Once again Kamanu Composites has fallen into the unfortunate state of having a website that never gets updated. In a feeble attempt to justify our inactive website, here are some of the things we’ve been up to recently:

Facebook
We’re now on Facebook and have been actively updating our page with everything that should have gone on the website. There are pictures, videos, and a steady stream of updates from Kailua and our reps around the world.

White Building
We finally followed through on a claim that we made over a year ago about painting our building white. Initial estimates put it way out of our price range, but, with the help of Wally Hamasaki’s painting services, we were finally able to do it. The temperature difference in the shop is amazing and we encourage anyone with a building that feels like an oven to make the investment.

Team Kamanu
We have always been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a great team of paddlers. This year we were able to take that team to the next level in the form of Team Kamanu. Xcel, NS Airconditioning, Oakley, and Steinlager have come on board, and with their help we are supporting many of the top paddlers in Hawai’i. As the 2010 OC-1 season wrapped up, the team was able to sweep all of the major races. Notable finishes by paddlers on a Kamanu Composites canoes include:

Steinglager Kaiwi Channel Solo
1st- Danny Ching
2nd- Jimmy Austin
3rd- Manny Kulukulu’alani
5th- Simeon Ke-Paloma

Sarento’s/ Kai Wa’a Maui to Moloka’I Challenge
1st- Jimmy Austin
2nd- Mael Carey
3rd- Manny Kulukulualani
4th- Danny Ching
6th- Ka’eo’okalani Abbey
7th- Tapa Worthington
1st V1- Luke Evslin
2nd V1- Makana Denton

Kaiwi Channel Relay
1st- Jimmy Austin/ Manny Kulukul’alani
2nd- Travis Grant/ Mike Murray
3rd- Luke Evslin/ Simeon Ke-Paloma
4th- Mael Carey/ Tapa Worthington

Aqua Resorts Hawai’i/ Steinlager Kaua’I World Challenge
1st- Jimmy Austin/ Manny Kulukulu’alani
2nd- Mike Murray/ Travis Grant
3rd- Tapa Worthington/ Simeon Ke-Paloma
4th- Luke Evslin/ Kelly Foster
5th- Carlton Helm/ Makana Denton
6th- Bill Pratt/ Raven Aipa
7th- Ka’eo’okalani Abbey/ Sean Ka’awa
8th- CJ Day/ Justin Watts
1st W- Jane Mckee/ Kristin Foster

Olukai Ho’olaule’a
1st- Danny Ching
2nd- Jimmy Austin
3rd- Travis Grant
4th- Manny Kulukulu’alani
5th- Ka’eo’okalani Abbey
6th- Kekoa Cramer

Pa’a ‘Eono Hoe
1st- Kawainui paddled by Team Kamanu
4th- Kapa’a paddled by OCP Mafia

Kapa’a and Kawainui
When we heard that Pa’a was hosting an iron channel crossing that allowed for open class canoes, we decided (with very little thought or discussion) that we would build two V-6s to compete. Unfortunately we only had eight weeks to design and build two revolutionary new canoes. Our progress is documented on our facebook page and details of the canoes are described below. The abbreviated version of it all is that the whole shop and a small army of volunteers were mobilized to build both canoes. After weeks of 18 hour shifts the boats were finally completed at 7:00 the morning of the Pa’a ‘Eono Hoe. The Kawainui finished first and the Kapa’a finished fourth.

Margo Pelegrino
We are fortunate enough to be able to sponsor Margo Pelegrino in her “attempt to protect and conserve our oceans and coasts for future generations by calling out to communities all along America’s coastlines.” She is currently paddling from Seattle to San Diego in a Pueo to raise support for a Healthy Oceans Act. Seattle2sandiego.com.