11th Annual OluKai Ho‘olaule‘a Race

This past weekend, we wrapped our 11^th Annual OluKai Ho‘olaule‘a hosted in Maui, HI. This year we had a few updates to our race, one including moving our two-day ocean festival down to one race day, Sunday June 9^th. On Friday, paddlers, families and friends had the chance to join us at the Maui Country Club for our first ever off-site Slipper Distribution. Throughout the day, paddlers joined us to talk story, enjoy fresh pupus (poke bowls, chicken katsu) and hang out for happy hour with beer provided by Kona Brewing and OluKai branded cups from Miir.

Saturday morning we celebrated World Ocean’s day with our friends at Sustainable Coastlines and Parley with a beach clean-up at the rocky coastline of Ka’ehu beach. We joined hands with roughly 50 friends and families of the brand and tackled hundreds of pounds of plastic in one large ghost net. After hours of cleaning the beach, Sustainable Coastlines hosted a delicious lunch alongside music and games for all to join in.

On Sunday (race day), we started out with our great ‘Ohana Fun Paddle, hosted by the one and only Archie Kalepa. We couldn’t have asked for better weather with the sun shining and winds in our favor! The keikis had a great time attempting the 3-mile short course run, and a few miles up, paddlers of all ages and crafts (OC1/2, SUP and now Foils!) began to arrive for the 11^th Annual OluKai Ho‘olaule‘a for our noon start time. Ocean conditions on the Maliko Downwind Run were near perfect the entire day with consistent 12-15 mph winds, which were said to be “epic conditions” for our 175 paddlers.

Photo of Ho'o Race Finish Line with Race Contestants