2019 Preview

Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association 2019

Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association (KIRA) is Hawaii’s premier all around 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. KIRA supports and promotes 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.

2019 At a glance

• New sponsors: Welcome STRYVE – Biltong Snacks and PEETES COFFEE
• EACH RACE IS OPEN TO ALL PADDLE CRAFTS, even if there is a “series” race emphasizing a different craft on the day. You can still paddle the craft of your choice.
• POAI PUNI OCEAN RACING SERIES: Combines points of discipline specific racing.  Take your best 4 out of 7 scores and add up the points for the winner.  It is the umbrella for the multi discipline MAUI JIM WATERMAN SERIES.
• MAUI JIM Waterman Series will return for it’s 6th season of multi discipline racing.
• KAI WA’A Kualoa Challenge will be an OC-2 emphasized race. Again, race what you like, but bust out the OC-2 on this day! Male, Female or Mixed.
• KIALOA Competition returns: A different division will be chosen each race with a male and female division winning KIALOA.COM gift certificates.
• ANCHOR SYSTEMS HAWAII RUMBLE ON THE REEF. Back to normal KIRA racing format of all crafts, long and short course, this will be a Kailua Bay race with a start and finish at the same spot. Kailua offers every ocean condition in one triangle course.
• The MAUI JIM Oahu Coastal Relay will again return to its earlier date as a warm up to the PAA Kaiwi Relay as part of MAJORS – the MAUI JIM OCEAN RACING SERIES. www.mauijimmajors.com. It will be on Sunday March 24th.
• The State Race title sponsor will shift to OUTRIGGER ZONE. The course will, weather and surf permitting, start again from Waimanalo beach and go around Rabbit Island before heading down the coast and finishing at Kaimana Beach. Saturday April 06.
• THE HCRA V-1 DISTANCE QUALIFIER race will be run by KIRA for the 2019 IVF distance championship race in Australia. The trial will be held off Sand Island on Sunday April 07.
• SHAW AND PARTNERS helps bring back the Pre-Molokai Makapu’u dash! The date is Sunday May 19.
• The 44th annual MAUI JIM Molokai Challenge will be on Sunday May 26th. The finish will again be at the KONA BREW PUB at KOKO MARINA SHOPPING CENTER. However, this year, there will be an evening awards banquet at the LOTUS HOTEL in Waikiki supported by SHAW AND PARTNERS.
• The PACIFIC HONDA-KA LAHUI KAI For Hawaii’s Future race will be held on Sunday July 07 and will again be from Hawaii Kai to Sand Island. This is a change race for either all juniors, or for crews that mix juniors and adult to “share knowledge”. The main rule is that you have to have junior paddlers in the canoe.
• Na Wahine Ikaika will run for the 6th year on Saturday, Oct. 05. This is a Hawaii Kai run just for women.
• 2019 will be the 27th annual LANIKAI COLD PACK CLASSIC on Saturday, December 14. This is a short, fun race in Lanikai which has a separate race for the keiki (skill level pending – it’s open to all juniors). It is free for kids 18 and under.

DIVISIONS

Top 3 default to open in each craft category. 4th place becomes 1st place in one of the age groups (or board size category for SUP and Prone). IN MOST RACES KIRA HAS
CATEGORIES FOR THE FOLLOWING DIVISIONS in both long and short courses:

• Surfski-1 and Surfski-2
• OC-1; OC-2; OC-3; OC-6.
• V-1
• SUP and Prone paddleboards are short course only:
  • Stand Up Paddleboards: 14’ and under – no rudder and Unlimited. If there are more than 3 x 12’6” boards and 3 x 14’ boards, we’ll make a 12’6” division.*
  • Prone Paddleboard: Stock and Unlimited. IF there are more than 3 Unlimited and 3 stock 12’ boards per race, we’ll make 2 divisions.*
• Long Course categories
  • OC-1 Male and Female: Jr. (18 & Under) 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-56, 57-63, 64-69, 70+
  • OC-2: Female Open, Men Open, Mixed Open
  • SURFSKI Male and Female: Jr. (18 & Under) 19-39, 40-49, 50- 59, 60+
  • Surfski-2: Female Open, Male Open, Mixed Open
  • V-1 Rudderless Canoe: Female Open, Male Open
  • OC-3: Open (men, women or mixed – 1 division)
  • OC-6: Female Open, Male Open, Mixed Open
• Short Course categories
  • OC-1 Male and Female: Jr. (18 & Under) 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-56, 57-63, 64-69, 70+
  • OC-2: Female Open, Men Open, Mixed Open
  • SURFSKI Male and Female: Jr. (18 & Under) 19-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+
  • Surfski-2: Female Open, Male Open, Mixed Open
  • V-1 Rudderless Canoe: Female Open, Male Open
  • OC-3: Open
  • OC-6: Female Open, Male Open, Mixed Open
  • SUP Male and Female: 14’ rudderless, Unlimited (see above)*
  • Prone Paddleboard Male and Female: Stock, Unlimited (see above)*

