Day 1 of IVF World Sprint Championship canoe racing in the books, but event is much more than competition

Hilo is pretty much synonymous with rain. The National Weather Service says the East Hawai‘i community gets an average of about 130 inches of rain a year.

So it’s pretty much a given that at some point during the day, the Hawai‘i County seat will get at least a little bit of rain.

For the nearly 3,000 paddlers here competing in the 2024 International Va‘a Federation World Sprint Championship, that’s pretty perfect weather though, and the past couple of days have not disappointed.

Especially on the first day of races Friday in Hilo Bay.

The normal showers and misty conditions provided overcast skies for much of the day, so sunburn was not a risk. Temperatures also stayed pleasant.

The breezy trade winds that have been blowing across the islands as of late also likely kept racers even more cool and fresh to paddle even harder.

Hilo is at the center of the outrigger canoe racing world as the competition phase of the 20th international championship officially launched a little later than the planned 8 a.m. in Hilo Bay.

This is the second time the community has played host to the event. The last time was 20 years ago in 2004, and the 2024 World Elite and World Club Sprint Championships are setting records, too.

There are 2,860 paddlers participating, representing 27 nations. They began arriving Tuesday and will be here until Aug. 23.

The competition is breaking another mold as well.

Para paddlers, people with disabilities who participate in outrigger canoe paddling, are included in this year’s world championships. However, this is the first time internationally that people with intellectual disabilities are participating.

The event features 8 days of prestigious international outrigger canoe racing, spotlighting the best of the best 1,866 teams of men, women and youth from around the world in the sport. It’s also a display of culture from around the world that’s not to be missed.

The championships are typically hosted every two years; however, this is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the event has been hosted.

Participating nations this year are:

• American Samoa
• Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Cook Islands
• Chile
• Fiji
• France
• Germany
• Great Britain
• Guam
• Italy
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Northern Marianas
• New Caledonia
• Palau
• Peru
• Tahiti
• Singapore
• Rapa Nui
• Samoa
• Tonga
• United States, including a specific and separate Hawai‘i team
• Wallis and Futuna

Hawai‘i actually has the most entries in the competition with 336 crews.

Day 1 of the races Friday kicked off with the master and elite teams — the powerhouses of paddling — featured in 47 races.

Today, Day 2 of the competition, will feature 46 more races set to begin at 8 a.m. and end sometime around 2 p.m., with a medal ceremony to follow.

A total of 495 races is planned throughout the entire 8 days.

For a full schedule of races, click here.

To see results from each day’s races, click here.

While it is a competition and features the excellence of va‘a (canoe) paddlers from around the globe, the event itself is much more.

It’s an exchange of culture and specifically a celebration of Polynesian and Pacific Islander culture. Hawai‘i is an ancestral home of va‘a and the sport of outrigger canoe racing.

The world sprints often feature traditional ceremonies, cultural peformances and demonstrations.

That was on full display Thursday evening during opening ceremonies.

A parade of nations snaked its way along the black sand beach of Hilo Bay as the teams made their way to the stage for the festivities. It was a rainbow sea of jerseys as each team’s members was clad in their nation’s colors.

Many of the paddlers also donned traditional garb from their homelands and face paintings.

Country flags waved in the air or were carried at the front of the pack as the Olympic-style march continued for more than half an hour.

There were even inflatable kangaroos accompanying some of the Australians and small inflated beach balls with the familiar maple leaf from the Canadian flag flying through the air.

The bayfront beach was packed. It was standing room only, with some even standing in the shallows, gentle waves lapping at their shins and ankles as the teams and community continued to gather.

Once everyone arrived, the massive crowd was treated to hula kahiko, often referred to as the ancient style of hula, and chant on the beach in front of the stage before welcome remarks from dignitaries and officials.

The yellow dresses, lei and adornments hālau members wore were a stark difference to the black sand on which they danced.

“Oh boy, I gotta tell you. If you could see what I’m seeing, looking from this stage out here, [in] Hawai‘‘i we say chicken skin. You know it as goosebumps,” said Hawai‘i County Mitch Roth. “It’s just amazing to see you out here.”

The mayor welcomed everyone and encouraged them to enjoy what the island has to offer, urging spectators to have an amazing time while they’re here, “on purpose.”

“We are so honored, our culture, to have you here,” said Roth.

