Maui Jim Molokai Challenge

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

2016

Course: Molokai to Oahu. From Kaluakoi Beach on the west end of Molokai to Maunalua Beach Park in Hawaii Kai on Oahu. 32 miles (53 km) across the Kaiwi channel.
Date: Sunday May 29, 2016

Results

Molokai Challenge Results and Age Group Winners

$15,000.00 PURSE

TIMELINE:

Forms

1. Registration form
2. ACA Paddler Waiver Adult form
3. ACA Paddler Waiver Minor form
4. Escort Boat Waiver form

Maui Jim Molokai Challenge competitors will receive a discounted rate for registration in the Maui Jim OceanFest of $100 for 1 Day and $150 for 2 Days (late fees will not apply). Click here for details.

Divisions: SOLO and RELAY (Relay can have 2 or 3 person teams)

Surfski-1, Surfski-2, Prone Paddleboard, SUP, V-1, OC-1, OC-2.                      

• Surfski-1, OC-1:
  • Solo – Male and Female:
    • Junior (18 and under), 19 – 29,  30 – 39, 40 – 49, 50 – 56, 57 – 63, 64 – 69, 70+
    • HAWAII RESIDENT: There will be a division and awards for the SS-1 Hawaii resident paddlers
  • Relay: 2 or 3 paddlers per team.
    • Male and Female: Junior, 19-39, 40-55, 56+.
    • Mixed (one male paddler): Open
• V-1:
  • Solo – Male and Female: Open
  • Relay
    • Male and Female: Open
    • Mixed: Open
• Surfski-2, OC-2:
  • Solo
    • Male and Female: Open
    • Mixed: Open
  • Relay: 4 paddlers per team.
    • Male and Female: Junior, Open.
    • Mixed (two male paddlers maximum): Open
• SUP:
  • Solo – Male and Female
    • 14’ and under: Open
    • Unlimited: Open
  • Relay: 2 or 3 person teams: Male, Female and Mixed. 14’ and under – no rudder.
    • Open
• Prone:
  • Solo – Male and Female
    • Stock – 12’, set fin, no rudder: Open
    • Unlimited: Open
  • Relay: 2 or 3 person teams: Male, Female and Mixed
    • Stock – 12’, set fin, no rudder: Open
    • Unlimited: Open
    • Mixed any board (only 1 male paddler): Open

Notes:

• OC-1 and Surfski solo: Top 5 will be recognized as open with age group beginning with 6^th
• SUP and Prone solo: If there is a resounding amount of entries, we’ll open up age group divisions, with top 3 overall being recognized as open, and age groups per board division beginning at 4^th
• All relay teams are entered in the age group of the youngest team member. Hence, youngest paddler determines your category.
• Relay teams in all disciplines will default top 3 to open with age group placing starting with 4^th
• There will be 3 starting times to send slower crafts and paddlers earlier. There will be a time cut off, so if you are slow and you want to finish the race, you should start in one of the first two starts. It is mandatory to start at the time for which you registered!
• Prize money is limited only to Surfski and OC-1

Start Times: Early start times are mandatory for slower crafts and recommended for paddlers who know they will be slow. YOU MUST START AT THE TIME FOR WHICH YOU REGISTERED!

Registration options:

1. Forms can be downloaded and mailed with a check to:
   Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association
   PO Box 342152, Kailua, HI 96734.
   Please CLICK HERE for registration and CLICK HERE for waiver form.
2. You can register online at flpregister.com.

Entry Fee:

Entry fee includes an event shirt, Scott Hawaii slippers, a meal ticket for the banquet at the Elk’s Lodge on Waikiki beach, raffle ticket to win great prizes like Maui Jim Sunglasses, Intova web cam, Aloha Gas certificates, Jamba Juice smoothie certificate and other goodies.

POST RACE AWARDS BANQUET AT THE ELKS LODGE, WAIKIKI: Additional banquet meal tickets can be purchased for $35.00 with your registration. Extra meal tickets must be purchased in  advance. You cannot purchase meal tickets the night of the banquet.

