Pu'uloa Outrigger Canoe Club - Honoring "Coach Kammy Vera Cruz"

It was a beautiful day at the beach today for the Pu'uloa Outrigger Canoe Club 5th Annual Iron Race at Ke'ehi Lagoon, and it was also a special day for Coach Kammy Vera Cruz (photo above). Kammy was at one time, the coach for the Ewa Beach and the Kuakini Canoe Club back in the 70's. Today he was presented a miniature canoe paddle and recognized at the opening of the 5th Annual Iron Race for his "Past Commitment to Perpetuate the Culture of Hawaiian Canoe Paddling 2011."

President, Ernie Abaya (photo bottom) paddled under coach Kammy when he was in high school back in the 80's. Ernie remembers Kammy as being a great coach, never saying too much, but was strong with his words. "When Kammy spoke, we all just listened!" Back then Kammy also coached Campbell and Ewa Beach canoe club and then around 1998, Pu'uloa Outrigger Canoe Club took over and he actually gave the club two

canoes, "Paoa" (koa canoe) and the "Naia." The name Pu'uloa is the traditional Hawaiian name of the Ewa Beach district and today's club name. Ernie now paddles under coach Mel Kiaaina of the Pu'uloa Outrigger Canoe Club.

Pu'uloa joined the OHCRA and it was a dream come true when it raced for the first time as a full fledged OHCRA member in the regatta at the OHCRA's 2002 opener, Clement D. Paiaina race. Mary Serrao, Pu'uloa President who served for 15 years as OHCRA's race director was really proud of the club and felt Ewa Beach needed a canoe paddling club to replace Kuakini that was disbanded many years before. The co-founders of the Pu'uloa Outrigger canoe club are Kau'ionalani Serrao (photo above), Mel Kiaaina and Mary Serrao.

Today's participating canoe clubs were Anuenue, Alapa Hoe, Hawaiian Kanaktion, Honolulu Pearl, Hui Lanakila, Hui Nalu, Kamehameha, Kaneohe, Kalihi Kai, Kamaha'o Keahiakahoe, Olelo O Ke Ola, Pu'uloa Outrigger, Waikiki Beach Boys, and Windward Kai. Congratulations to all who participated, and special thanks to Kau'i for the invitation. Thanks also to President Ernie Abaya, Mel Kiaaina and to honoree Coach Kammy Vera Cruz. Additional information on the Pu'uloa Outrigger Canoe Club, "click" here.