Wahinis in Long Beach Paddle Out!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Shortboards. Longboards. Standup
paddleboards. Boogie boards. There are lots of ways to ride the waves. But, how
about a way that even predates the Hawaiian kings? In an outrigger canoe – the same kind of canoe that brought
the ancient Polynesians to the Hawaiian Islands.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel talked to
Denise Islas, president of the Lokahi Outrigger Canoe Club in Long
Beach, to find out more about this women's canoe club. Islas, who loves both
the recreational and competitive aspects of the sport, said, "We paddle
six days a week," joking that "on the other day I get to see my
husband."
Truth be told, she gets to see husband Tony Islas every
day because he’s the team's coach...and just as much a diehard fan of outrigger
canoeing as she is.
Asked how they got involved in canoeing, Tony told SurfWriter Girls it began in
1997 after they moved from Hawaii to Petaluma, California: "Getting
settled in, I happened on a fleet of outrigger canoes while riding my bike by
the Petaluma River marina.”
“Later that day, when I told Denise about the canoes, she
interrupted me, saying she met a member of the Lokahi Outrigger Club at the
bank where she worked. Talk about synchronicity! He invited us to give it a
try. We were homesick for the islands and this was the cure!"
Before long Denise, Tony and daughter Rachel (who had
canoed in Hawaii) were all canoeing. Denise was the stroker, or seat one. Tony
was in seat two. Rachel was the steersperson. "We felt blessed," says
Tony. "Not many parents can say that they have competed in a sport with
their spouses and kids! And it was a great season."
But, opportunities in SoCal beckoned
and soon the Islases moved again, hoping to join an outrigger club in LA/Long
Beach. Instead, they ended up starting their own! With help from family and
friends and mentor Sam Madeiros, the outrigger coach in Petaluma (and an avid pigeon racer, too!), the
SoCal club was launched.
Founded in 1998, the Long Beach branch of the Lokahi
Outrigger Canoe Club is a member of the Southern
California Outrigger Racing Association (SCORA), which is dedicated to organizing, encouraging and promoting Hawaiian ways and the Aloha
Spirit."
Based out of Mother's Beach in Belmont Shore (Appian Way at
2nd Street), the club has two racing seasons - end of January thru
mid-September and mid-September thru mid- December (off season).
Sandra Shea, the club's vice president, and daughter Meg both canoe. What started out
as a summer vacation activity for Meg is now a year-round ritual. Sandra says,
"We love it!" She encourages others to come out and give it a try. Paddlers are always welcome, whether you're new to the sport
or a veteran like assistant coach Iris Dulay (shown below).
Priti Vaidya Patel, Director of Therapeutic Recreation at Casa Colina Hospital in Pomona, praises
the canoe club highly. She says, "Since 2004 it has been providing our
participants with disabilities the amazing experience of canoeing. Tony Islas
and his staff and volunteers are an absolute delight."
SurfWriter Girls learned that outrigger canoeing is a great
way to exercise and build stamina. It also builds teamwork and friendships
since each one in the canoe is critical to the crew's success.
Summing up why they do it, Tony says, "When the
conditions and swells are right, nothing beats the feeling of paddling in open
ocean and chasing down swells with five of your closest club members."
For the Lokahi Outrigger Canoe Club
members it's the perfect way to embrace the Aloha Spirit.
Please post your comment below.
Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny
Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material.
Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com
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