Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club Sets 2022 Race Schedule

Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club, first held a regatta in Kailua Bay in 1932. Since then, Kai ‘Opua has continued to race regattas, including long distance races and more recently, in 1971 launched its annual Kamehameha Day regatta and its signature Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Race. After pausing the race schedule for two seasons to adhere to COVID-19 pandemic protocols, club leadership is ready to set the markers and get back to racing outrigger canoes in 2022.   

Annual Kamehameha Day Regatta

Every June, Hawaii comes together to celebrate King Kamehameha the Great. Since 1971, Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club has hosted the Moku o Hawaii sanctioned Kamehameha Day regatta as part of the Kamehameha Day weekend festivities in Historic Kailua Village. This year paddlers from around Hawaii Island will convene for the Kamehameha Day regatta in Kailua Bay on Saturday June 11, 2022. During the hiatus caused by the pandemic, Kai ‘Opua took the time to newly survey the regatta course, and reset lanes etc. Kai ‘Opua is solidifying plans that Moku o Hawaii paddlers will enjoy on the June 11 as canoes line up on race day in Kailua Bay.

Queen Lili‘uokalani Long Distance Canoe Race

Named in honor of the last reigning monarch of Hawaii who’s birthday is September 2, the 2022 Queen Lili‘uokalani Long Distance Canoe Race will once again welcome paddlers to Kona from around the world to its starting line for five days of exciting competition. The world’s largest canoe race starts paddling Thursday, September 1 through Monday, September 5, 2022. The Queen’s Race signature 18-mile long distance race is set for Saturday, September 3.

Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club, celebrating its 93rd anniversary this year, is preparing plans to host paddling crews from around the world. As the world continues to heal from the pandemic, the Queen’s Race is setting it sights on welcoming crews back to Kailua Bay including Australia, Aotearoa, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, French Polynesia and crews from across the United States. Hawaii crews will be well represented on the starting lines in Kailua Bay and Honaunau.

Throughout the five-day Labor Day holiday additional ocean races include OC4 (4 person canoes) Sprint Relay Race, Royal Splashfest, one and two person canoe races, SUP, teen and Sunday’s always exciting double hull canoe race.

Other official Queen Lili‘uokalani Canoe Race events are planned throughout the five days including Historic Kailua Village Cultural Walk, Talk Story, Cultural Fair featuring Artisans and Cultural Practitioners, Torchlight Parade, and the Queen Lili’uokalani Canoe Race Luau.

Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club has created COVID-19 safe protocols for its races. The policy follows the CDC, State of Hawaii and County of Hawaii recommendations of contact tracing as well as methods of safe travel protocols for returning Hawaii residents and out of state visitors.

“In 2022, Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club is excited to welcome paddlers from Moku o Hawaii and around the world and seeing everyone in a wa‘a (canoe) in 2022,” said Mike Atwood, Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club.

As events solidify, be sure to follow Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club and log onto qlcanoerace.com