Team Primo Top Finishers in the Molokaʻi Hoe celebrates at Tikis!

Last weekend’s annual Molokai Hoe was held in some of the worst and more grueling conditions that the race has ever seen. In 5-10 knot south-west winds, over 100 canoe crews battled across the Molokai Channel. The Molokai Channel usually notorious for its strong winds and massive ocean swells, proved other wise as crews navigated the flat and arid conditions.

The world championships of outrigger canoe racing begins on Molokai at Hale O Lono Harbor on October 7th and ends over 40 miles later in Waikiki.

When it was pau, Team Primo hosted a dinner in the ocean room & lanai at Tiki's Grill & Bar. The private buffet menu included:    

Island Taro Rolls, Tender Baby Nalo Greens Salad, Steamed White Rice, Garlic & Herb Butter Sauteed Vegetables, Macadamia Nut Island Mahimahi, Teriyaki Chicken Breast Sweet Soy Ginger Sauce, Guava Glazed BBQ Ribs Ono Spice Rubbed Pork Ribs, Mango Coconut Cake and of course Primo Beer.


Team Primo featured a veteran mix of paddlers from Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. While it competes under the flag of Maui's Wailea Canoe Club, the team is sponsored by Primo beer. Those on the crew are Jimmy Austin, Mike Judd, Felipe Gomes, Kai Bartlett, Kekoa Cramer, Kaihe Chong, Will Reichenstein, Mael Carey and Jacob Abeytia.

“The Molokaʻi Hoe has become one of the longest running annual team sporting events in Hawaiʻi, second only to football. The Molokaʻi Hoe perpetuates one of Hawaii’s and Polynesia’s most important and historic cultural traditions, while honoring outrigger canoe paddlers around the world. The Molokaʻi Hoe tests the limits of physical and mental strength and endurance, courage determination and teamwork, and paddlers must also battle nature’s most extreme elements.”-Molokai Hoe Website

Team Primo Training for the race.

Team Primo still holds the record for fastest time posted by a crew from Hawaii (4:42:59), which it set last year. The crew finished fifth overall after crossing the line second, fifth and third in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of the Molokai Hoe.

The Final Results 2012 are as follows:

1     76     SHELL VA’A-1     OPEN GLASS     TAHITI     5:15:49
2     59     EDT VA’A     OPEN GLASS     TAHITI     5:16:50
3     65     SHELL VA’A-2     OPEN GLASS     TAHITI     5:33:42
4     93     LIVESTRONG/OCEAN PURSUITS     OPEN GLASS     BIG ISLAND     5:36:58
5     94     WAILEA-TEAM PRIMO     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     5:39:34
6     77     TEAM TAHA’A NUI     OPEN GLASS     TAHITI     5:42:12
7     4     LANIKAI-1     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     5:43:24
8     56     404 SIMPLE MOBILE-1     OPEN GLASS     CA     5:43:57
9     60     TEAM TAHITIAN OHANA     MASTERS 40+     TAHITI     5:46:16
10     38     OUTRIGGER-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     5:53:55
11     53     MOOLOOLABA OUTRIGGER     MASTERS 50+     AUS     5:55:03
12     46     HUI LANAKILA-1     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     5:55:17
13     67     HANALEI     OPEN GLASS     KAUAI     5:59:00
14     24     LANIKAI-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     5:59:33
15     104     MANU O KE KAI     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:01:07
16     95     WA’AKAPAEMUA     OPEN GLASS     MOLOKAI     6:02:30
17     7     KEAHIAKAHOE     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:03:00
18     57     KAI OPUA-1     MASTERS 40+     BIG ISLAND     6:03:34
19     3     KAILUA-1     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:04:22
20     1     HEALANI     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:06:06
21     79     HUI NALU-BLACK     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:06:22
22     47     WAIKIKI BEACH BOYS-1     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:07:41
23     37     PUUWAI CANOE CLUB     OPEN GLASS     KAUAI     6:08:28
24     55     NAMOLOKAMA O HANALEI     OPEN GLASS     KAUAI     6:08:52
25     23     KAILUA-3     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:08:54
26     75     404 SIMPLE MOBILE-2     OPEN GLASS     CA     6:12:05
27     5     LEEWARD KAI     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:12:53
28     32     HAWAIIAN-1     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     6:13:46
29     88     OUTRIGGER-3     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:14:34
30     70     TE AWAHAKU     OPEN GLASS     NZ     6:15:53
31     90     KIHEI     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     6:19:34
32     102     NA KAI EWALU-1     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     6:20:56
33     66     PACIFIC NORTHWEST     OPEN GLASS     CA     6:22:49
34     83     KAILUA-55     MASTERS 55+     OAHU     6:24:31
35     78     LAE’ULA O KAI-RED     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     6:27:54
36     26     HUI LANAKILA-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:30:27
37     2     KIKAHA NORTHWEST # 1     OPEN GLASS     WA     6:30:42
38     68     HAWAIIAN-2     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     6:30:54
39     10     WAIMANALO     MASTERS 60+     OAHU     6:34:22
40     92     WAILEA-40     MASTERS 40+     MAUI     6:34:36
41     71     AVIRON BAYONNAIS     OPEN GLASS     FRANCE     6:34:42
42     85     KAI OPUA-50     MASTERS 50+     BIG ISLAND     6:35:53
43     97     CANADANUENUE +1KAA     MASTERS 60+     CAD     6:37:05
44     39     LANAKILA OUTRIGGER     OPEN GLASS     CA     6:37:09
45     27     KAMEHAMEHA HILO     OPEN GLASS     BIG ISLAND     6:37:14
46     21     HEALANI-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:38:45
47     62     KUKUIULA OUTRIGGER     MASTERS 40+     KAUAI     6:39:06
48     69     KANEOHE     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:39:31
49     35     LANIKAI-3     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:39:36
50     99     WAIKIKI SURF CLUB-40     MASTERS 40+     OAHU     6:39:54
51     8     OUTRIGGER-1     KOA     OAHU     6:40:13
52     91     TOHIVEA VA’A     OPEN GLASS     TAHITI     6:40:29
53     126     HUI LANAKILA-3     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:41:19
54     9     WAIKIKI SURF CLUB-1     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:42:53
55     43     KAILUA-50     MASTERS 50+     OAHU     6:42:58
56     41     IMUA ONE BLADE-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:44:07
57     89     SYDNEY OUTRIGGER     MASTERS 40+     AUS     6:44:18
58     96     NAC     OPEN GLASS     CA     6:44:51
59     87     OCEAN OUTRIGER JAPAN     OPEN GLASS     JPN     6:45:13
60     58     KAI OPUA-40     MASTERS 40+     BIG ISLAND     6:45:31
61     81     KAI OPUA-2     OPEN GLASS     BIG ISLAND     6:45:49
62     86     SAN DIEGO OUTRIGGER     OPEN GLASS     CA     6:46:58
63     101     ANUENUE-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:47:09
64     12     NAMOLOKAMA O HANALEI-2     MASTERS 50+     KAUAI     6:47:22
65     30     KAI ‘EHITU     OPEN GLASS     BIG ISLAND     6:48:44
66     61     CALIFORNIA GOLD 60+     MASTERS 60+     CA     6:49:23
67     17     KEAHIAKAHOE-55     MASTERS 55+     OAHU     6:50:21
68     74     LAE’ULA O KAI-GREEN     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     6:51:18
69     11     ANUENUE-1     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:51:56
70     33     KAILUA-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:52:11
71     20     NAMOLOKAMA O HANALEI-60     MASTERS 60+     KAUAI     6:52:13
72     48     WAIKIKI BEACH BOYS-2     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:52:36
73     31     HEALANI-3     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:54:13
74     42     KOA KAI     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:55:14
75     44     NA KAI EWALU-2     OPEN GLASS     MAUI     6:57:25
76     22     HUI NALU-GOLD     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     6:58:14
77     51     KAMAMALAHOE     MASTERS 55+     OAHU     6:59:39
78     6     WAIKIKI YACHT CLUB     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     7:01:21
79     36     HONOLULU PEARL-GOLD     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     7:01:30
80     29     NEW YORK OUTRIGGER     OPEN GLASS     NY     7:02:10
81     19     KIKAHA NORTHWEST # 2     OPEN GLASS     WA     7:05:27
82     49     WAIKIKI BEACH BOYS-3     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     7:07:04
83     82     NA KEIKI O KA MOI     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     7:07:25
84     28     NA KAI EWALU-40     MASTERS 40+     MAUI     7:10:27
85     72     NORTH SHORE     OPEN GLASS     OAHU     7:11:34

