Programs

  • Ewa Puuloa Outrigger Canoe Club Regatta Program

    Purpose: The organization's primary exempt purpose is to provide opportunities for Hawaii's youth that they might not typically have access to through the advancement of sports at the amateur level, including Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling, by providing a safe, competitive program that emphasizes discipline and sportsmanship, and promotes character development and life skills, and to provide opportunities for child and parent to engage in cultural activities that strengthen their relationship. Program: regatta season Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. During the 2024 regatta season Ewa Puuloa Outrigger Canoe Club (EPOCC) served 45 youth ages 8-16 and 32 adults ages 18-63. Sixteen of the adults were parents of youth paddlers. The male to female ratio was 42 percent to 58 percent and represented varied backgrounds including Hawaiian, Asian, Native American, Caucasian, Pacific Islander and African American. The season ran from the beginning of April through the end of July and EPOCC held practices 3-4 days per week at 4:00-5:30 for youth and 5:30-sunset for adults, instructing in outrigger canoe paddling technique, canoe and water safety, canoe etiquette, the Hawaiian names of the parts of the canoe and paddle, the cultural significance of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling, how to rig a 6-person outrigger canoe and how to right a canoe if it tips over in the water. EPOCC crews competed in 67 events over the course of 6 regattas, earning 14 points, 2 top-seven qualifying crews for the July 4th McFarlane regatta, and 14 qualifying crews for the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association championship regatta. The objective of this program was to provide youth and adults in west Oahu a means by which they could cultivate positive physical, mental, emotional and cultural health through Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. Expectations were for returning paddlers to improve on their current skills and to perceive the importance of the leadership role they play in setting the example for the new paddlers. For new paddlers, the expectation was that they would learn the necessary skills and etiquette of paddling and be able to contribute to a cohesive team. The improvement in skills is reflected in the team's regatta results. Other measurable objectives included having at least a 75 percent retention rate of youth from regatta season to the subsequent na opio season and having 100 percent of regatta season participants compete in at least one regatta. We fell a little short of our youth retention goal, with only 62 percent signing up for the subsequent season, but that number still created a strong foundation for the na opio season so we still consider it a success. One of our adult paddlers broke his toe before the first regatta and didn't get to compete, but everyone else participated in at least one regatta and we also considered that a success since if it wasn't for the injury, the one individual would have made crew. Inspired by the performance and dedication of the adults this season, EPOCC trained its first adult mix crew to compete in the Queen Liliuokalani 18-mile race in Kona, Hawaii. Also inspired by the performance and dedication of the middle-school girls, two of the coaches facilitated extra, optional training for them in the off-season to help further their skills. In support of its program, EPOCC invested in equipment maintenance including refurbishing one of its fiberglass practice canoes, initiating a koa wood canoe refurbishment, and replacing storage containers used for its equipment.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $63K

  • Na Opio Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Program

    Purpose: The organization's primary exempt purpose is to provide opportunities for Hawaii's youth that they might not typically have access to through the advancement of sports at the amateur level, including Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling, by providing a safe, competitive program that emphasizes discipline and sportsmanship, and promotes character development and life skills, and to provide opportunities for child and parent to engage in cultural activities that strengthen their relationship. Program: Na Opio Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. During the 2024 Na Opio season Ewa Puuloa Outrigger Canoe Club (EPOCC) served 42 youth paddlers ages 8-18 of varied backgrounds including Hawaiian, Asian, Caucasian, Pacific Islander and African American. The male to female ratio was 45 percent to 55 percent. Seven EPOCC coaches instructed in outrigger canoe paddling technique, canoe and water safety, canoe etiquette, the Hawaiian names of the parts of the canoe and paddle, the cultural significance of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling, how to rig a 6-person outrigger canoe and how to right a canoe if it tips over in the water. Practices were held 3 times a week in January through February and October through December. The club also held a weekend retreat for its youth paddlers. The kids were transported by bus to and from the retreat location. Volunteer cooks prepared meals on site. At the retreat the kids were up at dawn to exercise each day, and they participated in team-building exercises, crafts, training, and games. The coaches have found that the EPOCC youth retreat is significant in forming connections and trust between teammates that are so important in outrigger canoe paddling. EPOCC crews competed in 63 events over the course of 6 regattas, earning 14 top-5 finishes and 5 ribbons. 72 percent of the 2024 Na Opio season participants enrolled in the subsequent regatta season. Extracurricular activities included a new tradition of an annual Thanksgiving Day morning ohana walk for our youth paddlers and their families. The objective of this program was to provide a safe space outside of school for west Oahu youth to cultivate positive physical, mental, emotional and cultural health through Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. Expectations were for returning paddlers to improve on their current skills and to step up into leadership roles such as being a steersman or being part of the rigging crew and to set a positive example for the new paddlers. For new paddlers, the expectation was that they would learn the necessary skills and etiquette of paddling and be able to contribute to a cohesive team. And all paddlers are expected to keep their grades up in school, maintaining at least a C in all their classes. Measurable goals included having at least a 75 percent retention rate of youth from na opio season to the subsequent regatta season and having 100 percent of participants compete in at least one regatta. Our actual retention rate was 72 percent, and one individual did not get to compete in a regatta due to attendance.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $21.6K

  • Program 1 [2025]

    Purpose: The organization's primary exempt purpose is to provide opportunities for Hawaii's youth that they might not typically have access to through the advancement of sports at the amateur level, including Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling, by providing a safe, competitive program that emphasizes discipline and sportsmanship, and promotes character development and life skills, and to provide opportunities for child and parent to engage in cultural activities that strengthen their relationship. Program: Na Opio Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. During the 2025 Na Opio season EPOCC served 36 youth paddlers ages 8-16 of varied backgrounds including Hawaiian, Asian, Caucasian, Pacific Islander and African American. The male to female ratio was 33 percent to 67 percent. EPOCC instructed in outrigger paddling technique, canoe and water safety, canoe etiquette, the Hawaiian names of the parts of the canoe and paddle, the cultural significance of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling, how to rig a 6-person outrigger canoe and how to right a canoe if it tips over in the water. The club also held a weekend retreat for its youth paddlers. The kids were transported by bus to and from the retreat location. Volunteer cooks prepared meals on site. At the retreat the kids were up at dawn to exercise each day, and they participated in team-building exercises, crafts, training, and games. The coaches have found that the EPOCC youth retreat is significant in forming connections and trust between teammates that are so important in outrigger canoe paddling. EPOCC crews competed in 54 events over the course of 5 regattas, earning eleven top-five finishes, which earned the team twenty-one points and six ribbons. The team also won a third place Division A trophy for the January 18 regatta and a second place Division A trophy for the February 15 regatta. 67 percent of the 2024 na opio season participants enrolled in the subsequent regatta season. Extracurricular activities included our second annual Thanksgiving Day morning ohana walk for our youth paddlers and their families.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $22.4K