OluKai helped support this years Gorge Outrigger Races, held on July 15-17th in Stevenson, WA.
Paddlers and their families came from all over the west coast to compete in the 2011 Gorge Outrigger Races. Conditions were not ideal to start, with a dead flat river and rain Saturday morning, but by the start of the first race the wind kicked up and the rain stopped. A record of 67 crews, 402 paddlers, raced the 10 mile course off the Stevenson waterfront. The 10 mile course consists of a 2-lap triangle, with both upwind downstream, and downwind upstream conditions, making for a very challenging race.
Sunday morning didn't start off any better than Saturday with rain and no wind but by the start of the small boat and SUP races the rain finally stopped, but unfortunately the wind never showed up. Even with the unwelcoming weather competitors, campers and spectators enjoyed another great race in the Columbia Gorge!
On Friday July 8, OluKai partnered with six local specialty retailers to clean up several surf beaches in Southern California.
From Hermosa Beach Pier to Swamis in Encinitas, OluKai employees, retailers and community volunteers pitched in to remove 325 pounds of litter and debris during the concurrently scheduled Friday events.
The clean ups were part of OluKai's second Giveback Day, an annual event where our company closes it's offices and encourages staff to get outside and take an active approach to giving back to our local community.
Each clean up was focused on the home breaks of several of our best surf retailers in Southern California. Local volunteers as well as eco-minded vacationers were hosted with breakfast and gifts complimentary of OluKai and the respective specialty retailers.
We thank all of the dedicated volunteers and retailer partners who helped in the effort to keep our beaches clean.
Partner retailers and beaches as well as photos from the events are below:
Join OluKai and the best surf shops in Southern California to give back to the local community, beautify our beaches, and protect the environment. Breakfast and refreshments will be served and volunteers will be entered to win prizes including OluKai sandals, T-shirts, beach towels, and more!
Beach Cleanup at Hermosa Beach @ Pier St Presented by OluKai and Jack's Surfboards July 8, 2011 / 10am-2pm Meet at Hermosa Beach @ Pier Street
Beach Cleanup at Seal Beach Presented by OluKai and Harbour Surfboards July 8, 2011 / 10am-2pm Meet at Harbour Surfboards 329 Main St, Seal Beach
Beach Cleanup at Blackies/Newport Pier Presented by OluKai and SEED People's Market July 8, 2011 / 11am-3pm Meet at Blackies/Newport Pier
Beach Cleanup at Main Beach Laguna Presented by OluKai and Hobie Surf Shop July 8, 2011 / 10am-2pm Meet at Hobie Surf Shop 249 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach
Beach Cleanup at San Clemente Pier & T-Street Presented by OluKai and Hobie Surf Shop July 8, 2011 / 10am-2pm Meet at San Clemente Pier
Beach Cleanup at Swami's Presented by OluKai and Hansen's Surfboards July 8, 2011 / 10am-2pm Meet at Swami's
There is a strong tradition of giving back in Hawaiian culture. Each year we share this spirit across the nation on our 'Ohana Giveback Day. On July 8, OluKai employees, representatives, and retail partners across the nation, from Hawaii to Puerto Rico, will spend the day giving back in their local communities.
Congratulations to Linda Wolven, winner of OluKai’s Passage to Maui promotion, whose winning entry was made at Snyder Shoes in Ludington, Michigan.
This will be Linda’s first trip to Hawaii and her first trip on a plane…ever! She and her husband will be treated to 2 complementary round-trip tickets to Kahului, Maui and 3 nights hotel accommodations. While on Maui, they will get a fun, friendly and very local, all-access island tour provided by OluKai's Hawaii Ambassador, Matthew Murasko. The couple will also receive complimentary pairs of OluKai Premium Footwear of their choice.
From thousands of entries only 1 could win! This year's winner was randomly chosen by last year's winning territory representative.
The Passage to Maui promotion ran throughout the month of May in over 550 participating OluKai retailers. Customers were given the chance to enter to win a grand prize trip to the island of Maui, Hawaii. 16,850 entries were received, with the winner chosen by random drawing on June 23, 2011.
This past Father’s Day, OluKai teamed up with Boulder Running Company for their inaugural Father’s Day 4K and 1 mile Stand Up Paddle (SUP) race. The event drew some of the top runners and paddlers in the area.
The 4K run was an all-out race to the finish with 1st place going to Aaron Carrizales and 2nd place to David Roche. The two runners finished within a second of one another. Laurie Walker was the fastest woman. And our own Jason Freise took the first place honors for the SUP race!
