Veterans in the Boat

Anuenue paddlers had a chance to share their sport with veterans participating in the annual Golden Age Games this past weekend. Turns out that every Memorial Day Weekend for the past 25 years this get together for military vets over age 55 is held at various sites across the USA and for the first time it was held in Hawaii. Over 900 vets were on hand with a full schedule of activities ranging from dominoes to some track events like discus and shot put. Paddling was added as an "exhibition", and four canoe clubs helped out taking participants out the Hilton channel for a run off Waikiki. Aka Hemmings and his Pure Light paddlers were instrumental in running the event. For many of the veterans, it was the high point of the weekend especially for those with significant handicaps. For us, it was also a memorable experience as we got to meet them and hear about their background. It's always inspirational to see how these individuals overcome their disabilities to stay competitive and enjoy sports. "We're part of a wonderful brotherhood, " said one. One guy with lower leg prostheses told me he was a ski instructor back home on the east coast As the volunteers on the beach mentioned numerous times, the excited faces of the vets as they returned to the beach told the story. Many were Vietnam era vets, and for me personally having spent a year in Vietnam as a Navy doctor in the Marines, we had much in common. On Sunday, Hardy and I were helping a guy back to his wheelchair when the beach church service was taking place outside the Hilton and they were playing the Star Spangled banner and God Bless America. Everyone paused to sing along and it was definitely a chicken skin moment thinking of what those words meant to these people as well as me. Thank you guys ( "Patriots in Paradise" ) for your service to your country!

Eono Hoe #2

Just a few observations about the second edition of Eono Hoe: This year there were two stages with the first being from Maui (off Fleming's Beach) to Kaunakakai and day two from Molokai (west end) to Maunalua Bay. Conditions were smoking for the run from Maui with gusty trades and small craft warnings. Kaumana was paddling a new carbon fiber boat and took advantage of the day to leave the rest of the field behind including the other light boats. Karel had a new composite boat which looked "Hawaiian" with manus. The surprise to many was that the Primo boys in a Bradley were right there as well. One question: Why trailer the boats for the second day? Why not finish at Hale o Lono and start from there the next day? Longer but still a reasonable way to do it. Maybe next year? Taking photos from my usual perch off Koko Head , I was expecting the composites to be battling for the lead. Kamanu led the pack but close behind was Primo giving up over 150 pounds with their conventional Bradley. A California Lanikila crew paddling a Bradley finished well also. Moral: Composites make a difference but it still comes down to who's in the boat.

This weekend Anuenue will be helping out with the "Veteran Games" on the water especially with some guys who will be paddling despite some major handicaps. A high for them as well as those who help!