Lanikai head coach Tom Conner says the first regatta of the season is significant mainly as a gauge for "how strong you are in relation to the other canoe clubs."

As the Clement D. Pa'iaina Regatta glided to a close yesterday at Ke'ehi Lagoon, it was clear that Lanikai's standing is no different than it was last year when the club won all seven regattas it entered en route to its second consecutive O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association championship.

Ignited by a strong performance from its youth crews and sustained by the steadiness of its upper-division men's teams, Lanikai began its three-peat campaign in impressive fashion, topping the AAA division (large clubs) with 108 points. Kailua (78) came in second, followed by Hui Nalu and Outrigger, who tied for third with 53 points each.

Hui Lanakila won the AA (medium club) division with 34 points, followed by Leeward Kai (21) and Honolulu Pearl (11).

Anuenue's nine points were enough to win the A (small club) division. Kai Oni placed second with six points. Keola O Ke Kai and Pu'uloa Outrigger each scored a point to tie for third.

"The first regatta, there's always a lot of apprehension and trying to figure out how we're going to put all the crews together to cover every race," Conner said. "You always go in hoping, but you never know until you actually get out there."

Most of Lanikai's nearly 500 active members are concentrated in the youth and novice divisions, giving the club a deep pool of young talent on which to draw.

Such depth has traditionally served the club well, ensuring broad and vigorous competition for seats.

"We never know how the kids are going to do because we get a new crop of kids every year, especially in the younger age groups," Conner said. "But when you have that many kids competing for one seat, you expect that the cream will rise to the top."

That certainly appeared to be the case yesterday as Lanikai staked an early lead by winning four of the first seven races: Girls 12, Mixed Boys and Girls 12, Boys 13, and Boys 14.

Lanikai's novice teams also performed well, winning the Boys 18 and Under, Women Novice A, and Men Novice A.

Lanikai would go on to win 12 races in all. Those victories, coupled with consistent point-earning finishes throughout the day, kept the club safely in the lead.

Under the OHCRA scoring system, first-place finishes earn five points toward the overall standings. Second-, third- and fourth-place finishes earn three, two and one point, respectively.

"We just need to score points in every race," Conner said. "In the races we feel strong in, we don't want to finish any lower than third. (In a 40-race regatta), even if we place third in every race, that's already 80 points."

Lanikai relied on the strength of its men's teams to cap the victory, with big wins in Men Junior, Men Senior, and Men Masters (40).

The club's Women Open Four, and Mixed Masters crews also notched wins.

"We have some crews that are going to be really strong, and will be within a couple of regattas," Conner said.

One of those crews, Lanikai's always consistent Women Golden Masters (55) team, could easily have added to yesterday's win count.

However, in the closest race of the afternoon, Lanikai fell to Hui Nalu's crew of Laola Aae, Lita Blankenfeld, Mary Fern, Lurline McGregor, Dayna Owskey, and Diane Warncke by just a fifth of a second.

For Hui Nalu president Bruce Blankenfeld, the first day of the OHCRA regatta season was simply an opportunity to get the paddles wet and enjoy the start of another long and challenging push toward the state championships.

"Everyone was just stoked to be out here," Blankenfeld said. "The main thing is that everybody works on realizing their potential. We're counting on everyone to do their part."

In addition to the Women Golden Masters, Hui Nalu also got winning performances from its Boys 12, Girls 15, and Women Masters (40) crews.

Blankenfeld said he likely won't settle on the exact makeup of each crew until after the Walter J. Macfarlane Regatta on July 4.

Kailua stayed in the mix with consistent second- and third-place finishes in the youth and novice competitions before asserting itself in the more experienced divisions. The club finished with victories in the Sophomore Men, Women Senior, Women Masters, Senior Women Masters and Senior Men Masters races.

"We realize where we stand and what we need to work on," said Kailua coach Kathy Erwin. "We just start here and try to move forward and try to improve throughout the season. I think we're kind of steady. We try to improve and make our corrections throughout the year."

Hui Lanakila made a lasting impression by winning four of five races during one mid-day stretch.

The club won the Women Freshman, Men Freshmen, Sophomore Women and Women Junior races and placed second in the Sophomore Men competition.

HUI WA'A

Kane'ohe Canoe Club made it 2-for-2 for the young season with a win at the Manu O Ke Kai Regatta yesterday in Hale'iwa.

Kane'ohe scored 67 points to beat out Koa Kai (55) and Manu O Ke Kai (54) in the AAA (large clubs) division.

Waikiki Beach Boys placed first in the AA (medium club) division, followed by Lokahi (39) and Na Keiki O Ka Moi (31).

In the A (small club) division, Kumulokahi Elks compiled 11 points to edge Ka Mamalahoe (9). Kalihi Kai and Imua tied for third with 8 points each.