Hawaii Tribune-Herald · Jul 5, 2015
Canoe paddling: Kai Opua gets back on winning side
Cheryl Villegas likes it when there’s a dogfight on the water in a Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association regatta, and the overall winner remains a mystery until the last race.
She’s the longtime Kai Opua women’s coach and also competes in the women open four, the third-to-last race of the day, so Villegas is influential instructing from the sand and paddling in a canoe.
Every point helped and Kai Opua’s depth came into play as the West Hawaii powerhouse held off host Puna, 205 to 201 points, to claim the A Division (15-40 events) title on a scorching Fourth of July Saturday at a congested Hilo Bay.