Hanalei Canoe Club was established in 1973 by founding members Nick Beck, Blakeslee Conant, Boogie Kalama, Stu & Shirley Kalama, Murphy Maka, Bobby Wilson, and Barry Yap, as an extension of the Hanalei Hawaiian Civic Club. There were about 50 paddlers that first year. We had three canoes at that time: Kahaku O Hawai‘I Pono‘I was donated by the Princeville Corp.; Namolokama was bought from Wailua Canoe Club; and the Kalama‘s lent us the Po‘okela, all of which were kept on the beach by the Hanalei Pier at Black Pot Beach Park. Eventually we moved to the river front land, through the generosity of the Wilcox Family, where our canoe halau was built.

In 1973, Hanalei Canoe Club belonged to the Hui Wa‘a Association for racing outrigger canoes. 1973 was also the year that the State Championship Regatta‘s were held in Hanalei Bay. Hanalei Canoe Club won first place! That same year the Aloha Week committee sponsored the Moloka‘I to O‘ahu canoe race and with the winning crew of Nick Beck, Francis Chandler, Jr., Kirk Chandler, Moku Chandler, Blakey Conant, Tiger Espera, Wendall Fu, Kawika Goodale, Bito Hermosura, Togo Hermosura, Dixon Inouye, Christian Marston, and Kachi Yokotake, Hanalei took first again.

Then in 1974, the State Championship Regatta‘s were again held in Hanalei Bay with Hanalei Canoe Club retaining our first place standing and winning the trophy.

One of the goals of the canoe club was to acquire a koa canoe. The Kai‘Opua became our's and in 1979 we joined the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. The club's standing in the following years remained among the top contenders. In 1979, we took third place in the State Championship Regattas. In 1980 and 1981 we took second place and finally in 1982 at the State Championship Regattas at Hilo Hanalei Canoe Club once more came out on top and took home the first place trophy.

Another goal was to have a koa canoe buile for open ocean racing. This dream was realized in 1987 when our Hanalei crew won first place in the Oahu to Kauai, Na Holo Kai Sailing Canoe Race. The first place award was a koa canoe, named the Na Holo Kai, that was designed and built to our specifications by master canoe builder Wright Bowman, Jr.

Our canoe fleet had now grown to include the Namolokama, Mamalahoa, Hihimanu, Kapeka, Hanalei, and the No‘Ula‘Ula which are all fiberglass canoes and also our two koa canoes, the Kai Opua and now the No Holo Kai.

In 1989 we relocated and built our present facility thanks to the generosity of the Sheehan Family. Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai in 1992 and devastated our clubhouse. We lost most of our equipment, including the Waioli, our albizzia canoe. Luckily FEMA came to our rescue and we were able to built a bigger and better clubhouse, that which you see now, which was completed in time for our 20th Anniversary celebration in November 1993. The replacement of our equipment has also been completed and we are continuing to update and improve our training facilities each year.

Hanalei Canoe Club has participated in outrigger canoe races in Tahiti, Australia, Western Samoa, California, New York and even the Swan Boat Races in Thailand.

Our paddling season runs from February through October, starting with long distance racing. The regatta or sprint races begin in May, and culminate with the HCRA State Championship Race in August. The long distance season continues with the NaPali Challenge here on Kauai, Queen Lili‘uokalani Race on the Big Island at Kona, and the biggest challenge of the season, the 41.8 miles race from Moloka‘I to O‘ahu. It's truly an experience to remember.

Our club consists of three divisions; the Youth Division is made up of girls and boys 10-18 years of age; the Adult Division is made up of women and men 19 year of age and up; and the 306's Division is made up of women and men who prefer to paddle recreationally year around.

Each year we sponsor the Tai Hook regatta. Our two major fundraiser to help defray operating costs that include annual insurance dues and the upkeep of our facility and equipment are the Haena to Hanalei 8-Mile Run/Walk in June and the Hanalei-Tahiti Fete in July.

Being a member of Hanalei Civic Canoe Club is a wonderful, unique experience. You have the opportunity to make friends, learn to work as a team, and strengthen you mind and bodies. Hopefully we take all that we learn with us and apply in our every day lives. We are truly blessed to be able to paddle our canoes in a place as beautiful as Hanalei Bay!!!