Prize Money: For Surfski and OC-1 Elite Solo category only.

Additional prizes:

1. 1^st place OVERALL in Solo divisions in all crafts (Surfski, OC-1, SUP, Prone) – Male and Female will win a pair of MAUI JIM Sunglasses.
2. 1^st place open relay Surfski and OC-1 will win MAUI JIM sunglasses, $150.00 in ALOHA GAS and a case of KONA BREWING CO. Liquid Gold.

Pre-race packet pick up and escort boat captain’s meeting:

Thursday May 26^th 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Kona Brewing Company in Koko Marina, Hawaii Kai. Plan to stay for a few beers and some dinner at the Kona Brew Pub.

Pre- Race Meeting on Molokai: Saturday May 28^th, 5:30 PM at Kaluakoi Villas fronting the pool.

Pre-Race dinner on Molokai: This is something we’ll help organize if there is enough interest. Please email us at kira@kanakaikaika.com and let us know if you would be interested in dinner for $10.00. If there is enough interest, we’ll try make it happen.

Escort Boat Information. Each paddler or team entry must have an escort boat.

Escort Boat hire:

If you do not have an escort boat, contact Escort Boats Hawaii who will assist you in securing an escort boat and captain experienced at crossing the channel.    Escort Boats Hawaii takes their jobs seriously as safety is their #1 concern. You can reach them by email at: escortboatshawaii2000@yahoo.com or by calling (808) 306-4121.

All competitors will be REQUIRED to send in a boat waiver in order for their entry to be confirmed – Please CLICK HERE for boat waiver and submit no later than May 16, 2016.

Molokai Protocol and Good Neighbor Policy

1. Observe a no wake (less than 5 mph) speed within 500 yards of any shoreline.  There have been several instances of speeding escort boats almost hitting divers.
2. No fishing of any type within 500 yards of shore.
3. No Opihi picking.
4. No harvesting of lobster, it is out of season from May to August.
5. No camping on private property or non-designated camping areas, including Make Horse Beach.  The Molokai Police Department will be sending officers to cite unpermitted camping.  There will be a legal, permitted set up at Papohaku Park.
6. Please pick up your trash.  It would be a great gesture of good will if you could leave Molokai cleaner than when you got there.
7. The Shoreline area will be patrolled 24/7. Any escort boats on in compliance with the rules above will be recorded and will be marked for all future events that start or finish in Molokai. All Molokai event organizers have agreed to abide by the rules and ban any captains and their boats that do not respect the local protocol. Please kokua!
8. SUMMARY = RESPECT MOLOKAI

Escort Boat Requirements:

1. All athletes/teams are responsible for obtaining and turning in the escort boat waiver AND a copy of your captain’s boating certificate or credentials if USCG merchant mariner. These waivers are available to download from the website and must be mailed or e-mailed to joellefoti@gmail.com by May 16, 2016 in order for your entry to be accepted.
2. IT IS MANDATORY that all escort boats check in with lead official on channel 72 before the start of the race. Any paddler whose boat has not been checked in cannot race and will not be considered as part of the event or the responsibility of the event organizers. Water patrol will be on-hand to enforce this rule.
3. Escort boats must have at least one spotter in addition to the captain.
4. Escort boats must assist any paddler or boat in distress.
5. All escort boats must have fixed VHF radios.  No hand held VHF radios allowed, this is a DQ offense.  Escort boats must check in with the head official boat prior to the first start at 7:50 am.  Primary channel is 72 after the race start.  Escort boats must confirm connection with their paddler on VHF 72.  Back up channel is 71.
6. Race officials must be notified at least 24 hours prior to the start of the race of any changes to escort boat information.
7. All escort boats must meet current United States Coast Guard Standards as defined by the USCG and must have passed the BOATER SAFETY EDUCATION SAFETY CLASS AND HAVE THEIR BOATER SAFETY EDUCATION CARD ON THEM AT ALL TIMES.
8. At the end of the race, escort boats must check in with the head official boat on vhf 72 when their paddler reaches Portlock Point and begins the turn into Maunalua Bay.

