1996 BANKOH NA WAHINE O KE KAI
OUTRIGGER CANOE CHAMPIONSHIP

SEPTEMBER 29 1996

WHAT: - The 18th annual 41-mile, women's Moloka`i-to-O`ahu world championship long-distance outrigger canoe race.

* 1996 marks the 20st anniversary of the first channel crossing by women paddlers. The efforts of the two original crews led to the start of the Na Wahine O Ke Kai in 1979.

WHEN: - Sunday, September 29, 1996.

WHERE: - Start: 7:30am at Moloka`i Ranch's Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka`i, across the Kaiwi (Moloka`i) channel to a finish at the Duke Kahanamoku Beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village. First finishers are expected between 1:00 - 1:30 pm.

WHO: - Approximately 50 crews from Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, French Polynnesia and the mainland United States.

* Produced by Na Wahine O Ke Kai.
* Sponsored as a community service by Bank of Hawai`i.
* Participating Sponsor - Hilton Hawaiian Village.
The Hilton Hawaiian village is hosting a media hospitality center on race day in the Rainbow Room of the Rainbow Tower.
* The O`ahu Aloha Festivals Royal Court will be on hand to welcome the winners.

HOW:


Open division koa and fiberglass teams have 10 paddlers, with six in the canoe at one time. Masters crew have 12 paddlers. Paddlers rotate open ocean changes while the canoe is in motion. Changes are scheduled strategically by individual coaches. Each canoe has an escort boat and race official.

DEFENDING CHAMPS & RECORD HOLDERS:
OffShore Canoe Club from Newport Beach, California. OffShore Outrigger Canoe Club won the race for the eighth time in a record five hours, 24 minutes, 32 seconds. The first seven teams finishing in 1995 broke Offshore's 1990 record 5:44.13.

NEW THIS YEAR: - For the first time in race history a one-time $3,000 cash prize is being offered by Chris Faria if a Hawai`i crew in a koa canoe finishes first overall. Faria's late wife Lei was the inspiration behind the race committee's determination to continue the dream of one day having women make the crossing. This prize is intended to encourage koa canoe paddling. If not first overall, the first Hawai`i crew to finish in a koa canoe will receive $1,000.

PRE RACE DINNER: - Saturday, September 28, 6 p.m., Kaluakoi Hotel & Golf Club. Sponsored by Molokai Ranch for paddlers, coaches and media

TV: - Fox TV 2 will broadcast live from the finish between 1 and 2 pm. A one-hour documentary will premier on Sunday, October 13 from 7pm to 8pm. It will be rebroadcast on Friday, October 18 at 9pm and Saturday, October 19 at 4:30pm.

RADIO - KCCN 1420 AM and 100.3 FM is the official radio station for coverage across the channel and at the finish.

RACE DIRECTOR: - Hannie Anderson, 423 Aulima Loop, Kailua, HI 96734.
'phone - 808-262-7567


Piia Aarma, Bank of Hawai`i 
P.O. Box  2900
Honolulu, HI  96846  
Phone: 808-537-8660 
Fax: 808-537-8440
Internet: http://holoholo.org/wahine/

PRESS BOATS: - Available by advance reservation.

SATELLITE: - Edited satellite news feeds of the race will be sent worldwide following the race finish.

*Hele On Home

Last Modified: Wednesday - 07-10-96
Copyright © 1996, HoloHolo Internet Publishing, all rights reserved.