In 1976 our club was formed by several paddlers who wanted to recreate the “old days of paddling, using what their fathers taught them but with up to date methods”. The club was named Honolulu Canoe Club and practiced near the Aloha Tower and Honolulu Harbor area. In the early 1980’s the club relocated to the waters of Pearl Harbor near the Arizona Memorial, where it is located today. This move placed the club on government property for which it has a distinction. In 2002 the club changed its name to Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club, reflecting its current location. The club’s logo was also changed, keeping Aloha Tower but including the Arizona Memorial.
Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club is a mixture of military and locals that come together in the spirit of outrigger canoe paddling to learn about the culture, share camaraderie and participate in the competitive sport of outrigger canoe paddling. Our club’s affiliation with the military has provided us with a great deal of support, especially from the Navy Region Hawaii, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department.
We are always looking to gather more history about the Club. Over the years many paddlers joined and paddled with the club and eventually moved on for different reasons. With each paddler a part of the club history left us.
If you have any information about the club that you may want to share, please write it as a comment on this page.
Mahalo!
My heart goes out to your club for the damage to the Honaunau. I know my father, Kenneth “Enay” Makinney, was instrumental in the acquisition of the Honaunau. He was president of Hui Nalu in 1963. My donation to Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club is in his memory as well as all past and present members of the Hui Nalu Canoe Club. aloha, Paddy Dunn
Aloha no!
I was stationed at CINCPACFLT and a Navy MARS operator in 1984 when I got the request to go to Molokai and provide 2-meter service for the BankOH Moloka’i Hoe Na Wahine. I was smitten to the heart, and I hoped to be in that race someday. About a month later I was running on the bike path behind the Rainbow Marina when I saw this guy down by 4 or 5 canoes, and I asked about joining up; he said “come back in March.” So I and my son, Jonathan, became Novice B paddlers in Honolulu Canoe Club in 1985. We know Honaunau well! Gary Oakland was our Novice B coach. That year we couldn’t keep enough folks to paddle long distance. But in 1986 we did, and I was part of that crew under Mike Oakland. In 1987, I had the very great honor to sit in Seat 1 to begin Moloka’i Hoe. Both years we used the “Hawaii Racer,” which was a new, patented design at the time. I was one of many to sand the bottom of Honaunau when we had her lengthened by 1.5 ft. and narrowed by 2 inches in Lanikai. That was the most amazing feat of boat building I ever saw. Now I read that Honaunau was damaged, and I am heart-sick…especially having learned of it nearly a year after the fact. One last thing: in my second year in HCC I was most often called upon to pray before regattas and long distance; now I am a United Methodist pastor in my home state of Texas. The deep spiritual connections of the Hawaiian people and of paddling was, I am sure, part of tuning my ear for my own call to ministry. I am forever grateful for being included. I will send some funds for Honaunau if it is still needed.
Dougie K. was coach when I was there. We practiced Monday through Friday, and did close aboard drills and worked on the boats on Saturdays. Sunday -well, you know -race day. We put the roof over the canoes and put up the fence. A lot of good times. We went to an ironman race with only one canoe -us girls paddled first. Turning at a flag we were struck in the bow -took in water the rest of the race. Then the guys had to race with water inside the kanu. So many memories..during one of the Waikiki men’s races our steersman literally got bounced out of the boat. We had the best potlucks on Sunday nights..visit, wash kanu and hang out. Ohana..