Manny Kulukulualani expects to be on the winner's stage on Sunday, but he doesn't expect to win the Steinlager Kaiwi Channel Solo OC1 World Championship.

Instead of accepting a first-place trophy, he may be handing it out.

Kulukulualani is one of the state's top canoe paddlers, but he is also serving as race director for Sunday's event.

"I'd love to be a contender," he said. "But organizing this race has been so much work, it really cut into my training. I'll be happy just to finish."

More than 90 paddlers from around the world are expected to compete in the 32-mile race across the Kaiwi Channel. It will start at Kaluako'i Beach, Moloka'i, and finish at Koko Marina.

It is considered the world championship of long-distance paddling for one-person canoes (also known as OC1s).

This is the first year that the OC1 paddlers have their own world championship race. In previous years, the OC1 paddlers and surfski paddlers raced together in the Moloka'i World Championships.

"The way this sport has grown, giving us our own race brings more credibility to the sport," said Kailua's Karel Tresnak Jr., who is considered one of the top contenders. "I think it's awesome that Manny took the lead on this. Hat's off to him."

Kulukulualani, 31, said his love for the sport prompted him to create Sunday's event.

"I've been competing in (OC1) races for 10 years, and every year we talk about running our own race, and every year, it ended up the same," he said. "Finally, I looked in the mirror and figured if nobody else was going to do it, I had to do it. I decided it was my time to give back to the sport."

Kulukulualani has a full-time job as a cancer researcher. He also is an assistant coach with the Hui Lanakila Canoe Club.

Both those duties got put on hold the past few weeks so he could organize Sunday's race.

"Putting this race together has been like a full-time job," Kulukulualani said. "I put a lot of things on hold to get this done."

He even cut his own paddling practice time in half, which is the reason why he thinks he will not be among the top finishers on Sunday.

What's more, Kulukulualani said his mind will not necessarily be on paddling while the race is in progress.

"All these past years, you think random thoughts to keep you going," he said. "But this year, I know I'll be worried about other things. Is the finish line set up right? Do the timers have everything set up? Is everybody having a safe race? It's going to be tougher on me mentally than physically."

But apparently others think Kulukulualani is good enough to contend and run the race.

"Manny will be up there," Tresnak said. "He always is."

Maui's Kai Bartlett is the defending champion. Kulukulualani considers Bartlett and Tresnak the paddlers to beat.

"It will probably be the Kai and Karel show," he said. "But there's so many fast guys now, you never know. If you can get in the top 10, that's a real good result. That's what I'm hoping for."

Other contenders include Danny Ching of California, Greg Long of Australia, Reuben Dearlove of New Zealand, and Hawai'i paddlers Kea Pa'iaina, Mark Frazier and Maui Kjeldsen.

Top contenders in the women's division include Maui's Lauren Bartlett — who is the defending champion and Kai Bartlett's wife — Australia's Lisa Curry-Kenny, and O'ahu paddlers Arlene Holzman and Kelsa Teeters.

The top five men and women will receive prize money, including $5,000 to the champions.