HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hundreds of crew took on the grueling Kaiwi Channel Sunday for the 2025 Molokai Hoe.
Crews paddled 38 miles from Hale O Lono on Molokai to Waikiki, Oahu.
Tahiti showed its dominance over the race, with Team OPT taking first place with a final time of 4 hours, 42 minutes, and 2 seconds.
The top four finishers of this year’s race were Tahitian crews, with Shell Vaa finishing in second, followed by Popra Te Hoe Mamu in third, and Rurutu Hoe in fourth.
It comes on the heels of As Ihilani Vaa’s historic win of the Na Wahine O Ke Kai women’s race two weeks ago.
The first Hawaii crew to cross the line was the Wailea Canoe Club of Maui. They were the fifth canoe to complete the race overall.
“We’re happy, but the level is so, so high where we need to get to and you know, hopefully someday the younger guys can be able to put in the time and have the resources to be able to do that, but the Tahitians are unreal,” said Kekoa Cramer, steersman for the Wailea Canoe Club.
The Men’s Junior Division Champions also hail from the island, the title going to Big Island Junior Vaa.
View the full race results here.
Previous coverage:
- Tahiti team earns historic win in Na Wahine O Ke Kai World Championship
- Record turnout expected for this year’s Molokai Hoe
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