2023 Preview

Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association 2023

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 of all levels to foster competition, sportsmanship, and to develop confidence. 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.

2023 At a glance

• New sponsors: Welcome Shaw and Partners, Nico’s Kailua and Reyn Spooner.
• Each race is open to all open ocean paddle craft,
• Poai Puni racing series: Add your top 5 same-craft race scores (Including Outrigger Zone (OZONE) State Championship). Best score wins.
• KIALOA Competition continues: A different division will be chosen each race with a male and female division winner each earning KIALOA.COM gift certificates.
• The OZONE State Race course will shift to start from Hawaii Kai and end at Ewa Beach Puuloa Beach Park.
• MOLOKAI CHALLENGE. SHAW AND PARTNERS help bring back the Molokai Challenge on May 28th.  This year, for the first time, we plan to include a category for paddlers to race without a personal escort.  Those who want to be included in this category must apply and be screened by a safety panel.  If you are not known to the panel, you will be required to provide references.  This elite category will require each paddler to have a tracking device provided by the race, a VHF radio, a cell phone with a tracking app, a leash and a PFD.  There will be additional escorts on the course based on number of racers in this category, hence the entry fee will be higher than if you have a personal escort.
  • Molokai Kokua: This year a portion of every entry fee will be donated to Friends of Molokai.  Friends of Molokai is a non Profit organization dedicated to supporting the one and only middle and high school in Molokai.  Additional donations will be and are welcome at any time. Visit https://friendsofmolokai.com/ for more information about how to kokua or contact us.
  • Molokai Air travel…. Is more difficult these days due to a shortage of flight in and out of Molokai. If the situation doesn’t resolve itself in the upcoming months, we will consider chartering a flight(s) in the morning of the race, which will start a bit later than in the past.
• Modified age categories:
  • For the OC-1 the new categories will be:
    • Juniors – both 16 and under, and 18 and under.
    • 19 – 29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49 remain unchanged
    • 50 – 57 is the new 50 category vs. 50 – 56, and
    • 58 – 63, 64 –69, 70 – 74, 75+ are modified
  • For Surfski the new categories will be:
    • Male and Female: Jr. (18 & Under), 19-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60–69, 70+

DIVISIONS

Top 3 default to open in each craft category. 4^th place becomes 1^st 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:  (16 and under, and 18 & Under)   19-29,  30-39,   40-49,  50-57,  58-63,  64-69, 70 – 74, 70+
  • OC-2: Female Open,  Men Open,  Mixed Open
  • SURFSKI Male and Female: Jr. (18 & Under)   19-39,   40-49,  50-59,  60 – 69, 70+
  • 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:  (16 and under, and 18 & Under)   19-29,  30-39,   40-49,  50-57,  58-63,  64-69, 70–74, 70+
  • OC-2: Female Open,  Men Open,  Mixed Open
  • SURFSKI Male and Female: Jr. (18 & Under)   19-39,   40-49,  50-59,  60 – 69, 70+
  • 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.

In memory of Island Paddler’s Ron Coteen, there will be a V-1 prize awarded.  The better your ranking the more chance to win the V-1.

The Poai Puni Ocean Racing series is for discipline specific racing.  To rank in the POAI PUNI Ocean Racing Series, we take your best 5 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.  You need to race at least 3 of the 8 series races (Races #1- 8) 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.  

RACE FEES and REGISTRATION.

Pre race – online registration only.  No beach entries.  Online registration will always close 2 night before the event.

• Ron Coteen Poai Puni Ocean Racing Series races (races # 1-7)
  • Fee is $40.00 per person if you:
  • OC-3 and OC-6 is $35.00 per paddler.
  • JUNIORS (18 and under) are $20.00 off with discount code KIRAJR
• Oahu Coastal Relay
  • Single and double adult entry fee will be $45.00 per person.
  • OC-3 and OC-6 cost is $40.00 per paddler.
  • JUNIORS (18 and under) are discounted $20.00 with discount code KIRAJR.
• OUTRIGGER ZONE State Race
  • Single and double adult entries, fee will be $50.00 per person.
  • OC-3 and OC-6 cost is $45.00 per person.
  • JUNIORS (18 and under) are discounted $20.00 with discount code KIRAJR.

• SHAW AND PARTNERS Molokai Challenge
  • BEFORE April 30:
    • Solo adult entry fee for the elite, group escort category is TBD per person.
    • Solo junior elite, group escort category is TBD.00 per person with the $100.00 discount code MOLOJR
    • Solo or Relay adult entry fee for the personal escort category is TBD.00 per person.
    • Solo or Relay junior entry fee for the personal escort category is TBD.00 per person with $100.00 discount code MOLOJR
  • Entry between April 30 and May 14 is an additional $50.00 per person.
  • No registration after May 14
  • Entry fee includes:
    • Meal ticket at end of the race and the evening banquet
    • Event shirt and other goodies.
    • Raffle ticket to win Maui Jim sunglasses and other great prizes.
• Na Wahine Ikaika
  • $40.00 for single and double crafts.
  • OC-3 and OC-6 is $35.00 per paddler.
  • JUNIORS (18 and under) are $20.00 off with discount code KIRAJR

Register online through www.kanakaikaika.com or at www.flpregister.com.