By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The tide has turned since Puna started playing with a full deck in the Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association.
Once known as the perennial underdog that did more with less, Puna earned its Green Pride nickname over the last two years, taking down rival Kai Opua, the West Hawaii club with more paddlers.
Now, Puna heads to the 12th annual Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku O Hawaii championships as a strong favorite, a somewhat stunning transformation.
The two-time reigning champs captured their last two titles in Disney-movie fashion against Kai Opua, the only other club that has seized the island’s top Division A (21-43 events) crown in Moku O Hawaii’s long 60-year-plus history.