One of the old guards of canoe paddling is gone, sitting on his big chair from high above, but Ira Kekaualua Sr. will always have an eye out for his Hui Wa‘a O Waiakea paddlers.
Kekaualua died Sept. 2, 2016 in Hilo Medical Center. He was 80 years old and lived a life dedicated to his family, canoe club and the paddling community at large.
The Moku O Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Racing Association’s Kailana regatta on Saturday kicked off the first of six events at Hilo Bay, where sunshine and calm water made for a postcard-perfect day as two-time defending champion Puna won for the second time in four regattas.