The Hawaiian Airlines N? W?hine O Ke Kai and Hawaiian Airlines Moloka?i Hoe - the premier outrigger canoe race across the Ka?iwi Channel - has been canceled for the second year in a row because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizers Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association and N? W?hine O Ke Kai announced the cancelation Friday. The women's event was scheduled for September 26 and the men's event was scheduled for October 10.
They said in a statement:
"While assessing the ongoing situation and weighing reports provided by medical professionals along with State and County officials, as well as reckoning with lead time for event production and growing financial constraints, it became very clear that proceeding with these races was not feasible nor advisable. In addition, recommending more than 2,000 paddlers and support staff travel from around the world into our fragile communities during this time of uncertainty would be imprudent."
Pre-season competitions and the regatta seasons for most of the state's canoe associations have been canceled for the year. Restrictions on six-person canoe paddling vary from county to county.
While the event this fall has been canceled, the organizers hope to continue in 2022. And they already have them scheduled - N? W?hine O Ke Kai on Sept. 25, 2022, and Moloka?i Hoe on Oct. 9, 2022.
