Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club

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Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club

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Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club, “Sea Warriors”, “Sea Warriors”, Hawaiian words that describes our founding members and their passion for the Hawaiian culture.

Please visit our website at https://www.nakoakai.com Nā Koa Kai, “Sea Warriors”, Hawaiian words that describes our founding members and their passion for the Hawaiian culture and heihei waʽa (canoe racing). Our founding members were previously members of the first combined youth canoe racing & Hawaiian cultural immersion program on the U.S. Mainland at another local canoe club. This cultural immersion program was founded by Uncle Gus Cervantes in 2008. After four very successful years Uncle Gus decided it was time build a new club. This new Hawaiian outrigger canoe club is dedicated to perpetuating the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander culture and fostering a lifestyle of fitness through competitive outrigger canoe racing. This website is dedicated to all of those Nā ʽŌpio who participated in his former program and all Nā ʽŌpio everywhere!

10/25/2026

Aloha,

Our young warriors finished their 2nd nā mea hana lima (crafts made by hand) workshop yesterday. They completed their mahiole ipu or mū which was originally called Mākini (gourd masks) which many today call an “Ikaika Helmet or Warrior Helmet”.

It was incredible to see their industriousness and their creativity. Not to mention the effort they put into personalizing each one.

They have learned much about the ipu (gourd) their helmets were made from. They also learned about the ipu wai (water jug) , and ipu heke (Ipu with a top or head on it) which are popular hula instruments. They also learned the mo’olelo kahiko (ancient history) about the Ikaika helmet.

I am super proud of our young warriors. They are certainly nō ka ‘oi!
I Mua!

10/18/2026

Aoha kākou,

Yesterday was day one of two of our young warriors Mahiole Ipu (Gourd Helmet) or Ikaika (Warrior) helmet workshop.

They have learned about the Ke nā po‘e kahikō, (People of old) that wore three distinctive classes of mahiole (helmets) which are ‘a‘ahu a po‘o, and haka, with the Mahiole Ipu being the one most people recognize today as the “Warrior Helmet”.

Thiis is part of our Nā Mea Hana Elima (Crafts made by hand) program at Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

I Mua!

-Unko Gus!

10/13/2026

Eh nā ‘ōpio O hui wa‘a Nā Koa Kai, don’t forget we have Mahiole Ipu workshop starting this weekend!

I Mua!

-Unko Gus!

10/09/2026

Aloha kākou,

Information Technology Solutions Team, Inc. and Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club are proud to be one of the proud sponsors of the Kihei Canoe Club, Maui, Men’s Junior Team for the 2026 moloka‘i Hoe.

They are looking to raise 6k for this event. The Kimokeo Foundation has pledged to match whatever I provide so they are now well on their way to meeting their goal. I told the nā ‘ōpio junior team that if you place, I will be proud, but I will more proud and much happier if you guys have a safe race and above all mālama ke kahi I kekahi (take care of one another).

P.S. The 2026 Moloka‘i Hoe or "Molo" as we call it, will race tomorrow, Saturday October 10, 2026, from Hale O Lono Harbor on Moloka‘i to Waikīkī on O‘ahu, covering 41 miles across the Ka‘iwi Channel.

This race is considered the Super Bowl of Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Races.

I Mua!

https://www.molokaihoe.com/meeting-raceday.aspx

10/09/2026

Aloha!

Videos from our 2026 Paddle For Life Adventure!

I Mua!

10/09/2026

Aloha!

Sunday 2 of 2 Paddle For Life PIC's.

I Mua!

10/09/2026

Aloha!

Sunday Paddle for Life Pics 1 of 2

10/09/2026

Aloha!

More Saturday Paddle For Life Pic's!

10/09/2026

Aloha kākou,

Mahalo nui loa to all of you who supported me for the 2026 Pacific Cancer Foundation Paddle For Life event. I am grateful for your donations to this cause. If you haven't yet and would still like donate, you can still do this through the link at the bottom of this thread.

Anyway, I have participated in the Pacific Cancer Foundation Paddle For Life many times. Upon reflection, I must say this past weekend was the most memorable. First being assigned the Team Captain for “Team Vene”. What an honor. Vene is a great man who was overtaken by this terrible disease that has touched all our lives in way or another.

The teammates we paddled with from Maui and Big Island were the absolute best I can recall. The es**rt boat captain and his first mate were also incredible. We all got along so well and worked together flawlessly to support this great cause.
The conditions were the best I have experienced across this channel. You could not have asked for better weather or water conditions to paddle in. Having two recent hurricanes and a third one turned away, I was concerned about how rough the water could be. But again, the conditions were as close to perfect as I believe they will ever get again.

I am already planning for the 2027 Paddle For Life event.
I have so many pictures from this event that I am sure will take several posts. I hope you enjoy then and hopefully feel the excitement I felt through the pictures I share.

Mālama Pono…Unko Gus!

Welcome to Gus Cervantes's page - Paddle for Life 2026

10/02/2026

Aloha kākou 🌺 This weekend I’ll again paddle 36 miles from Canoe Beach, Maui to Hulopoʻe beach, Lānaʻi for the 2026 Paddle for Life, raising funds for the Pacific Cancer Foundation. I do this to show my haumāna (students) of Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club, my nonprofit, what servant leadership looks like and to honor all touched by cancer. If you can, please support My Page and help me toward my $1,000 goal I will be forever grateful.

Mahalo nui loa. 💖

Aloha kakahiaka k a kou, This weekend I will once again be paddling from Canoe Beach on Maui to Hulopo ? e beach on L a na ? i (36-miles roundtrip) for the 17 t

Address

P. O. Box 721437
San Diego, CA
92172

Website

http://www.nakoakai.com/

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