POAI PUNI OCEAN RACING SERIES:

The Poai Puni Ocean Racing series is for discipline specific racing. To rank in the POAI PUNI Ocean Racing Series, we take your best 4 finishes of races you have completed in the same craft (V-1 counts towards OC-1 points, but OC-1 does NOT count towards V-1 points) and tally your points. However, you need to race at least 3 of the 7 series races (Races #1- 7) to have a final ranking. Tie breakers will be determined by statistics of head to head racing, and if still a tie, the Outrigger Zone State Race will determine the winner. There are short course points and long course points. The top 3 winners in the long course for each individual paddle discipline (OC-1, Surfski, SUP and Prone Paddleboard), male and female will earn free entry to the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge on May 26.

MAUI JIM WATERMAN SERIES:

Multi-craft racing series
Returning again is the MAUI JIM Waterman series, which is a 5 race series within the POAI PUNI Ocean Racing Series that utilizes a different paddle disciplines during each selected event to determine the best all-around waterman/woman. There are 5 disciplines: OC-1, Surfski, SUP (14’ rudderless), 12’ Prone Paddleboard and V-1.

Points
The point designation will be based on your overall finish in the designated craft division for the day. There are 5 races in the Waterman Series, of which paddlers will earn points for their best 4 finishes. The point system will be as follows:
1st place = 100 points
2nd place =98 points
3rd place = 97 points
4th place = 96 points
5th place = 95 points
6th place = 94 points
Etc…

At the end of the series, add the points from each race entered (minimum 2 and maximum 4), and the paddler with the most points win. Men and Women will be scored on their own point scale. You only need to enter 2 waterman events to qualify points.

Prizes
Each MAUI JIM Waterman race will have a cash purse for the top 3 male and female finishers. Also each race will have a hot spot along the course where the first male and female paddler will win a cash bonus, however, to earn the hot spot bonus you must finish the race. There will be cumulative series points to determine the overall series winners.

MAUI JIM Waterman Series – Purse for each race

EACH RACE IS OPEN TO ALL CRAFTS, however, if you want to vie for the Waterman points, you should participate in the designated water craft for each “Waterman series” race. The designated races are noted on the race schedule, and listed below:

1. Race #1 Sunday, Jan. 06. EPIC KAYAKS MAKAILUA: Makai Pier to Kailua, (Surfski)
2. Race #2 Saturday Jan. 19. KIALOA TO KAIMANA: Hawaii Kai–Kaimana Beach (Prone)
3. Race #4 Saturday Feb. 09. KONA BREWING CO Pokai Bay Pound (V-1)
4. Race #6 Sunday March 03. Hawaii Kai – Magic Island (OC-1)
5. Race #7 Saturday March 16. ALLSTATE OAHU CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunset to Haleiwa (SUP)

KIALOA COMPETITION: A different division will be chosen each race, with a male and female winner. Prize is a $250.00 KIALOA coupon which can go towards the purchase of a KIALOA paddle or merchandise of your choice at www.kialoa.com.

KAI WA’A Kualoa Challenge will be an OC-2 emphasized race. Again, race what you like, but bust out the OC-2 on this day! Male, Female or Mixed. Prize money for Male, Female and Mixed divisions for the top 3 finishers in each category. Haleiwa Joe’s will provide lunch!

ANCHOR SYSTEMS HAWAII RUMBLE ON THE REEF
Features the classic Lanikai / Kailua triangle run. Features conditions that are up wind, downwind and a side wind. Start and finish in one place, it’s an easy format with lunch from TIMMY T’S GOURMET GRINDERS: Ono sandwiches.

KONA BREWING CO. Pokai Bay Pound
Bringing a race back to the West Side. It’s been 15 years or so since there’s been a good west side race of this type. Start and Finish from Pokai Bay in Waianae this is a race not to miss.

MAUI JIM Coastal Relay.
The MAUI JIM Oahu Coastal Relay is back to its original date as a warm up for the PAA Kaiwi OC-1 Relay. As there are 3 land change transition points where the paddlers congregate and wait for their partners’ arrival, it is perhaps the most enjoyable race of the year. With 4 diverse segments from Kailua to Waikiki, there are different ocean conditions each stage. Open to all paddle crafts. However, Prone and SUP are only open to the last 2 legs. There’s a cash purse for the OC-1, 2 person, long course division for men, women and mixed.

OUTRIGGER ZONE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday April 06. The OUTRIGGER ZONE State Championship is a culmination of the season featuring a 20 mile challenge from Windward Oahu’s Waimanalo beach to Kaimana beach, around Rabbit Island and the south east end of the island. SCOTT HAWAII SLIPPERS will be in each race packet as previous years.

