Hawaiian Canoe Club on Maui was proud to have so many of their paddlers, ages 14-80, representing Hawai‘i at the 2026 International Va’a Federation World Sprint Championship in Marina Bay, Singapore. Paddlers, keiki, and kūpuna traveled over 6,000 miles to compete on the international stage, where Hawai‘i placed second in the world after Tahiti. Competitors from all islands participated across multiple international divisions, securing strong finishes. This year, the event included nearly 600 races, from one-man to double-hull, junior to over 80, as well as para va’a events, designed for athletes with physical impairments.

Approximately 470 competitors from Hawai‘i were in Singapore for 10 days, more than from most countries.
“Hawai‘i was well represented—racing, cheering, helping one another, making new friends, and sharing plenty aloha along the way,” said Lisa Cano, long-time Hawaiian Canoe Club member. “At home, we may paddle for different clubs. We race against each other, cheer for our own colors, and spend our summers battling it out on the same regatta course. The way the clubs have responded during World Sprints says a lot about our sport. Club colors and competition matter, yet people have still been willing to share what they know and help paddlers from other clubs. That is aloha and ‘ohana in practice, helping one another so we can all move the sport forward.”

Cano enjoyed Singapore. She explained, “There was so much energy and so many other cultures to learn about. Plus, it was a tremendous honor to represent Hawai‘i. A beautiful thing about representing our state is that the International Federation recognizes Hawai‘i as its own country, so we had our Hawaiian flag flying over our tents where the crews sat together awaiting their turn. Also, our keiki did tremendous. They got the most points and secured the second-place world title for us. We are really proud of them!”

When asked what she loves about the Hawaiian Canoe Club, Cano added, “Sixty years ago, John and Kealoha Lake established the Hawaiian Canoe Club to preserve the art of outrigger canoe paddling through traditional Hawaiian values. We also have inspirational Youth Leadership and Scholarship Programs that encourage academic and personal growth opening up opportunities for future success.”