Kailua-Kona Paddler Finishes First in OluKai Maui Race

Keakua Kaawa Nolan was the top finisher in the 6th Annual OluKai Ho`olaulea Men’s OC1 Elite race, held Sunday at Kanaha Beach Park on Maui.

The Kailua-Kona resident finished with a time of 46:55, one second better than Honolulu’s Kaihe Chong. Two more Kona paddlers, Daniel Chun and Kamoa Tanoai, finished third and fourth, respectively.

The annual two-day event brings paddlers from across the state, country, and the world. States represented outside of Hawai`i include California, Colorado, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Maine. Participants from Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and France also made their way to the event.

Olukai says on its website that the Ho`olaulea is put on to gather “communities to enjoy canoe sailing, surfing, ancient Hawaiian games, luau, hula, and live music.” Competitors take on what is known as the Maliko downwind run, which is a grueling eight miles in distance.

The race has a gender-equal prize of $15,000.

Stand-up paddle board events were held on Saturday, May 10. Waikoloa’s Sarah Taylorbalanag was the top finisher in the SUP14 Women’s 30-39 age division with a time of 1:26:30. Fellow Waikoloa paddler Kahea Waiwaiole finished 27 seconds behind in the division.

OC-1 and OC-2 events were held on Sunday. Lauren Spalding of Kula was the top finisher in the OC-1 women’s elite race, finishing 38 seconds better than Haiku’s Andrea Moller.

Listed below are all of the Big Island finishers from this weekend’s event.

Sixth Annual OluKai Ho`olaulea Races – Big Island finishers

Saturday

Bullet Obra (Waikoloa, SUP14 Men’s 18-29) – 1:04:01

Nick Muragin (Hilo, REC Men 40-49) – 1:11:45

Jeff Okuna (Kailua-Kona, REC Men 30-39) – 1:13:49

Melvin Ahlo (Kamuela, REC Men 30-39) – 1:16:04

Abraham Kahakai (Kamuela, REC Men 50-59) – 1:21:07

Doug Veracruz (Kailua-Kona, SUP14 Men 30-39) – 1:22:55

Casey Cho (Kamuela, Elite Open Men) – 1:23:23

Raydon Vasquez (Kailua-Kona, SUP14 Men 40-49) – 1:26:07

Sarah Taylorbalanag (Waikoloa, SUP14 Women 30-39) – 1:26:30

Guy Yamada (Hilo, REC Men 40-49) – 1:26:51

Kahea Waiwaiole (Waikoloa, SUP14 Women 30-39) – 1:26:57

James Hanley (Kailua-Kona, REC Men 50-59) – 1:29:27

Charles Lira (Kamuela, SUP14 Men 50-59) – 1:30:59

Edgar Tuliao (Hilo, SUP14 Men 40-49) – 1:32:53

Sunday

Keakua Kaawa Nolan (Kailua-Kona, Elite Men) – 46:55

Daniel Chun (Kailua-Kona, Elite Men) – 47:01

Kamoa Tanoai (Kailua-Kona, Elite Men) – 47:28

Ikaika Hauanio (Kailua-Kona, Men 40-49) – 48:55

Jun Balanga and Bullet Obra (Waikoloa, OC-2 Male Open) – 51:22

Keone Au (Kailua-Kona, Men 40-49) – 52:55

Micah Lanoai (Kailua-Kona, Men 18-29) – 54:48

Sarah Taylorbalanag and Kahea Waiwaiole (Waikoloa, OC-2 Female Open) – 55:55

Dane Enos (Kailua-Kona, Men 50-59) – 56:40

Doug Verazcruz (Kailua-Kona, Men 30-39) – 58:50

Jeff Okuna (Kailua-Kona, Men 30-39) – 59:01

James Hanley (Kailua-Kona, Men 50-59) – 1:00:39

Stanton Corotan (Waikoloa, Men 50-59) – 1:10:29

Iko Balanga (Waikoloa, Men 40-49) – 1:10:31

Casey Cho (Kamuela, Elite Men) – 1:10:39