A large contingent of Hawaiian paddlers will be gracing Rarotonga’s shores for Vaka Eiva, including some who participated in the inaugural event in 2004.

Among the visiting paddlers is the gold medal-winning 60s crew from this year’s Samoa World Distance Championships. This world-class team, which also won their division in the prestigious Queen Liliókalani race in Hawaii in September, is looking forward to enjoying some sun and fun in Rarotonga.

Steerer, Denise Darval Chang, who has participated in three Vaka Eiva events (2008, 2009, and 2010), is eager to return to Rarotonga.

“I enjoy Vaka Eiva because the week of racing allows participants to paddle in several races, the Iron, Change and the Fun Sprints,” said Chang.

“Rarotonga is where we come to race for more than the race itself. 

“Of course, we paddle to win, but really it is a race that you get to meet new people, reconnect with friends from other countries, and where we all share the passion of paddling, it allows for so much more than the race.”

Her teammates are coming together from three different islands. Chang, Pauahi Ioane, Shien Le Stokesbury, who were all present for the very first Vaka Eiva in 2004, and Jane McKee, who has a number of titles to her paddling resume, are all from Oahu. Tee Felgate is from Maui, and silver medal SM60s V1 medallist Lynn Christensen from Kauai are both here for their first Vaka Eiva.

The team is staying with Cook Islands master paddler Serena Hunter, who paddled with Chang in a mixed Hawaiian/New Zealand crew for the 2007 Na Wahine O Ke Kai (Molokai crossing) where the team was hosted by Chang and her family.

The Dreaming in the Cook Islands with Friends masters’ women’s team is a group of paddling friends from Hawaii and California who have been wanting to join Vaka Eiva for many years.

Joy Brahmst, captain of the crew, said, “Finally, we’ve been able to make it happen.”

Some live in California and some in Hawaii, and since they have such a strong friendship through paddling, they all planned to be together again at Vaka Eiva for a reunion as well.

“We are definitely looking forward to the races, but we are also just enjoying the island, we’ve hiked up the needle, gone scuba diving, snorkelling and visited Aitutaki,” said Brahmst.

“The island and Aitutaki is so beautiful, we are so blessed, and everything is so well organised.

“We are also Maui strong and thinking of people in Maui devastated by the fire.”

The team also has friends who have sailed from Hawaii to Rarotonga via the Marquesas and Tahiti to meet up with them. The ‘Redemption’ vessel arrived in Avatiu port last week.

Other Hawaiian crews participating in this year’s Vaka Eiva include the Anuenue Canoe Club, Hawaiian Outriggers, and Lanikai.

Aloha and Kia Orana to our Hawaiian and US paddling friends!