OluKai Ho’olaule’a to be Broadcast Nationally on Universal Sports, an NBC Sports Partnership

Ocean paddling enthusiasts all over the United States will have their eyes on Kanaha Beach Park, Maui for the 3rd annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a

The OluKai Ho’olaule’a elite Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and one-man Outrigger Canoe (OC1) races will be featured on Ocean Paddler TV, airing nationally to over 50 million households on Universal Sports Network, an NBC Sports Partnership. 
 


The OluKai Ho’olaule’a is a celebration of the ocean and cultures that surround it. During the 2-day ocean festival, elite watermen, waterwomen and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to paddle race the legendary Maliko “downwinder” on Maui’s North shore, an eight-mile stretch from Maliko Gulch to the Lae ’Ula O Kai Canoe Club at Kanaha Beach Park. 


A $15,000 prize purse will be shared equally between the elite men’s and women’s divisions. The SUP race begins at 12:00PM on Saturday, May 14th. The OC1 race will launch at 12:00PM on Sunday. The OluKai Ho’olaule’a race coverage will reach 52 markets nationwide, including the nation’s top 10 media markets, 20 of the top 25 markets, totaling over 50 million households.OluKai and Ocean Paddler TV are excited to showcase the incredible skill, raw power, endurance and dedication of the world’s elite paddlers while offering unique insight into the authentic culture that surrounds the Hawaiian ocean paddling community.

Telling the OluKai Ho’olaule’a story, the races, music and cultural activities, to a national television audience offers an exciting opportunity to showcase Hawaii’s ocean culture to over 50 million households. We are excited to support the growth of SUP, OC1 and the extraordinary people connected to the sports.

Paddlers can register online at http://www.olukai.com/hoolaulea by May 4 to receive a Premium Race Package including luau dinner, technical race jersey, and a pair of OluKai sandals. Online registration closes May 10. Space is limited.

Getting In Some Training Runs for the Ho’olaule’a

The Ho’olaule’a is quickly approaching and paddlers are kicking it into gear to get trained and race ready. This past Saturday, Suzie Cooney (www.suzietrainsmaui.com) organized a Maliko practice run for paddlers to get some miles in on the famous downwinder.

Coming off an unexpected high surf advisory mid week, Saturday turned out to be fantastic sunny day. The high surf receded leaving perfect conditions with 15+ knot winds.

Paddlers began arriving at Paia Youth and Cultural Center just before 8am and ranged in age from late teens to 70 years young. One of the attendees, Sharina Husted, just gave birth to a new baby daughter 29 days ago and had never done a down wind paddle before! Paddlers consisted of local Mauians to visitors from Canada, California and England.

22 of the paddlers had never paddled this down wind stretch on the north shore of Maui. To them, Suzie’s Practice Fun Paddle was a huge sense of accomplishment and a great way to build up some confidence prior to the upcoming race. Want to know more about Suzie? Check out her blog at http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com/blog/ for training tips and future fun paddles she’s hosting.

Not quite ready for the full throttle of the full 8-mile Maliko race? Then the ‘Ohana Fun Paddle may be more your speed. It’s a 3-mile non-competitive, non-timed paddle. It starts at 9:00am on Sat May 14 and runs downwind from Paia Bay to Kanaha Beach Park. All human-powered ocean craft are allowed and a portion of the proceeds go to the OluKai ‘Ohana Giveback Program.

Learn more about the Ho’olaule’a and sign up for all races at http://www.olukai.com/Hoolaulea/about

Mahalo!