The sun was already brightly beaming at 8 a.m. on Feb. 12 as participants and spectators gathered around one of the canals at the Polynesian Cultural Center for the annual Seasider Sports Canoe Race event.
Freshman and elementary education major Melody Christman from Utah said she formed a team with her good friends from a rugby team activity. After returning from her team’s first race, Christman said, “The racing was really intense and fun, but more than anything it was unity-based. I totally recommend other students to participate in these kinds of events because even if [they’re] not very good at it, they’re a ton of fun.”
To begin the race, teams were called to their canoes before competing for the fastest time down the canal and back.
The boats went down the narrow river until going just out of sight from the spectators’ view. After crossing under a bridge, each canoe, supported by a professional rower manning the back position of the canoe, would turn around and speed back to the starting point. The crowds cheered on the teams as each canoe came back for the homestretch.
Amongst the many competing teams, one team named “The Wet Ones” performed a time of over 20-seconds faster than the second-placing team in the first race times.
Sophomore and business management major Makaiah Gorham from British Columbia, Canada, said his team “wanted to win subtly.” He added his team members are “all entrepreneurs” because they all create and jump on new ideas.
Business management major and junior Joel Howard from Texas said if his team won, as a reward they would “go to McDonalds.”
Prior to the event’s beginning, one participant, freshman Parker Craze from South Carolina whose major is undeclared, said he had no prior training experience but had been on several boats. Craze explained his team wasn’t the only one that signed up “spur-of-the-moment” for this race because due to the simple sign-up nature of the event, most participants joined only days prior to the race.
Laie community member and drummer Taoahere Teriierooiterai said he was one of the drummers at the canoe race. He explained their drumming is all freestyle. He added many members of the drum group “just started playing the toere drum recently.
Regardless of the fastest team, all participants and spectators were treated to pizza and other refreshments.