2001 Helumoa Blessing 5-26-2001
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2001 Helumoa Blessing 5-26-2001
The Outrigger's new fiberglas racing canoe Helumoa is named after the huge royal coconut grove that fronted the ocean at Waikiki where the Royal Hawaiian Hotel stands today. It's eastern boundary was 'Apuakehau Stream. It was on the banks of this stream, beneath the trees of Helumoa that the first Outrigger Canoe Club was built. The unusual name, literally Chicken Stratch, comes from Hawaiian mythic history. The legendary chief of O'ahu Kakuhihewa was said to have planted the first tree at the spot where he saw the wizard rooster of Palolo Valley, Ka'auhelumoa, suddenly appear and begin scratching the earth. When first described in the 19th century, Helumoa could be seen for miles around, consisting of thousands of trees stretching 'ewa from 'Apuakehau to what is now Lewers Street. King Kamehameha V, who owned Helumoa, had a residence there, a beach cottage nestled among the endless, neatly-spaced rows of soaring coco palms. Of all these many trees only a few still survive to this day in the mauka garden of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
2001 Helumoa Blessing 5-26-2001
Paula Crabb, chair of the Canoe Racing Committee, and OCC President Hal Henderson drape a maile lei on the Helumoa.
2001 Helumoa Blessing 5-26-2001
The Rev. Curt Kekuna blessed the Helumoa with many paddlers in attendance.
2001 Helumoa Blessing 5-26-2001
OCC Head Coach Kehau Kali joins the Rev. Curt Kekuna at the blessing, while paddler/coach Tiare Richert-Finney and others look on.
2001 Helumoa Blessing 5-26-2001
Barry Yap and Paki Vaughan sang Kaimanahila in the late afternoon ceremony.
2001 Helumoa Blessing 5-26-2001
Outrigger's 2001 coaches gather around the Helumoa after the blessing. Front: Katy Bourne, Janna Arakaki and Kisi Haine. Standing: Paula Crabb, George Wessberg, Liz Perry, Andrew Glatzel, Club Captain Bill Danford, Annmarie Mizuno, President Hal Henderson, Jaren Hancock, Kehau Kali and Mike Town.