History and Mission

Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association (KIRA) is Hawaii’s premier small craft paddling organization dedicated to promoting and perpetuating ocean paddle sports in Hawaii since 1976. An organization by paddlers, for paddlers, we encourage a lifelong healthy lifestyle that will support paddle athletes at all levels to foster competition, sportsmanship, and develop confidence. Through ocean paddlesports, KIRA supports and promotes the health and wellness of our community while helping to maintain and perpetuate our island culture and heritage, as well as to help preserve, protect and enhance Hawaii’s coastal environment. 

Started in 1976 by Doc. Dale Adams paddling a kayak across the Molokai Channel, the Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association was formed, and in 1977 a racing series on Oahu was born, culminating with the Molokai to Oahu race every May. Today, KIRA is a non profit organization that holds strong to its values and keeps the community healthy and productive.

A core purpose of KIRA is:

(1) To improve the lives and promote the personal excellence of the community, including our youth, families and athletes at all levels, through recreational and amateur ocean paddle sports by conducting and supporting sports activities that increase personal capabilities and promote character development and life-enhancing values;

(2) To promote, encourage and give direction to local and national interest in and appreciation for the social, cultural and spiritual aspects of Hawaii and increase the self-esteem and cultural identity of our youth and community through instruction in Hawaiian history, culture and values;

and

(3) To preserve, protect and enhance Hawaii’s natural resources by educating Hawaii’s youth and community on the importance of protecting the Island’s coastal environment and developing learning methods that promote and facilitate a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture and values as they relate to the environment and its protection.

KIRA has teamed up with Manu ʻIwa O Ka Malanai (manuiwa.org), the designated “Makai Watch” representatives of Kailua to help realize purpose #3 above. Both organizations have deep roots in Kailua and envision our paddlers becoming a community of kia’i (stewards) who observe and protect our reefs so Kailua (and the rest of the island’s makai ahupuaa) can return to being the momona (abundant) fishery it once was. While we train hard to be the best paddlers, we know that it is our duty to malama our home because all ocean life is connected, and we are part of this web of life.”MALAMA I KE KAI MALAMA KE KAI IA ‘OE” (Care for the ocean and the ocean will care for you!). 

Our Work

MAKAI WATCH
BUILDING AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY THAT STEWARDS THE NEARSHORE ECOSYSTEM, WE ARE THE OFFICIAL ʻMAKAI WATCHʻ FOR KAʻŌHAO, KAILUA

EDUCATION
RAISING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF LAWAIʻA PONO AND OCEAN STREWARDS

MARINE MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL
OUR PRIMARY ENDEAVOR IS TO CREATE A MANAGED FISHERY GROUNDED IN HAWAIIAN VALUES.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

GUIDED BY A DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PLACE, MANU ʻIWA O KA MALANAI BELIEVES IN COALITION-BUILDING TO CREATE ENDURING, POSITIVE CHANGE FOR KAILUA’S NEARSHORE WATERS.

OUR MISSION IS TO RESTORE KAILUA’S SHALLOW-WATER ECOSYSTEMS—REEFS, FISH, AND MARINE LIFE—BY INCORPORATING HAWAIIAN ANCESTRAL PRACTICES WITH MODERN SCIENCE.

WHO WILL PROTECT THE REEF FROM NIGHT SPEARFISHING?

WHO WILL ADVOCATE FOR RECREATIONAL CARRYING CAPACITY?

WITH YOUR HELP WE WILL

ADVOCATE FOR PLACE-BASED MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHIER WATERS

CREATE FOOD SECURITY

COLLABORATE CANOE CLUBS TO BE GUARDIAN PROTECTORS

EDUCATE KEIKI ABOUT THE LEGACY THEY WILL INHERIT

PERPETUATE TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

UPLIFT A STRONG COMMUNITY THAT CARES ABOUT PROTECTING KAILUA

Donate Today

In addition to the KIRA racing series from January through May which includes the Molokai Challenge from Molokai to Oahu. KIRA also organizes the races for the development of Hawaii’s youth – RACE FOR HAWAII’S FUTURE, and the Na Wahine Ikaika in October that is a race specifically for women, helping empower and encourage Hawaii’s wahine to stay active, healthy and productive.

Veteran paddlers Jim Foti with his wife Joelle manage and operate KIRA along with a team of volunteers, and some outside services that KIRA outsources as paid services.  KIRA operates on paddler fees, sponsorships, donations and grants. If you would like to donate to KIRA or volunteer to help, please contact Jim Foti at jkfoti@gmail.com. All donations are tax deductible.