Indigenous athletes can rarely represent their homeland on the international stage because their ʻāina remains occupied by colonizers. But every year, during the world championships of outrigger canoe racing, Native Hawaiians proudly paddle under ka hae Hawaiʻi.
“He kūpono ka hana ʻana ma lalo o ka hae Hawaiʻi no ka mea ma ka nānā i nā hōʻailona e kū ana ma nā hale peʻa he hōʻike no kēlā me kēia hui.” (Pīkī Hayward of Kona’s Kai ʻEhitu Canoe Club says competing under ka hae Hawaiʻi is appropriate because every other group is represented by their flag)
Hayward was one of more than 2,800 paddlers from 27 countries gathered at Hilo One (“sands of Hilo”) in August for the 2024 International Vaʻa Federation (IVF) World Sprints Championships – often called the Olympics of outrigger canoe paddling. Hilo native Alana Cabatu of Puna Canoe Club was there as well. She competed in the Open and 40s Women.
“To be able to represent Hilo One, our stomping grounds, our wahi pana at the highest level at world sprints, there’s no greater honor,” said Cabatu.
She was one of 336 paddlers from across the pae ʻāina representing Team Hawaiʻi, which had the largest representation at the event.
“It means everything that Indigenous people can see themselves on a piece of paper, on TV representing their country,” says Cabatu, “It really starts to shift the narrative of this place. We don’t represent a state, we represent a country.”
Puna Canoe Club steerswoman Julein Haunani Keamo says she was very happy to race under ka hae Hawaiʻi.
“A laila komo ka ʻaoʻao kuleana. Oiai ma lalo o Amelika ʻokoʻa ke ʻano o ke kuanaʻike, ʻaʻole like ka noʻonoʻo no ke kuleana.” (Keamo says this privilege comes with kuleana and there isn’t the same sense of kuleana in competing for America)
Darlene Iokepa Kakalia, a lifetime member of Hilo’s Kamehameha Canoe Club and its predecessor, the Prince David Kawananākoa Canoe Club, says representing Hawaiʻi is empowering for the lāhui.
“This is the one event that I know of that allows Hawaiʻi to be its own country, and that has made a big impression on a lot of Native Hawaiians here. It makes us even prouder – and prouder because it’s here in Hilo,” said Iokepa.
“The Hilo community knows how to rally,” said Sue Lee Loy, Hawaiʻi County Councilmember for Keaukaha, Panaʻewa, and Waiākea Uka.
“I mean talk about different adversities that come up, the different communities had to come together, the food trucks and vendors down at Bayfront, the security, the canoe paddlers – everybody in Hilo got together and made it happen,” Lee Loy added.
“This is an amazing opportunity for us to share the culture that we have here in Hawaiʻi with the world, and to see our canoe clubs from across the state and especially our island representing us so well,” Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth said.
This isn’t the first time Hilo Hanakahi hosted world sprints. In 2004, former Kamehameha Canoe Club head coach, the late John Kekua, convinced the International Vaʻa Federation to bring the race to Hilo Bay. Hayward remembers the race and says he’s seen the sport’s popularity grow ever since.
“Kuhi wau mamuli o kēlā wā o ka maʻi ahulau. Ua hoʻomaka e nui nā kānaka ma ka hoe waʻa ʻana ke koʻokahi. Ma ka hoʻi hou i ka hui like ʻana loaʻa mai ka waʻa e hui like ai. A laila ua nui maila nā kanaka e hoe ana i kēia manawa.” (Hayward says he assumes its because of the pandemic that lots of people began paddling one-man outrigger canoes. Once social distancing ended and the six-man canoes returned, the number of paddlers grew)
Paddling is one of the most popular sports in Hawaiʻi with a UH study finding one-in-five residents having paddled. The sport is even higher in popularity among Native Hawaiians, where 42% have participated in the activity. There’s also a healing nature to being out on the ocean, being part of a team, and connecting to history and culture.
Keamo says there are a lot of Hawaiʻi paddlers who have no exposure to ʻike Hawaiʻi outside of the sport.
“ʻAʻohe pōʻaiapili e hoʻoulu ai i ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, ke kuanaʻike Hawaiʻi, me ka lawena Hawaiʻi. No laila ke komo ka poʻe ma kēia pōʻaiapili Hawaiʻi, hiki ke hoʻoulu i kēlā ʻaoʻao.” (Keamo says there’s no other opportunity to develop an understanding of Hawaiian language, perspective, and behaviors. But when people enter this uniquely Hawaiian space, they can strengthen their ʻike Hawaiʻi).
