About Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club
Rooted in competition, stewardship, and ‘ohana, Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club is a member-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987. Based in Ventura, California, we proudly compete as part of the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association (SCORA) while honoring the traditions and values of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling.
At Hokuloa, racing excellence and community go hand in hand. We are committed to developing skilled paddlers, caring for the ocean environment, and fostering a culture of respect, teamwork, and belonging—on and off the water.
At Hokuloa, racing excellence and community go hand in hand. We are committed to developing skilled paddlers, caring for the ocean environment, and fostering a culture of respect, teamwork, and belonging—on and off the water.
2023 Novice at Iron Champs after claiming 1st place (and competing in the novice dance competition)
2023 Ventura Outigger Challenge
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Club HistoryHokuloa’s story is deeply connected to the early roots of outrigger canoe paddling in Ventura County.
In 1976, Hale O Kila Kila was formed in Oxnard by Vernon Hao, then president of the Oxnard Hawaiian Club. The club was created to promote Hawaiian culture and ocean sports in the area. Two Malia canoes were purchased, and the club joined what was then known as the Kalifornia Outrigger Association (KOA). Despite early enthusiasm, the club eventually dissolved due to challenges with organization, promotion, and sustainable training. Several members regrouped and formed Kanoa in Ventura, but similar challenges led to its closure after a few years. In 1987, that same core group came together once more—this time determined to build something lasting. Through persistence, commitment, and shared love for the sport, Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club was born. Founding members Gary Lee, Laura Byrd, and Phil Shockley remain connected to the paddling community today. Gary and Laura are active members of our non-racing sister club, Ventura Outrigger Canoe Club, while Phil continues to paddle with Hokuloa. Today, Hokuloa is a proud and active member of SCORA, continuing a legacy that spans decades. |
Outrigger Canoe Paddling in California
1959: First Hawai’ian All Star Catalina Crew
Outrigger canoe paddling arrived in California in the late 1950s, carried from Hawai'i by paddlers who believed deeply in sharing both the sport and spirit of canoe racing.
In 1959, the first Catalina Channel crossing marked a pivotal moment. Hawaiian paddlers, organized by Albert “Toots” Minvielle, raced alongside a newly formed California crew—introducing mainland paddlers to the discipline, teamwork, and endurance required for open-ocean outrigger racing. That crossing is widely recognized as the beginning of organized outrigger canoe competition in California.
The growth of the sport was fueled by collaboration between Hawaiian and California paddlers, coaches, and organizers. Visionaries such as Toots Minvielle, Noah Kalama, Tommy Zahn, Tom Johnson, and Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison helped establish training programs, races, and eventually locally built canoes—allowing outrigger paddling to take root along the California coast.
By the early 1960s, the sport had grown enough to form the Kalifornia Outrigger Association (KOA), which later evolved into the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association (SCORA). Today, SCORA connects clubs from San Diego to Avila and continues to steward competitive outrigger racing in California.
Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club is proud to be part of this living lineage—one built on respect for Hawaiian culture, shared effort, and generations of paddlers who helped bring outrigger canoeing to California’s shores.
Mahalo to the Hawaiian paddlers and pioneers who made this journey possible.
(Historical references courtesy of SCORA and KOA archives.)
In 1959, the first Catalina Channel crossing marked a pivotal moment. Hawaiian paddlers, organized by Albert “Toots” Minvielle, raced alongside a newly formed California crew—introducing mainland paddlers to the discipline, teamwork, and endurance required for open-ocean outrigger racing. That crossing is widely recognized as the beginning of organized outrigger canoe competition in California.
The growth of the sport was fueled by collaboration between Hawaiian and California paddlers, coaches, and organizers. Visionaries such as Toots Minvielle, Noah Kalama, Tommy Zahn, Tom Johnson, and Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison helped establish training programs, races, and eventually locally built canoes—allowing outrigger paddling to take root along the California coast.
By the early 1960s, the sport had grown enough to form the Kalifornia Outrigger Association (KOA), which later evolved into the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association (SCORA). Today, SCORA connects clubs from San Diego to Avila and continues to steward competitive outrigger racing in California.
Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club is proud to be part of this living lineage—one built on respect for Hawaiian culture, shared effort, and generations of paddlers who helped bring outrigger canoeing to California’s shores.
Mahalo to the Hawaiian paddlers and pioneers who made this journey possible.
(Historical references courtesy of SCORA and KOA archives.)
Our Canoes
Each Hokuloa canoe carries a name rooted in meaning, tradition, and respect for the ocean. Hawaiian words often hold layered significance; the translations below reflect commonly understood meanings, shared with care and humility.
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Unlimited Canoes
38 | E Ikaika Mau (stay strong) 43 | Wahine O Ke Kai (lady of the sea) 58 | Hoku Pana (shooting star) 68 | Laulima (many hands working together) 83 | Hoku O Ke Kai (star of the sea) 931 | Hokulele (flying star or shooting star) Spec: Bradley Canoes 31 | Ono (good or delicious) 97 | Kekaha O Ke Kai (place in the sea) 123 | Kapa Kai (edge of the sea or seashore) Spec: Mirage Canoes 20 | Nalukea (white wave) 73 | Puakai (ocean flower) |
These names remind us that each canoe is more than equipment—it is a vessel of history, responsibility, and shared experience.
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Coaching Staff
Our coaches are the heart of our programs—volunteer leaders who dedicate their time, knowledge, and passion to developing paddlers at every level.
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Technique +
Men's Coach Fender Carnine 
Men's
Assistant Coach Layne Bell |
Board Members
Hokuloa is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who steward the club’s mission, operations, and long-term vision.
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President
Yvonne Menard Vice President Tatiana Szerwinski Secretary Andrew Berner Treasurer Louise Bretz |
Equipment Manager
Andrew Gonzales + Mario Flores Membership Chair Adam Cadena SCORA Representative Patricia Vogler |