One week to go before the close of the 2012 OC-1 Season. And to get you through the rest of the week… here’s Makana Denton’s rendition of the 2012 Moloka’i Solo.

Congratulations to Team Kamanu paddler Jimmy Austin for setting a new record in the Pa’a Moloka’i Solo World Championships. With 2010 World Champion Danny Ching in 4th and race organizer Manny Kulukulu’alani right on his heels in 5th, it was a great day for the Team Kamanu guys. However, there are still a lot of races to go before we can officially call the 2012 season pau. Tomorrow is the Kaua’i World Challenge (top Kamanu teams to watch out for will be Jimmy/Danny, Manny/Alfred, and Kelly/Mael), next weekend is Maui to Moloka’i, after that is the Moloka’i relay, and after that will be the ‘Olukai Ho’olaulea. Check out our Facebook page for continuous race day updates for all the upcoming races.

Here’s a short teaser video of the solo:

Our third open class canoe, the Ka’apahu, is leaving Hawai’i next week. She has been sprayed red and will find her new home at Off-Shore Canoe Club in California. She will arrive in California with an undefeated record in Hawai’i, as she was first in both the 2011 ‘Eono and 2012 Ola Mau. A hui hou aku no.

After years of observation, months of computer aided iteration, and about 18 seconds of on the water testing– we are proud to announce the completion of the 2nd generation Pueo. Using state of the art mold-less solid foam core technology and bondo highlights, we’re able to bring the weight down to a meager 30 pounds.

* April 2nd Edit– Sorry guys, we couldn’t resist posting that on April Fools. The 2nd generation Pueo is still undergoing extensive ocean trials. But we are planning to begin production in July. Hopefully you enjoyed our lighthearted video insight into the design process of our newest canoe.

Sometime this month we built our 1000th Pueo. It’s hard not to be nostalgic when looking at where we came from. What started as a trio’s high school dream has turned into a gigantic family. In October of 2007 there were four of us laying up our first canoe. Now, in March of 2012, Kamanu Composites has 19 employees, 20 team riders, 5 overseas reps, and 913 unique customers.

On any given day, a canoe will be sprayed by Greg Eckart; laminated by Shawn Lepine, Keho’oulu Fukumitsu, Alika Guillaume, Kama’opio Berinobis, Mark Jope, and Dagan Johnston; closed by Sarah Russel, Chris Tseu, Kaoru Lovett, Spencer York, and Matt Comstock; trimmed by Justin Watts; touched up, buffed, and finished by Makana Denton, Alex Epling, Nick Herrera, and James Funtanilla; with a rudder made by Mike Chimienti; then packed and shipped by Rodney Lavarias.

In any given race, the top finishers will invariably include many of our team riders: Danny Ching (California), Jimmy Austin (O’ahu), Manny Kulukulu’alani (O’ahu), Mael Carey (Maui), Will Reichenstein (California), Greg Long (Australia), Travis Grant (Australia), Tapari’i Worthington (O’ahu), Makana Denton (O’ahu), Justin Watts (O’ahu), Keola Wright (O’ahu), Simeon Ke-Paloma (O’ahu), Carlton Helm (O’ahu), Kalei Kaho’okele (O’ahu), Puni Freitas (Big Island), Kainoa Darval-Chang (O’ahu), Makana Darval-Chang (O’ahu), Jane Mckee (O’ahu), Kristin Foster (Kaua’i), and Emili Janchevis (Maui).

Canoes are being sold overseas through reps Danny Ching (California), Alan Goto (Washington), Adam Giles (Hong Kong), Kenny Kaneko (Japan), and Travis Grant (Australia).

And most important are the customers. There are too many to list, but you all know who you are. We are forever indebted to you for your support. Without you, none of this would be possible.

That is what makes up what we call Kamanu Composites. Those are the cogs that make up this “one small gear in this great machine of a world.” With all of us working together, we have been able to achieve the impossible. It has become much bigger than any of us and hopefully it will last longer than all of us.

Here’s to the 1000th Pueo. Wherever she is.

Once again we’ve fulfilled a very tardy promise.

If you’ve called Kamanu Composites on our published number (808-228-8609) within the last year and a half, you probably went straight to voicemail. While we did our best to return every call, we weren’t always perfect. Because of that, our phone system has been the perennial weak link in our mission to provide the world’s best customer service.

To remedy that, over the last 18 months a small team of overqualified and underpaid telephonecologists have been working around the clock with only the occasional piece of bread and coffee to sustain them.* And they’ve finally cracked the magic code. Call us at 808-228-8609 and you will be connected to a virtual phone system which will then direct your call to the Kamanu representative that can best serve you.

