Almost 300 stand-up-paddlers headed to Maliko Gulch in Haiku Saturday for the 4th Annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a, Maui’s most popular downwind SUP races. Attendance has nearly tripled since the first OluKai event.
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Hosted by California’s OluKai Footwear, this SUP race is unique on Maui because the $15,000 prize money is awarded equally to winners to both men and women in the elite division.
After a noon opening blessing on the beach, hundreds of yellow-shirted paddlers headed out of the bay and paddled west past north shore beach spots for the 8-mile downwind run to Kanaha Beach Park.
Turning in toward the park, paddlers made one last 300-yard sprint on the beach to the finish line near the Canoe Club Hale.
After a feast of local grinds and drinks, all were treated to Hawaiian entertainment from Lae’ula O Kai Canoe Club director Sharon Balidoy’s halau, and prize giveaways ceremony.
The Winners
Before announcing the winners, OluKai presented donations from their generous Ohana Giveback Program to beneficiaries Paia Youth & Cultural, Lae’ula O Kai Canoe Club, Maui Cultural Lands, and the Hawaiin Lifeguard Association, which received $20,000 toward their junior training programs.
The party continued into the early evening with more live Hawaiian entertainment, including a rousing performance from Ekolu Kalama, a world champion stand-up-paddler and popular recording artist from Molokai.
Men’s Elite SUP Top 5
- Connor Baxter (Maui) 47 minutes, 28 seconds
- Travis Grant (Australia) 48 minutes, 28 seconds
- Danny Ching (Hawaii) 48 minutes, 39 seconds
- Dave Kalama (Maui) – 48 minutes, 46 seconds
- Jamie Mitchell (Australia) – 48 minutes, 58 seconds
Women’s Elite SUP Top 5
- Andrea Moller (Haiku) – 56 minutes, 45 seconds
- Talia Gangini, Haiku 58 minutes, 6 seconds
- Devin Blish, Makawao 58 minutes, 31 seconds
- Terrene Black, Australia – 1 hour
- Jenny Kalbach, Honolulu – 1hour, 1 minute and 1 second
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Love your article about sup from maliko to kanaha. Lets do it again…