KAILUA — The third time's a charm. At least, that's what Kawai Mahoe is hoping.

Despite neighborhood rival Lanikai Canoe Club's second win in as many weeks, the Kailua Canoe Club head coach was encouraged by yesterday's results at the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association King Kamehameha Regatta at Kailua Beach Park.

Lanikai won 11 of the 39 races and earned points in 18 more to amass 100 points. Kailua finished a close second with 96 points.

"It was a lot of fun and really exciting coming down to the end," Lanikai head coach Dave Smith said. "I know Kailua really wanted to win their own regatta. It's a really good, friendly rivalry we have."

Lanikai won the senior men's race with a time of 11:37.11. Kailua finished second in 11:38.33.

"(Yesterday) was super hard," said Kekoa Bruhn, a member of the winning crew. "Kailua was on fire — their men's crews — they were on a mission to win this regatta."

Aaron Creps, Mike Judd, David Daniels, George Leslie and Zane Chess were also on the Lanikai crew.

"The whole thing was really exciting, definitely," Mahoe said. "I thought Lanikai had a big lead earlier in the day, but our adult crews came though and it came down to the last race."

Healani won the race — the mixed men and women — in 4:22.10. Lanikai finished fourth, but held off Kailua, which finished fifth and consequently did not earn points.

The winning crew earns five points toward the club's total for the day. Second place is worth three points, third place two and fourth place one.

"Last week (Lanikai) won by 30 points, this week they won by four points, so we're closing the gap," Kailua's Mahoe said. "Hopefully, we can catch them next week."

Kailua finished atop 10 races, including the men's freshmen, sophomore and junior races.

"We're usually stronger in the younger races, but they came through big time," Mahoe said.

Despite the rivalry, there are many connections between the clubs, located less than a mile apart.

"I'm happy for them if they win," said Bruhn, who began at Kailua before going to Lanikai. "We're all friends. I was especially happy for their sophomore crew."

Kailua's sophomore crew finished last at the previous regatta.

Outrigger, which finished third, claimed six races, including the boys 15 and 18, and men's 55, 60 and mixed 55.

Outrigger also won the men's novice A race. Lanikai, which would have won with a time of 8:20.94, was disqualified and Kailua did not finish.

"It's not so much about winning races, but really scoring consistently," Lanikai's Smith said.

The women of Hui Lanakila continued their dominance, winning the girls 14, 16 and women's sophomore, junior, senior and open four races.

"Our women are strong. We've got a lot of the same girls coming back and some new girls, too," said Arlene Holzman, who was on the sophomore and senior crews.

The rest of the senior crew consisted of Jennifer Asato, Michelle Bradley, Shannon Van Gieson, Lisa Martin and Lori Nakamura.

Hui Lanakila led throughout the senior women's race, which it also won last week.

Keahiakahoe won the AA Division for smaller clubs with 13 points. Leeward Kai had 12 points and Kai Oni was third with 10.

Keola O Ke Kai and Pu'uloa Outrigger tied for first in the A Division with three points each.

Next Sunday's Leeward Kai Father's Day Regatta is at Nanakuli Beach Park.

HUI WA'A

Four-time defending Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a champion Kane'ohe continued its dominance, winning the AAA Division at yesterday's Lokahi Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Kane'ohe has won all three Hui Wa'a regattas this season.

Manu O Ke Kai, which won the AA Division at the two previous regattas, finished second in the AAA division with 47 points. Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i was third with 46 points.

Waikiki Beach Boys captured the AA Division with 47 points and Kalihi Kai won the A Division with 21 points.