The day had started off with an emotional blessing ceremony at 6:30 AM at the King Kamehameha Beach Hotel.  During the blessing, special mention was made to "our friends dressed in red" from the Makapo Canoe Club.  

With music playing in the background, the scene turned electric as everyone began readying themselves for a day of racing.

The women's team was first to race down the Kona Coast from the hotel to Honaunau.  Unofficial time for the women was just over 3 hours - a great accomplishment for our novice paddlers.  They beat several boats.  The women were greeted by the Makapo family and there was laughter and tears as the women were helped from the canoes.

The men's team finished their day of racing from Honaunau to the King Kam hotel.  By the 11:30 start time, the fog had burned off and Kona sun began to beat down.  Unofficial time for the men's team was 2 hours 51 minutes.  Just as the women's team had previously done, the men's team was able to beat some boats for the first time!