Hiʻilani O Ke Kai hosts annual canoe race in Monterey

MONTEREY — Hiʻilani O Ke Kai will host its annual Memorial Day Hoe Waʻa outrigger canoe race Saturday at Del Monte Beach.

Starting at 8 a.m. and going until about 2 p.m., organizers say the race celebrates the outrigger canoe paddling community and Polynesian navigation traditions tied to Hawaiian culture.

Founded in 1984, Hiʻilani O Ke Kai began as a family-based paddling club with support from Hawaiian elders and local paddlers interested in creating an outrigger canoe community in Monterey. The nonprofit organization now has more than 200 members and includes both paddling and hula programs.

The annual Memorial Day Hoe Waʻa race has been held for more than 30 years and serves as one of the opening races of the season for the Northern California Outrigger Canoe Association.

"We are excited about people coming out," said Hi'ilani O Ke Kai spokesperson Becky Abbott. "It's an opportunity to showcase our paddling and hula communities which are both so integral to the culture."

The event regularly draws clubs from across Northern California with 19 different outrigger clubs coming together from Napa down to Monterey and all over the Bay Area.

Race distances will include 2-mile races for junior crews, 5-mile races for novice crews and 10-mile races for open and masters crews. The race course follows the Monterey Bay coastline, past Aquarium and the Hopkins Marine Station as teams head out toward Pacific Grove and then back to Del Monte Beach. Organizers said the event typically attracts about 300 paddlers ranging in age from 12 to more than 80 years old. Race fees are $25 per paddler, $150 per crew ($30 per junior crew).

"It's a great opportunity to come together and kick off the medium to long distance part of the season,” Abbott said.

Club members say the club's multigenerational structure is one of its defining features, and this year is expected to bring out another broad crowd including both children and older adults.

Spectators are invited to attend the event, which will also include hula performances and cultural activities throughout the day.

For more information about the club visit https://paddle.kekai.org/.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 2:09 PM.