On the deep blue horizon of Ke‘ehi Lagoon, two teams were visible, each giving their 110% to reach the finish line first. Schools cheer and all paddlers watch as a boat of white and blue and a boat of white and crimson red blur across the water. Although Kamehameha won the state championship for the Mixed Division of paddling, ‘Iolani was a worthy opponent, giving Kamehameha a run for their money. There are many reasons that paddling is such a great sport to both work hard and live by! To start, paddlers feel a greater bond with their teammates as paddling has 6 athletes giving it their all on the water. Additionally, the origin of paddling traces back to ancient Hawai’i, further strengthening a paddlers’ connection to their ‘āina and community. Whether paddling under mossy bridges arching over the Ala Wai or feeling the ocean breeze, our ‘Iolani paddling division is full of coaches and aspiring athletes who take the “One Team” motto to heart. The paddlers of ‘Iolani believe that out of all of ‘Iolani’s sports, paddling personifies “One Team” the most, and as one of Hawai’i’s most unique and greatest pastimes, fosters lōkahi (unity) among the schools of Hawai’i.
Our mixed crew (3 girls and 3 boys) placed 2nd place in the ILH season, qualifying for states with a score of 21. ‘Iolani fought for a runner up title at the State Championship, falling 3.85 seconds behind Kamehameha. Compared to last year, the mixed crew also placed second in states, alongside an additional team, Boys Varsity, bringing home the gold.
Paddling isn’t a sport where one paddler alone triumphs. It’s a sport where every person in the boat needs to, physically and spiritually, pull their weight as they push their canoe across, racing against rival schools under ILH to win. Every time you thrust your handmade wooden paddle into the water, you must give it your all and become part of something greater than yourself. For ‘Iolani boys and girls paddling there’s 6 divisions each: V1, V2, Mixed, JV Mixed, JV1, and JV2.
Senior Kaniela Spalding ’25, a vital paddler for ‘Iolani during states of 2024 and 2025, emphasizes how negativity decreases team harmony: “Paddling is connected to Hawai’i spiritually, as it is the team sport of Hawai’i. The thing about paddling and boating in general, Hawaiians and Polynesians believed in leaving any kind of negativity outside the water. If we argue amongst ourselves, we try to communicate as best as we can. It’s important to have communication so your team can work together as best as possible.” Disharmony among your team is throwing a monkey wrench into the works.”
The two coaches for Boys Paddling are Coach Jim Foti and Coach Eli Nakahara. With lifelong experiences and passions for paddling, they provide helping hands, fostering the One Team mentality among their athletes. Coach Eli Nakahara, both a ‘Iolani coach and Pearl Harbor welder, drills the importance of self-contribution to a team effort. “I fight for having everybody on the team. It’s all about dedication. If you can’t commit, you tend to cut yourself. You never show up again. Everyone needs to have the same goal and mindset when paddling,” says the Coach.
Adding onto the wisdom of Coach Eli, Spalding shares a helpful tip for future paddlers:.“ It’s always a good idea to think of yourself as the weakest link, even if you’re not, to make sure that you and your teammates know that you’re trying your hardest.” Nicholas Livingston ’25, an ‘Iolani paddler and participant of the Moloka‘i Hoe (an annual race between Moloka‘i and O‘ahu) follows a strict philosophy to uplift his boat. He believes that, “Even if one person on that boat isn’t giving their hardest, the whole boat’s gonna suffer, and you’re bringing down your entire team. So everyone’s gonna try their best. If they feel like someone else is doing something different or wrong that’s hurting their efforts, then arguments are prone to happen.”
Coach Jim and Coach Eli aim to foster new paddlers in future seasons, especially the Junior Varsity 2 kids. To truly be part of One Team, you must work both hard and together to move as one. Lastly, Coach Jim says, “At the end of the day, we want the kids to feel better about themselves after they paddle, and they learn something, and they’re interested, they’re introduced to what’s more than a sport, you know, it’s a lifestyle and culture, and the richness of our islands.”
