HONOLULU — Wailea Canoe Club’s Kekoa Cramer put it bluntly, and no one in his vicinity chose to dispute it.
“The Tahitians are unreal,” the steersman from Maui said.
The island in French Polynesia produced the top four finishing crews of Sunday’s Molokai Hoe, the men’s world championship of distance paddling.
[Note: See below for more photos of the 2025 Molokai Hoe.]
That Tahiti produced the winner was not a surprise. But the identity of the winning crew was.
Team OPT, comprised of up-and-comers in their mid-20s, crossed the Ka‘iwi Channel in 4 hours, 42 minutes and 2 seconds, dethroning Shell Va’a, the three-time defending champion and winner of 13 of the last 15 editions of the race going back to 2006.
Shell finished runner-up in 4:44:57 — and its paddlers did not look happy about it as they disembarked at Kahanamoku Beach in front of members of the Royal Court of the Aloha Festivals. Popora Te Hoe Mamu arrived third in 4:50:24.
“It’s the first time for OPT to get the win today,” said paddler Temoana Taputu, 27. “And yeah, we’re all only young guys on my canoe, and (it’s) just incredible.”
OPT is a postal and telecommunications company in Tahiti. Like with Shell, the paddlers are employees of the company.
One-hundred six crews crossed the 42-mile distance from Hale O Lono Harbor on Molokai to Kahanamoku Beach. Conditions were described as tough. The winning time was about seven minutes off last year’s pace set by the dynastic Shell squad.
Team OPT’s canoe flipped over about two hours into the race. It allowed Shell to draw even for a time.
“We just changed the mindset,” Taputu said of what happened on the huli. And we (were) just like, we flip and take back the canoe and we just say ‘hey, it’s like the finish line. Just push, push, push hard.’ And we see that’s working for us.”
Team OPT’s nine-person crew consisted of Taputu, Tuatea Teraiamano, Viriura Tainanuarii, Aunuarii Maker, Tuteariimaroura Hoatua, Hitiroa Masingue, Keith Vernaudon, Keahi Agnieray and Narai Atger.
Wailea, in 4:58:13, was the first Hawaii-based club to finish and, at fifth place overall, the last canoe to do it in under 5 hours.
Members of Wailea Canoe Club congratulated each other at Kahanamoku Beach upon becoming the first Hawaii crew to finish. They were fifth overall. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Cramer was joined on the Wailea crew by Triston Kahookele-Santos, Dane Dudoit, Kevin Dudoit, Nalu Sampson, Alfred Kekoa Santos, Kainoa Tanoai, Chase VonNordheim and Daniel Chun.
“It’s always special,” Cramer said of being the first local team to cross. “We’re very lucky to be in this position, to paddle. We have brothers who aren’t here right now because of other circumstances. … We compete out there with our friends and family and enjoy the ocean. That’s what it’s all about.”
A Hawaii-based crew, the Big Island’s Red Bull Va’a, last won the Molokai Hoe in 2017. But even that team included several Tahitians.
Cramer was asked what it would take for a local team to win again.
“The level is so high,” he said with a shake of the head. “Hopefully someday the younger guys can be able to put in the time and we have the resources to be able to do that.”
Hawaii paddling veteran Patrick Dolan competed with Rurutu Hoe, the fourth-place team from Tahiti that finished in 4:50:24.
“Paddling’s so ingrained in their culture, like us too,” Dolan said. “We have so many other sports, but this is their NFL, NBA. You know what I mean? They take such so much pride in it. So you have a lot of sponsored teams (like OPT and Shell), but Rurutu is just an island team, putting what they have together. So you can see the depth.”
Outrigger Canoe Club handily won the koa canoe category in 5:45:54, good for 31st overall.
Big Island Jr Vaa won the juniors category for ages 15 to 18 in 5:15:42; EDT Va’a of Tahiti won the 40-plus bracket in 5:05:46; Toatai Va’a of Tahiti claimed the 50-plus in 5:32:42; Team Cal of California won the 55-plus in 5:55:02; Healani Canoe Club of Oahu won the 60-plus in 5:50:53; and Hawaiian Canoe Club of Maui claimed the 65-plus in 6:24:16.
Paddling enthusiasts gathered at Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki to watch the finish of the Molokai Hoe. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Hawaii paddler Patrick Dolan, middle, competed with Rurutu Hoe, which finished in fourth. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
The Molokai Hoe perpetual trophies. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Team OPT’s Temoana Taputu, facing camera, hugged a crewmate after their winning finish. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Team OPT paddlers reacted to crossing the finish buoy as the champions of the Molokai Hoe. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Shell Va’a crew members arrived on the sand of Kahanamoku Beach. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Team OPT members were greeted by Molokai Hoe race director Luana Froiseth, third from left. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Wailea Canoe Club members were hailed by the Royal Court of the Aloha Festivals. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.