National Guard; Tech Sgt. (select) Peter AhLeong, Air Force; and Airmen Emily Huggins, Air Force; have all been preparing for the race for the last few months.

There are also other paddlers on the competing team who are related to the military. Christopher Lopresto, former Marine and a federal employee at Tripler Army Medical Center; Elke AhLeong, an Air Force family member; Volkan Buyukacar, an Air Force family member; and Megan Broadway, who works closely with the military as a civil engineer; are also preparing for the race. All paddlers are members of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)-sponsored military outrigger canoe club, Honolulu Pearl, located at Pearl Harbor Rainbow Bay Canoe Hale.

The Molokai race is often called the unofficial world championship for outrigger canoe paddling. Lopresto has participated in the sport for two years, and he is now getting ready for the Molokai race for the first time.

“I feel really honored to participate in such a prestigious race and only hope I can represent myself and my canoe hale with courage and pride,” he said. The Molokai race is a once-in-a lifetime experience for the paddlers.

Tammy Dureg, the Honolulu Pearl coach, has been leading the preparations for the Molokai race. “It is like a small-scale military operation,” she said.

“Everyone needs to know what do and when to do it. Working as a team is very important. For example, we do water changes during the races,” Dureg explained. “The escort boat drops three paddlers in the water. Then they jump in the canoe to replace three other paddlers. We do that to give people a break,” she continued.

“Everybody needs to be able to work together or things won’t come together. Practice is important, a lot of practice, and keeping everyone safe. It is a challenge,” Dureg said.

To prepare for the Molokai race, the paddlers have been doing long distance ocean runs from different beaches around Oahu. They also have paddled in several local long distance races.

So far the paddlers have competed in the 25-mile Duke’s Race (men) and Dad Center Race (women) from Kailua Beach to Waikiki; the 32-mile E Lau Hoe (women) and Henry Ayau (men) from Hawaii Kai to Nanakuli Beach, and several other shorter courses.

“It is like climbing a ladder. Molokai race is on the top. You start with basic practices, then the distance and intensity multiplies as you move along,” Dureg said. “Navy MWR does a great service to us by sponsoring Honolulu Pearl as a military club,” said Sampson, who is in his first year of paddling outrigger canoes.

“I am so glad I was able to start the sport and get a chance to paddle in such major races during my first year. I heard several military members had a hard time making it to a team with other clubs. We get TDY orders often and it is hard to keep up with the practices. Unless you are really athletic and experienced, you won’t make it to a team with other civilian clubs,” Sampson explained.

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam MWR sponsors the club by allowing it to use the canoe facilities at Pearl Harbor. Military personnel and families from not only Navy and Air Force, but also Army, Marines and National Guard also benefit from Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club. The club is also open to civilians, which adds to the benefits by bringing the local community and military members together as a team.

Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club also has a youth program for ages 10 through 18. Military children get a chance to participate in the sport at a convenient military facility and compete in races at their age groups on Oahu. The activity helps the youth to exercise, learn discipline, make friends, have fun, get involved in the local culture, and learn part of the Hawaiian history.

The long distance teams often practice from Hickam Beach in the evenings. If you would like to learn more about outrigger canoe paddling and Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club, visit their website at www.HonoluluPearl.org .