| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Lanakila |
|
Club History History of Outrigger |
| How To Join |
|
Information |
| Information |
|
Practice Schedule Juniors Program Coaches Corner NEW Race Schedule |
| News |
| Newsletter |
| Photos |
| View Photos |
| Our Sponsors |
| Sponsors |
| Members [login] |
| Site Admin [login] |
| Contact Info |
|
Contact Us Info: 310-798-1857 |
| Email Alert |
History of Lanakila Outrigger Club
| 1969 / | 1970 / | 1971 / | 1974 / | 1975 / | 1980 / | 1981 / | 1983 / | 1992 / | 1993 / | 1994 / | 1998 / | 2000 | 2001 |
PAGE 2 of 7 PREVIOUS / NEXT
In 1971, new coach Ralph Hanalei asked and received permission to store the
canoes inside King Harbor under the pilings of the Harbor Master's building.
It was hoisted up 15 feet every day with block and tackle, which was
dangerous, and time consuming, especially when the tide was very low.
Occasionally, after practices the slippery hulls combined with tired hands
resulted in a canoe slipping and falling. The good news was that they were
finally in the harbor and away from the windy beach.
After a year under the pilings, Al made a suggestion relocate the entire operation to a near-by empty lot. But in order to do this, he suggested that they would have to carry the canoes over a steep rampart of large boulders to reach the lot. It was met with much opposition and discussion by the club.
One day after practice, without warning Al told the crews to pick up the canoe and carry it over the boulders. The paddlers argued, but Al was determined. They placed an old carpet down and two crews of barefooted men managed to haul the heavy canoe to the lot. Soon after, they began building wooden ramps and a floating dock. Lanakila had finally found a home. Today, it remains as the most unusual outrigger launching site in California. The dues were $5.00 per paddler, and included a t-shirt, but it was still too steep for some.
Lanakila went through the usual growing pains as with any new club, bringing up the rear of the pack. When 1973 ended, a group of paddlers with new ideas and different ideals broke off and formed the Nahoa Outrigger Club within the harbor.
About this time a group of Hawaiian college students from Kona joined
the club. 
One in particular, 18 year old Jerome Kanuha persuaded the club to
enter the Queen Liliuokalani Race. Sending a men and women crew to Kona, the
club was treated to the most wonderful hospitality by Jerome's family,
starting a life long friendship with Jerome and Al.
At the end of 1974 Ralph Hanalei had left for Hawaii along with most of the paddlers, leaving Mike Jacobs and Al as the only ones remaining from the original group.