It was a great, family-focused event with Father/Son and Father/Daughter divisions in the run. Participants and their families were treated to a Father’s Day Hawaiian BBQ dinner, as well as a sampling of traditional Hawaiian music and dancing.
100% of the proceeds from the 4K/SUP race went to directly benefit Orphans of AIDS Foundation and the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation EXPAND program.
A quick video recap of the 2011 OluKai Ho'olaule'a, courtesy of our friends at Ocean Paddler TV. ---
The 3rd annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a two day ocean festival was held this past weekend, May 14th and 15th 2011, at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui.
Ho’olaule’a literally means “celebration”, but for us, it’s also an expression of gratitude. Each May, we hold our interpretation of this storied Hawaiian tradition on Maui’s north shore. The event blends elite competition with family-friendly cultural activities and attracts some of the world’s best SUP and OC1 paddlers to race the legendary 8-mile Maliko downwind run.
Over 400 paddlers participated is this years event, with approximately 220 SUP competitors, 100 OC1, and 100 ‘Ohana Fun Paddle participants. In addition to the races, friends and families came together to enjoy canoe sailing and surfing, ancient Hawaiian games, traditional luau, hula, and live music by Paula Fuga and Ekolu Kalama.
The 8-mile SUP and OC1 race was very close with extremely tight times in all race categories. The conditions were perfect with clear sunny skys, trades blowing 15-25 knots and the wind swell made it great for big glides and rides. The finale of both courses also made for a dramatic finish that engaged cheering friends, families, and spectators. The SUP race finished with a exciting 200 yard beach run, while the OC1 race featured a 180 degree buoy turn with a 100 yard up-wind paddle to the finish.
Sharon Baildoy opened both race days with a beautiful Pule – a traditional Hawaiian blessing. Soon after paddlers carried their watercrafts to the waters edge and set out to the starting line. Both races began at noon, with the top competitors finishing incredibly fast under an hour and the last competitors finishing just under 2 hours.
Both race days had an amazing spirit from paddlers and all others enjoying the event. The competitors demonstrated undeniable concentration and strength but once they crossed the finish line there was a true sense of camaraderie and respect for each other, displaying an authentic expression of Aloha!
The top 6 elite men’s and women’s division of each racing discipline shared a gender equal $15,000 prize purse. Kai Bartlett took first place in the Men’s Elite SUP race with a record time of 00:49:02, and 2010’s title holder Livio Menelau, took second with a time of 00:49:19.
Sunday, Jimmy Austin won the OC1 Men’s Elite race with a time of 00:47:37. Andrea Moller defended her 2009 and 2010 OluKai Ho’olaule’a sweep by winning both the Women’s SUP and OC1 Elite races back-to-back.
This year we expanded the Ho’olaule’a to include an ‘Ohana Fun Paddle, a 3-mile non-competitive, non-timed paddle for ocean enthusiast of all ages and all skill levels. The ‘Ohana Fun Paddle took place Saturday morning, from Paia Youth and Cultural Center to Kanaha Beach Park, with participants of all ages and all types of watercrafts.
In addition to the paddling events, guests enjoyed traditional Hawaiian games hosted by Maui Cultural Lands, sailing canoe rides on the HSCA champion vessel Kamakakoa, Lae ‘Ula O Kai canoe club’s traditional luau and a Hula performance by Hula Halau Alapa'i I Maluuluolele. Families relaxed on the park grass enjoying the festivities awaiting musical headliner, Paula Fuga. Before she took the stage there was a dramatic plumeria drop over the crowd. Following Paula Fuga’s performance, elite waterman Ekolu Kalama concluding Saturday’s event with an acoustic performance into the twilight hours.
One of the most important roles of our ‘Ohana is actively giving back. Through the event we were able to present over $100,000 in giveback donations to our ‘Ohana Giveback partners: Maui Cultural Lands, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association's, Team Bradley, Team Kamakakoa of the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association, and hosts Lae ‘Ula O Kai canoe club.
May 14, 2011 'Ohana Fun Paddle
May 14, 2011 SUP Race
May 15, 2011 OC1 Race
Mahalo nui loa to the County of Maui, Lae’Ula O Kai Canoe Club, Maui Cultural Lands, Team Kamakakoa, Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, Mary Kielty and her ocean safety crew, Ocean Paddler TV, Paula Fuga, and all the paddlers, friends, and families for making this a truly special event.
