Puna's Story!

Almost a year ago in April 2023, I visited my Sister -in-love, (sister in law) Toni Kuʻuleike Marston Kalama at a sleepover at the Hilton Hotel @ Los Angeles Airport.  We ate, talked and shared memories that warmed both of us.  In the 7 hours together, the reflection of the beautiful art that Toni created, the logo, her original artwork of the profile and frontal full-faced body and paddle of “Na Wahine o Ke Kai,”came to the forefront of our conversation.
Toni told me she had the original artwork saved in her computer!  Astonishing! (I went there to encourage her to come back to Hawaii and visit the family and all the haunts of our youth).
I left Toni the next morning for Kauai and my flight
back  home was filled with people, names, places and memories,  important, very important memories.
“Na Wahine o Ke Kai,”  a renowned womenʻs Hawaiian canoe race, known all over the world, and yet the inspirational influences that brought us to this point were no longer recognised or thought, least of all, thanked for their contributions!
Baby Bell, Head Coach for Healani Canoe had a winning crew of women.  Not wanting to wait for the planned program in two years, he announced that he would take his women across the Kaiwi Channel October 1974 after the Menʻs Race, earlier that month. 
Planning for an official crossing in conjunction with the summer Olympics in 1976, we answered Healaniʻs call and with 2 & ½ weeks notice from Healani,  Onipaʻa was created. Our team consisted of 21 paddlers made up of the Hui Nalu Canoe Club, Kailua Canoe Club,  Lanikai Canoe Club, Outrigger Canoe Club and Waikiki Surf Canoe Club. Our coaches read like the whoʻs who of coaches and ocean people, Nappy Napoleon, Dutchy Kino, Michael Tongg, Wally Froiseth, just to name a few, we were blessed, and then double blessed, able to cross the Kaiwi channel in Waikiki Surf Clubʻs koa canoe.
The night before the crossing, both Healani and Onipaʻa  slept together at the waterʻs edge of Hale o Lono Harbor.  We all woke up, shared the toilet house, (rustic old restroom, 4  commodes each, 8 total, with a walk area in between, and we sat across from each other, pooped, brushed our teeth, dressed, ate a quick breakfast and went to our canoes!
I take this time to say Mahalo to my Uncle Jerome and Aunty Jake, the Kalama Ohana, the Rawlins Ohana, Pepe Cook, the Ritteʻs, the Hanchetts, Helm Ohana.  (so many more)and all the people of Molokai.
We paddled out of the mouth of the harbor, lined up next to each other,  and within minutes, we paddled to Oahu.  We paddled together until the end of Hale o Lono look out, where we separated and crossed at that point,  Healani went north and Onipaʻa went south.
Paddling across the ocean, leaving Molokaʻi and looking at Oahu was every paddlers dream, and we were doing it.  I was a stroker, (we had 3 crews + 3, paddling with different combinations).  Behind me, my cousins, Honey girl, Cindy, Rosie, Lita & Anona, were one of the combinations!
Although I have not named all the members of Onipaʻa, (they know who they are) this will be the next sharing of memories in the future!
Healani arrived before us  (7 minutes ?)  got to check this with Baby Bell, before Onipaʻa, we still all celebrated our great achievement!!!
More enthused, in our respective clubs, we attended the 3rd Liliuokalani Canoe race in Kona.
Uncle Red Kanuha, Aunty Betty,and all my Kanuha Ohana were a big part of creating the foundation and support for the birth of Na Wahine o Ke Kai.
Sitting at the table at Hale Halawai at the luau for all the paddlers of the Liliuokalaniʻs Race,  Uncle Red, Lei Faria, Chris, Donna, Monique, Kalani and I ate and listened to Lei (president of HCRA) say “the women should do the channel”.  She looked at us from her wheelchair and said, “in my lifetime”. “Please make this happen”!
We all returned to Oahu, and Oni paʻa called a meeting to Happen at the Ala Wai Clubhouse the following Wednesday at 6pm.  We all had Kuleana!
I became the  Race Rules (because my husband and life partner, Kalani Dawson was Race Rules Director for OHCRA), We needed a name and a picture.  I said to my Mom, (Aunty Lani Kalama) Ka Wahine o Ke Kai, she said no, Na Wahine o Ke Kai.  I was running late, 5:30pm, still in Kailua,  ran to my sister in love,1 lane over from my mom,  and said, Toni, please help me, (she did,  on a brown paper grocery bag, Toni drew the Profile picture and gave it to me.  The profile was my sister Cyra, and in the hair was Toniʻs Signature.
I was on the road at 5:50 pm.  Got to the Clubhouse.
During this meeting,  We realized that we needed a woman paddler, spokesperson, gift of gab, familiar to all the Clubs , Hannie Anderson, the perfect one!  Hannie was then asked to come aboard and represent us!!!
We all agreed to Keep Na Wahine o Ke Kai autonomous and not be obligated  to any association, and the needs of the paddler would be the decision maker for all that we would do.  Our race would be governed by the paddlers and not the officials.  Most important was we would paddle our race, or be on the escort boats as an official support for the team.  We initiated an official on board the escort for every team to ensure the quality and continuity of the support needed for women in and on the waters.
The first Official race was blessed by my mother, Mama Lani Kalama, at the water's edge.  She boarded the Maggie Joe and stood on the flybridge looking out at the race .In the ocean, I looked up at my mother and thought about all the people that helped us get here!
Lei passed earlier that year.  As I crossed the channel, I acknowledged all our aspirations came to fruition, and as we came to the finish line, there was my mother at the flybridge of the Maggie Joe!
I say to all you women who continue to carry forth Leiʻs request, value yourself, your family and the community of people on your lifeʻs journey!
Mahalo,
puna e