Things to consider when hiring an escort boat

1. Extra Riders: A helper/Safety Swimmer is helpful. Person must know how to Swim and be Boat Oriented. Rider(s) must Swim Offshore to Board Vessel. Major concern is Liability for extra Passengers on Board. If boat is Big enough to carry extra Passenger an additional Fee may be required.
2. Transporting race day provision’s: To avoid hauling Provisions on the Plane or Swimming it out to the Boat. Make arrangements to have Provisions go to Molokai on Board your Escort Boat.
3. Obtain a Picture of the boat that will be escorting you and meet up with your Boat Captain once in Hawaii to identify what your Boat looks like. There will be many Boats offshore at the start and very difficult to identify.  You can drop water and provisions to your boat in Oahu or request that your boat load up with water prior to the race.  You will be loading your boat from the shore in Molokai so think about this as you plan what you need.
4. When contacting Escort Boats Hawaii for an escort boat please give them the category you will be competing in so they can get you a Boat that fits your needs. Also inquire about transporting your paddle craft.
5. At the end of the Race, please promptly locate your Escort Boat and collect your personal belongings. Your Boat Captain will wait up to 15 minutes after you have crossed the Finish Line for you and may have to move the boat as not to create a Boat Congestion at the Finish Line. This is critical if you do not have a helper on board.
6. Make sure your boat shows up early enough to get your gear on board. JETSKIS AND THRILLCRAFT ARE NOT ALLOWED NEAR SHORE SO DON’T COUNT ON OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET YOUR GEAR TO THE BOAT. PACK ACCORDINGLY.
7. Competitor is responsible to make sure their boat captain understands all these rules and regulations and turns in all appropriate forms.

Safety Precautions

1. All escort boats must meet current United States Coast Guard Standards as defined by the USCG
2. Make sure at least one person in your escort boat is CPR certified and has basic first aid knowledge and equipment.
3. Make sure the tether to your craft has a quick release Wear brightly colored shorts and a hat.  Carry or wear a personal flotation device.
4. Carry a Coast Guard approved personal location device on your person.
5. Have all persons on your escort boat wear personal flotation devices.  Inspect your escort boat, make sure it is safe.
6. Make sure your boat has a bullhorn or megaphone so your boat can communicate with you.
7. Make sure your boat has binoculars, flares, and other emergency equipment.
8. Meet with your escort boat captain prior to the race to discuss the race morning loading plan, all safety procedures, race route, where to meet before the race starts so you can get your gear on board, and how to meet after the race starts.  Make sure the race number sticker is on both sides of the boat in a clearly visible area.
9. Make sure you carry your boat captain’s contact info with you at all times on Molokai. This includes, boat description/name, Hawaii phone number, cell phone number, and home phone number and email.
10. PWCs (personal watercraft ie jetskis) are not allowed on any of the beaches in Hawaii.   Under no circumstances can a PWC beach itself onto any of the Hawaiian shorelines.

Some surfski rental options:

• Epic: Contact Zsolt Szadovski at szado2@yahoo.com.
• Fenn and Stellar: Contact Dylan Thomas at surfskikauai@me.com
• THINK and Allwave CX: Contact Jim Foti at jkfoti@gmail.com

Boat and Board Transportation from Oahu to Molokai: You have three options to transport your craft to Molokai (from Oahu):

1. Send it up on your escort boat. Check with Escort Boats Hawaii about this service.
2. Send it on a trailer which will depart Tuesday prior to the race. Loading will be Monday afternoon in Hawaii Kai near the boat ramp. Boats and boards will be available in Kaluakoi Thursday morning May 26^th.
3. Book a 3^rd party transport on selected escort boats. Escort Boats Hawaii will handle this service. Space is limited.

For option #2: Hina Kai X-press will be handling all the bookings and transportation. Cost will be $75.00 for Surfskis, boards and SUP, and $100.00 for OC-1/OC-2. Contact Kekai at HinaKai13@yahoo.com or call 808 271-6573 to make your booking.

