Kay Das
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 12 Sep 2011 10:54 pm |
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More than 1,000 outrigger canoe paddlers from around the globe competed in the 2010 Catalina Channel Crossing US Outrigger Championships the weekend of September 10 and 11, 2011.
On Saturday (9th September), the Catalina Channel Crossing US Championships Wahine and Open Coed Race was staged: a 27-mile open ocean race that launched from Newport Harbor, Newport Beach and ended at Casino Point, Avalon Catalina. The race was won by "Lanakila" in just under 5 hours. Six paddlers per outrigger, crew of nine, and three crew members change from a chase boat every 15 minutes.
The first outrigger race held in California was on September 20, 1959 and involved two canoes shipped to California from Hawaii. Both of them were koa wood canoes with the names Malia meaning calm waters and Niuhe, meaning shark. The Hawaiian team won the race in a time of 5 hours. The newly formed California team in the Niuhe finished closed behind in a time of 5 hours, 11 minutes.
With the race having its roots in Hawaii, the city authorities of Avalon decided to add a distinctive Hawaiian flavor to the event. Greeting the outrigger crews as they paddled into the Avalon Harbor in Catalina were a group of three: "Pua Ka'i" consisting of Dede Reimer (ukulele and vocals), David Weisenthal (ukulele and vocals) and Kay Das (steel guitar). This was followed by a more formal concert at the Awards Ceremony at the Civic Center a little further inland. The trio played over 40 Hawaiian songs (E Ku'u Morning Dew, Ha'a Hula, I'll Weave a Lei of Stars for You, Lahaina Luna, Pua Carnation, Pua Lilia, Waikiki...some steel guitar solos such as Sleepwalk, Twilight in Hawaii, and many more) to a large crowd. Pics below, but regret no audio. Admittedly, most of the "audience" of around a thousand were there for the thrills of the race, but I did have folk come up and ask about the instrument I was playing.....Many knew the sound of the steel and were appreciative. Thankfully we had good organization and a good Fender PA system for the size of the crowd....
a bit of history: the first hawaiian cast of outrigger paddlers
a team arriving
pua kai on the beach
pua kai on stage
group pic
entering avalon harbor
avalon harbor
outrigger canoes
plumeria lei |
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