HCRA’s IVF WORLD DISTANCE QUALIFYER RACE FOR THE V-1
Sunday April 07. Come for the State race and stay for the IVF V-1 distance championship qualifier race. The IVF V-1 distance championship will be held in Australia mid July 2019. V-1s only. Race start and finish at Sand Island. Open and age groups: 19 & under (no 16 & under), 40+, 50+, and 60+ will be an 8-10 mile course and the 70+ age category will be a 5-6 mile course.

SHAW & PARTNERS Makapu’u Dash
The SHAW & PARTNERS EPIC Makapu’u Dash is a great warm up for the MAUI JIM Molokai Challenge one week later. The course gives paddlers a taste of the final stretch of what they will experience during the MAUI JIM Molokai Challenge.

MAUI JIM Molokai Challenge
The most challenging and iconic race in the world, the MAUI JIM Molokai Challenge is on Sunday May 26. This year the finish line will again return to the KONA BREW PUB in Koko Marina Shopping Center. Renown as the solo surfski world championship, the MAUI JIM Molokai Challenge is also open to other ocean paddle crafts including all OCs, SUPs, Prone paddleboards and double surfskis. Paddlers can choose to race solo or in a relay format. The SHAW and PARTNERS awards banquet will be at the LOTUS Hotel in Waikiki in the evening.

PACIFIC HONDA-KA LAUHI KAI “For Hawaii’s Future” Race. Sunday July 07
This is the 9 person youth race encourages youth paddlers to mix in the same crews as adults, to share their knowledge. This year the course will again be from Hawaii Kai to Sand Island. For Hawaii’s Future Race has the best format to teach the youth how to paddle and race the big canoes in the big league. There’s nothing like it.

NA WAHINE IKAIKA
The Na Wahine Ikaika is an all-women’s race from Hawaii Kai to Kaimana beach. Na Wahine Ikaika is designed to empower and encourage women to challenge themselves and realize their potential.

LANIKAI COLD PACK CLASSIC
Last but not least, this will be the 27th annual. Bring your favorite drink for the canoe cooler after the race. Also featuring keiki races prior to the main event. Saturday December 14th.

RACE FEES and REGISTRATION.
Listed prices are for pre-registration. Late/beach registration will add $10.00 per paddler. Maui Jim Molokai late registration is an additional $45.00 with no beach registration option.

• Poai Puni Ocean Racing Series races (races # 1-7 & 10)
  • Fee is $32.00 per person if you:
    • Mail in your registration at least 4 days prior to the event.
    • Pre-register online.
  • OC-3 cost is $90.00 per crew with pre-registration.
  • OC-6 cost is $180.00 per crew with pre-registration.
  • JUNIORS (18 and under) are $12.00 with pre-registration.
• MAUI JIM Oahu Coastal Relay
  • Single and double adult entries, fee will be $45.00 per person if you:
    • Mail in your registration at least 4 days prior to the event.
    • Pre-register online.
  • OC-3 cost is $240.00 per crew with pre-registration.
  • OC-6 cost is $480.00 per crew with pre-registration.
  • JUNIORS (18 and under) are $25.00 per person with pre-registration.
• OUTRIGGER ZONE State Race
  • Single and double adult entries, fee will be $45.00 per person if you:
    • Mail in your registration at least 4 days prior to the event.
    • Pre-register online.
  • OC-3 cost is $120.00 per crew with pre-registration
  • OC-6 cost is $240.00 per crew with pre-registration.
  • JUNIORS (18 and under) are $25.00 with pre-registration.
• HCRA V-1 DISTANCE QUALIFIER
  • $25.00 per entry
• MAUI JIM Molokai Challenge
  • BEFORE April 29:
    • Solo adult entry fee is $230.00 per person.
    • Solo juniors are $115.00 per person.
    • Relay adult entry fee is $200.00 per person.
    • Relay juniors are $100.00 per person for relay.
  • Late entry is an additional $45.00 per person.
  • Entry fee includes:
    • Meal ticket at Kona Brew Pub and the SHAW and PARTNERS awards banquet at the LOTUS Hotel.
    • Free Kona Brewing Co. beer tickets
    • Event shirt, Scott Hawaii slippers and other goodies.
    • Raffle ticket to win Maui Jim sunglasses and other great prizes.
  • PACIFIC HONDA – Ka Lahui Kai For Hawaii’s Future” Knowledge Sharing Race
    • $180.00 per crew pre-registration. $270.00 on race day.
  • Na Wahine Ikaika
    • $40.00 pre-registration for single and double crafts. $50.00 on race day
    • $210.00 pre-registration for OC-6. $270.00 on race day
    • $105.00 pre-registration for OC-3. $135.00 on race day
• Race day/late registration fee is always an additional $10.00 per paddler.

Register online through www.flpregister.com.