I have paddled in Kahului Harbor for the last forty-seven years and for Hawaiian Canoe Club for the past twenty-eight years.  My first club was Kahului Canoe Club where I learned important Hawaiian values and a love paddling from reknown Waikiki watermen, David Kahanamoku and Harry Fields. Our koa canoes were, Hanakeoki and Patches, given to us through Uncles Harry and David by Outrigger Canoe Club. Kahului Canoe Club evolved over time into Na Kai Ewalu in the early 1970's. I was President of NKE from 1974-76 during which time we won our first County championship. I attended law school from 1976-79. During my summers, I paddled for Kihei Canoe Club under Dutchy Kino from whom I learned to embrace and appreciate the ever-changing aspects of paddling.  All of my mentors were passionate about paddling and reflections of the Hawaiian culture.  They did not talk about Hawaiian values, they lived them. In 1979, I returned home permanently looking for an opportunity to give back to my community through canoe paddling and the preservation of our island lifestyle.  I decided  to join Hawaiian Canoe Club because of it's history, Hawaiian foundation and the opportunity for growth through traditional Hawaiian values the club presented.  We had only two canoes, Keoni and Kealoha and five crews.  We celebrated the first time we scored ten points in a regatta.  I am proud to have been a part of the growth, 'ohana and success of this Club and look forward to continued dedication to our mission statement of the perpetuation and preservation of Hawaiian canoe paddling through personal growth and character development rooted in traditional cultural values.
   

Diane Ho

Cell Ph: 281-1051

Patty Rycroft - Assistant Head Coach

Patty Rycroft

Ka'uhane Lu'uwai - Keiki Division Head Coach & 50/55/60 Women

DOB: 02/05/63
Place of Birth: Canton Island South Pacific
Began Paddling: 1981
First Coach: Dutchy Kino
Coaching: First started coaching in 1982, I assisted Guy Helm with the few kids crews we had. I was still paddling for the 18 boys division. Not sure when it happened 1984 or 85, I took over the Keiki division and have been coaching them for the past 25 years. We have won over 100 keiki medals at States and have won 11 keiki State tittles.

Other than the Keiki Division I have also coached other crews throughout the years. I coached the men's division for 2 years at the same time I was coaching the kids, 1988-1990. Coached the Novice Men and Women division for 2 years , 1991-1993. I am unsure of the year, however I coached the Women's division for 1 very long year. The kids are my true passion. This year I will also be coaching the 50, 55, and 60 Master Women for the first time along with Johnny Mac.

I began paddling the summer I graduated from St. Anthony HS. I was looking for something to keep me in shape and to have as much fun as possible. I played 4 years of football, 4 years of basketball, 4 years of cross county, and 4 years of track and field in high school, so paddling was very new for me. My two brothers also started paddling at the same time. They were on the Novice men crew and I was 18 boys. Because of my late birthday I got to paddle 18 boys for 3 years. I remember the men's crew just waiting for some of us to move up to the adult division. Dutchy Kino, Guy Helm, Ruby Hamili and Joani Wong coached us as 18 boys. We won the first gold medal in a mens division at Freshmen men a few years later. It was such a big deal back then because our club was so small, only 10 crews or so. I remember D Ho and Aunty Mary paddling Masters back then and were the best crew we had in our club for 6-8 years.

My grandfather and my whole ohana used to paddle. They were very good friends with John Lake. I found out though Uncle Benny that my granddad used to steer John Lake's crew. Many of my cousins and uncles paddled for Kahului CC and then Hawaiian.

I have paddled 15 Moloka'i Hoe races, and coached around 10 crews across the Moloka'i Hoe. I took 5th place in the Hoe my last year living on O'ahu, before finishing college.

Hawaiian Canoe Club has been the only club I have paddle for in my 26 years of paddling. I have coached over 2000 kids over the 25 years. We average between 100-180 kids for the past 10 years or so. I have had many assistant coaches in the past, but I adore most of all Uncle Chacha, and Iokepa. They have been with me through the good and bad times. We have taken kids from our club to Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Sacramento, Moloka'i, Lana'i and of course the sacred island of Kaho'olawe.
 

Ka'uhane Lu'uwai

Cell Ph: 268-1755

Rick Nu'u

DOB: 02/28/1969
Place of Birth: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Began paddling: 1999
First coach: Illima Kalama
Coaching: OC-6 Men’s Novice B; OC-1 individual coaching and training program design

Although I was landlocked until the age of 30, I still spent my formative years in, on, and under the water. I was a competitive swimmer from the age of 4, and often joke that I should have been born with gills. My passion for swimming has only been eclipsed by my passion for outrigger paddling. In college, I was fortunate enough to be coached by Earnest Maglischo, who was a pioneer in using lactate testing to train and develop national caliber athletes. Since staring OC coaching, I have been “borrowing” extensive research information from swimming and cross-country skiing (both quadri-pedal events, like paddling) to develop appropriate training programs and protocols to help OC athletes reach their full potential, with very good results.

As a paddler, I received solid coaching from a number of incredible watermen and Olympic caliber coaches, including Illima Kalama, Malama Chun, Kawika Williams, Alan Carlsson, and Richard Nu’u. I have learned different principles and philosophies from each coach and try to apply the best from each to every athlete I work with.

In the area of OC-1 coaching, I have acquired and honed skills in sports motion analysis, using video captured directly to computer to analyze stroke technique and biomechanics; lactate testing protocols and results interpretation to determine appropriate training levels and intensities; computerized training program design and fatigue monitoring; and nutrition and strength training programs which complement on-water training. I expect to utilize these skills for the benefit of Hawaiian Canoe Club paddlers as the Men’s Novice B coach this season.

Let’s have a great season!
 

Don Mehling

Kai Bartlett

DOB: 9/6/1961
Place of Birth: Wailuku, Maui
Began paddling: 1974
First coach: Uncle Benny Lake
Coaching: Keiki division assistant coach 1993
Novice A&B, wmn 2002 – present
Open Wmn, 2004

I began paddling for Hawaiian Canoe Club in 1974 at the age of 12. I chose HCC because my father paddled here when the club was just beginning. I haven’t paddled for any other club since. In 1974, HCC had only one malia, “Keoni”, named after John Lake. The next year we got our second malia and named in after Aunty Kealoha. We didn’t have a hale, so our canoes were kept on the grass on Na Kai Ewalu Canoe Club’s property, and our plywood blade, pine shaft paddles were kept in their hale. The only piece of furniture we owned was a plank nailed between two ironwoods that served as a bench. That bench also served as a massage table where Uncle Benny used to give lomilomi to our whole 13 boys crew everyday before practice. Those were the days.
 

Iokepa Nae’ole

Quality Control Advisors to Staff

Felipe Gomes

JB Guard IV

Kekoa Cramer