Today, Sunday, July 3, 2011 at Ke'ehi Lagoon Park, the Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a held their regatta races. The event club sponsor was "Koa Kai' who started off this event with a blessing of their new canoe "Makaihe" by Pastor Kelekona Bishaw of Real Life Christian Center. Head Coach Paul Amoy (top photo) also participated. President Carolyn Pacheco of the Koa Kai canoe club (photo, bottom right-center) read the following, "Today we are here to bless our new canoe, "Makaihe."
We consider "him" to be the Ku canoe to our Hina canoe, Pahoamokukai. Like the Polynesian Voyaging Society's double-hull canoe, Hokule'a, Makaihe and Pahoamokukai represent the balance of our club's kane and wahine paddlers."
"And, like Pahoamokukai, Makaihe was given its name by our Coach Danette Amoy. When asked what Makaihe means, this is what she shared, "In the chorus portion of "Hawaii Pono'i," we sing the words, "Makua lani e, Kamehameha e, Na kaua e pale, Meka ihe." The translation is: Royal father Kamehameha shall defend in war with spear. "The image of Kamehameha weilding a spear is a strong and vivid one. I wanted that same strength to resonate in our new canoe as it did when we named Pahoamokukai (which is "blade slicing through water").
Therefore, since ihe means "spear"; Makaihe is "spear point." "Also, I like the idea of referencing the point of the spear because it suggests that you are running at the front of the pack. And, since the name will go at the front of the canoe, it also supports the image of the whole canoe being the spear, with the bow being its point."
After the reading, Pastor Kelekona Bishaw asked all the Koa Kai club members to surround the newly blessed Makaihe and all joined hands and a prayer was given, then the race began. "Click" here to see dedication photos candid race and video photo.