He also thanked the International Va‘a Federation and Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, which are hosting the event in partnership with the county, as well as the Hawai‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation, which played a major part in getting the bayfront venue ready for the event.

“We’ve worked tirelessly for the last couple of years to not only give you folks this wonderful venue but to make it [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliant for those with disabilities, and our maintenance staff has been working day and night to make sure you have this beautiful venue,” said Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina.

He wished all of the participants the best of luck, saying it’s his department’s and the county’s hope that while they are here they all create memories that will last a lifetime.

International Va‘a Federation President Lara Collins of New Zealand said the event has come a long way since being postponed in 2020.

Collins noted that the IVF World Sprint Championship was the vision of Lawrence “Uncle Bo” Campos of Kailua-Kona.

He was a board member and race commissioner of the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, board member of the International Va‘a Federation as well as president of Kai ‘Ōpua Canoe Club in Kona and the man behind the Queen Lili‘uokalani Long Distance Canoe Races.

Campos was more than a pillar of the paddling community locally and around the globe. He was a cornerstone of its culture and went to any length to expand and perpetuate the sport and va‘a ‘ohana.

Uncle Bo, who was born and grew up on O‘ahu, was also instrumental in getting the IVF World Sprint Championship to come to Hilo in 2020 before it was postponed.

Unfortunately, Campos died in 2018 at the age of 71 after a short fight with pancreatic cancer. He started paddling himself at the age of 7 and was involved with the sport and culture until his death.

“His love for the sport of outrigger canoe paddling and the perpetuation of its culture was infectious and we will be thinking of him throughout this entire week,” Collins said. “Uncle Bo was extremely passionate about providing opportunities for youth and he would have been delighted to know that this year we have more junior paddlers participating at this world championship than ever before.”

There are 16 junior elite teams from 9 countries on the event roster this year; 89 junior club teams total. Collins said a total of 679 junior paddlers are taking part in the championship races.

“It’s extremely positive for the future growth of our sport, and they are what is gonna to make this sport exciting when we’re all not here,” she said.

Collins thanked Roth and the county along with the event’s sponsors, partners, officials, volunteers, vendors and the entire community of Hilo: “This event would not be possible without all of you.”

She said the competition will be fierce as the best of the best paddle out on the waters of Hilo Bay; the atmosphere on the Big Island will be exciting and electric.

She couldn’t wait to see everybody enjoying themselves and sharing in the va‘a culture.

“Va‘a is more than a sport. It is a way of life. It is a culture that is deeply rooted in the Pacific traditions,” Collins said. “Being here in Hilo, Hawai‘i, is a special opportunity for us to share in that culture, spend time with our paddling ‘ohana from all corners of the world, meet new friends and enjoy the event on and off the water.

“Kia kaha and good luck.”

She spread some culture herself in closing her speech, using “kia kaha,” which is a Māori term for affirmation and encouragement meaning be strong or stay strong,

The ceremony ended with additional hula displays, this time hula ‘auana, a less traditional and more modern version of the Hawaiian dance, and Hawaiian music by the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders.

There was also a cultural performance from members of the Tahiti team.

Organizers reminded the crowd that if they take care of the land, the land will take care of them, making sure they knew to be responsible guests while visiting the island.

They also urged them to stay safe while having fun and to enjoy all the camaraderie.

A partial rainbow appeared above the bay before all the pomp and circumstance was finished, a sure sign that more rain was likely on the way. It made an appearance off and on throughout the evening.

But even the weather is a cultural exchange courtesy of the Hawaiian Islands.

Not only is the rainbow a powerful symbol of Hawaiian values, representing unity and hope for a brighter future, the rain itself, which keeps the environment of the islands green and lush, has a great significance in Hawaiian culture.

Hawaiian Airlines, one of the event’s major sponsors, says on its website that there is a Hawaiian proverb that says “Uwē ka lani, ola ka honua,” which translates to “When the sky weeps, the Earth lives.”

So not only was the rainy weather perfect for paddling, but in Hawaiian tradition and culture, it’s viewed as a blessing from the ancestors — a good omen.

Not too shabby for the first day of the world championships for outrigger canoe paddling and international exchange of culture.

Don’t miss your chance to see more of the culture on display during the event.

Head down to Hilo Bay to check out the vendors, food, races and all the people through Aug. 23, and attend Culture Night planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 20 at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.

For more information about the races, check out the event website or the International Va‘a Federation website.