Today marks the official end of un-returned voicemails.

*That was a large embellishment. The real reason it took so long is too complicated and boring to explain.

And the crazy paddling dedication award of 2012 goes to…. our Japan Rep, Mr Kenny Kaneko.

Next time you’re tired and don’t want to paddle, watch this video for inspiration.

If you live and paddle in Hawai’i, April means non-stop racing and maxed out credit cards. We are blessed to have an incredible finale of races to choose from in Hawai’i. Doing them all can get pricey, but if you’re from overseas, there is no better paddling vacation.  And, if the Mayan have their way, 2012 might be your last chance.

The Moloka’i Solo (April 15th) is the first, and most prestigious, of the channel races. It’s a 32 mile iron race from Moloka’i to O’ahu across the Kaiwi Channel. In the past four years alone, conditions have ranged from dead-flat, to upwind, to North winds (sideways), to perfect downwind sleigh ride.

Next on the schedule is the Kaua’i World Challenge (April 21st). There’s no channel to cross, but it’s the most spectator friendly race in Hawai’i, and it’s often billed as the most fun. Two person relay teams each trade-off twice on land while racing around the East and South sides of Kaua’i. There is a generous cash prize distribution at the end, along with the best post-race party of the year. And, you get to spend a weekend on the most beautiful of the Hawaiian islands.

The Maui to Moloka’i (April 28th) crosses the most consistent channel in Hawai’i. When the rest of Hawai’i is flat, the Pailolo Channel is pumping. When the rest of Hawai’i is windy, the Pailolo Channel is incomparably exciting. It’s a perfect warm up for its big brother (the Moloka’i Relay) or a perfect warm down from the Moloka’i Solo. Either way, it’s always bound to be the most fun conditions of any of the races.

The Moloka’i Relay (May 6th), from Moloka’i to O’ahu, is the longest open ocean OC-1 relay in the world. The format creates a brutally challenging race. While coastal relays and solo races allow you to settle in, there is no such thing in the Moloka’i Relay. It is a relentless strategic onslaught of 10-15 minute sprints. And, for most people, it marks the end of the season.

The last race is the Olukai Ho’olaulea (May 12-13).  It is relatively new to the season, but it has proven itself to be an un-missable event. It is a coastal race from Maliko Gulch to Kahului Harbor. This short downwind run is often considered the best downwind run in the world. And Olukai does their part in putting on an incredible event.

For more information on any of the races, check out their respective websites at:

paahawaii.com, Kauaiworldchallenge.org, olukai.com/Hoolaulea/about, and pailolo.com

For information on accommodations on Moloka’i, check out molokai-vacation-rental.com.

For any other questions about racing in Hawai’i or borrowing a canoe, please email info@kamanucomposites.com.

Kamanu Composites is looking for a part-time office assistant in Kailua:
Job requirements are:
- A passion for paddling
- Customer service skills
- A driver’s license
- Computer literacy
- Reliability
- Mid day availability
- Extreme enthusiasm
- All-around awesomeness

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Customer Service: in person, on the phone, and through email
- Packing and shipping canoes and accessories
- Simple manufacturing tasks during slow periods

If you’re interested, email keizo@kamanucomposites.com with a resume and detailed cover-letter.

The Pueo has exceeded our wildest expectations.  It has traveled to locations we can only dream of.  It has won more races than we knew existed.  But, most importantly, it has enhanced the lives of people around the world.  While we believe it to be the best canoe on the market, we have taken on the challenge of creating its greatest rival.  To do so, we are re-organzing, re-tooling, and gearing up to bring you the next revolution in outrigger canoeing.

As of January 1st, we will no longer be taking new orders for the first generation Pueo.

Feel free to inquire anytime about our progress on this new endeavor or about the availability of off-the-shelf canoes.  And keep posted on our website for more information during this exciting time.


We at Kamanu Composites thank you for your continued support over the years.  Without it, none of this could have been possible.

*Edit:
Due to some confusion, here is a bit of clarification:
1) The new canoe will still be the Pueo. As it will retain much of the design and performance aspects of it. Oeup, as the title of the blog post, was a reference to our first print advertisement for the Pueo. Not the name of the canoe.
2) It likely won’t be available until mid-summer 2012. And we won’t take orders on it until it has proven to be better than its predecessor.
3) The closing of the list has more to do with the excessive wait time and less to do with the new design