For option #3: Escort Boats Hawaii will be handling all the bookings. You will be responsible to deliver your ski, canoe or board to the transport boat on Wednesday or Thursday prior to the race (location variable depending on where captain’s boat is located). Cost is $100.00. escortboatshawaii2000@yahoo.com

For questions and additional information, contact us at kira@kanakaikaika.com.

Recommended accommodations (on Oahu):

1. Our hotel partner, Aqua Hospitality is offering a 15% discount on ALL their properties to the paddlers, not just for the week of Molokai, but for the entire year! Go to: aquahospitality.com or call the reservations dept. at (866)-940-2782

Use promo code: H2O2016

2. Or for affordable lodging in a country setting check out Kokokahi YWCA, which is on the water in Kaneohe Bay, on windward Oahu. For as little as $21.00 per person, per night you stay in a rustic Hawaiian cabin with common bathrooms and lots of outside space in a beautiful oceanfront setting. You can also tent camp for $12.00 per night. Visit: https://ywca-oahu.squarespace.com/cabins/ for information. To make bookings or inquiries, you can also contact Kelly Stechman by e-mail at kstechman@ywcaoahu.org or phone 808 247-2124. Minimum two weeks notice is required.

Travel to Molokai:

1. You can go up on your escort boat
2. Book your commercial flights at:
   1. makanikaiair.com
   2. hawaiianairlines.com
   3. mokuleleairlines.com
   4. https://molokai-vacation-rental.net/extras.php
      1. Molokai Vacation Rentals has a relationship with Mokulele air, Molokai Outdoors and Alamo rent a car. They can coordinate everything on Molokai including your trip from Oahu.
3. Outside travel agent arrangements

On Molokai:

• Lodging – Molokai Vacation Properties can offer a wide variety of options: Visit molokai-vacation-rental.com . Email Dayna at dayna@molokaivacationproperties.com, call toll free: 800 367 2984, local: 808 553 8334 or fax: 808 553 8332.
• Ground transportation from the airport to your hotel, house or condo – Molokai Outdoors can arrange transportation to and from anywhere on the island at any time. Plus Molokai Outdoors offers a wide variety of activities if you plan to come to Molokai early in the week (advisable). Visit: https://www.hawaiifun.org/Molokai+Outdoors/Special+Events+and+Races.shtml , email Clare at claresmawae@gmail.com, call toll free: 1-877-553-4477 or fax: 808 553-3000

Full packages: If you don’t want to manage all the logistics yourself; WE PADDLE AUSTRALIA can take care of everything: Airfare to Hawaii and to Molokai, hotels and ground transportation on Oahu and Molokai, escort boat hire, ski hire, nutrition, training program if desired and more. WE PADDLE AUSTRALIA will also be organizing downwind paddles on Oahu the week prior to the race with a small boat trailer that will make (multiple) daily trips to Hawaii Kai and/or Makapu’u. Visit: http://www.wepaddle.com.au/index.php?pr=We_Paddle_Travel_Packages or email info@wepaddle.com.au for more information.

Post Race: Banquet Awards dinner at the Elks Lodge #616 on Waikiki Beach. 5:00 – 10:00 pm. Food and a no host bar with Kona Beer and Barefoot wine on special. Additional banquet meal tickets can be purchased for $35.00 with your race registration. Extra meal tickets must be purchased in advance. You cannot purchase meal tickets the night of the banquet.

Maui Jim Oceanfest: Stick around another week and vie for your share of the $40,000.00 purse! Multi   discipline sprint race format in swimming, Surfski, SUP, OC-1 and Prone Paddle boarding. On Ka’anapali Beach in Maui this is an event not to miss. Maui Jim Molokai Challenge competitors will receive a discounted rate for registration in the Maui Jim OceanFest of $100 for 1 Day and $150 for 2 Days (late fees will not apply). You will receive your discount code with your Maui Jim Molokai Challenge registration confirmation email. Click here for details.

For questions and additional information, don’t hesitate to contact us at kira@kanakaikaika.com.