Thousands of Paddling Enthusiasts to Gather Aug. 1 for State Championships

Canoe racing. Courtesy photo via HCRA by: Ropati Hebenstreit.

By Maui Now Staff

The 2015 Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship races take place on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Hilo Bay on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

An estimated 7,000 canoe paddlers from around the state are expected to participate in this year’s event.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. with the first race set to start at 8:15 a.m.

HCRA is comprised of six associations and individual clubs that compete in various age divisions. This includes young girls and boys in the 12 year-old division all the way up to men and women in the 65 year-old division.

The 2015 Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Races are sponsored in part by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Hawaii Independent Energy, Tesoro, and Ocean Paddler Television.