American National Rugby League TOMAHAWKS SQUAD FOR 'OHANA CUP @Tikisgrill

The American National Rugby League has named a 19-man USA Tomahawks
squad for the Ohana Cup Test match against Tonga.

The squad, which includes 13 returning players from the successful
Donnybrook Cup side, is dominated by Hawaii-based players as the game,
to be played on Saturday, May 12, will be staged in Honolulu.

Seven players from Hawaii have been bracketed in the squad, including
former University of Hawaii and NFL player Leonard Peters. The
ex-Warriors star, who was on the Chicago Bears practice squad, has
also been part of USA Rugby Eagles teams in the past three years.

Mosese Uitalia and Anthony Sunia, who previously played in the AMNRL
and who has relocated to Hawaii, are listed as shadow reserves.

American Samoa is also represented with two players in the 19. The
vastly experienced Keiki Misipeka and teenager Henry Leatio'o have
been drafted into the squad from the US Pacific colony. At 6’ 4” and
240lbs, 19-year old Leatio'o is a huge talent.

Also in the squad are Dusten Umeda, a USA Sevens pool player, and Tala
Esera, another former football player from UH who had stints
professionally with NFL teams Miami and Philadelphia.

 


“Really looking forward to working with much of the same squad of
players from the Donnybrook Cup with the inclusion of new players from
Hawaii and American Samoa,” said Tomahawks coach Marcus
Vassilakopoulos.

“We have such a wealth of talent to pull from these days it will
definitely make our job harder and harder to pick a squad for future
matches with every game like an audition for World Cup spots. The ball
is literally in the boys’ hands and I expect the professionalism,
attitu

 

de and commitment of these players will gradually increase also.

“Really looking forward to working with Leonard Peters, Dusten Umeda,
Tala Esera, Henry Leatio'o and Anthony Sunia for the first time.
Quality athletes with very diverse backgrounds from Rugby Union to
Professional Football.”

The squad will be trimmed to a 17-man gameday lineup for the match.
The inaugural Ohana Cup Test is set for a 7pm kickoff local time at
Kaiser Stadium in Honolulu.

USA TOMAHAWKS SQUAD:
Kenny Britt (FL), Apple Pope (FL), Keiki Misipeka (American Samoa),
Henry Leatio'o (American Samoa), Curtis Cunz (CT), Matt Walsh (CT),
Sean Taylor (NY), John Dykeman (NY), Justin Ripley (NY), Andrew
Kneisly (PA), Vai Notoa (HA), Kelly McGill (HA), Salesi Tongamoa (GA),
Tala Esera (HA), Dusten Umeda (HA), Ian Elliott (NY), Mosese Uitalia
(HA)*, Leonard Peters (HA), Anthony Sunia (HA)*

*denotes shadow reserve

Coach - Marcus Vassilakopoulos
Assistant Coach/Manager - David Niu