The 2026 Nā Wahine O Ke Kai women's outrigger canoe race, set to cross Hawaiʻi's treacherous Kaiwi Channel this Sunday, has been called off entirely due to a developing tropical weather system bearing down on the islands. The Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association also canceled the accompanying Molokaʻi Canoe Festival Kulāia Hoʻolaulea, leaving crews who trained for months without their marquee 41-mile crossing.
The race, which was scheduled to launch from Hale O Lono Harbor on Molokaʻi and finish at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikīkī on Oʻahu, fell victim to the approaching remnants of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E, according to Maui Now. Big Island forecasters gave the system a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in one or two days and a 90 percent chance within a week, with possible heavy rain and strong winds in isolated areas of the Big Island, as reported by Big Island Now. OHCRA race director Kapuni Patcho was clear that the decision had nothing to do with the paddlers themselves, saying the cancellation does not reflect their ability to navigate the channel and noting that Nā Wahine O Ke Kai paddlers are among the strongest and most accomplished in the world.
Why Escort Boats Drove the Decision
OHCRA's race committee reviewed evolving conditions and the safety of the entire race operation, consulting race and escort-boat officials along with government and weather agencies before pulling the plug. The core problem wasn't just the paddlers crossing the Kaiwi Channel — it was getting the escort boats there safely in the first place. Some support vessels must cross the ʻAlenuihāhā, Pailolo, and Kaiwi Channels just to reach Molokaʻi before the race even begins, a maritime gauntlet detailed by Surf News Network. Long-distance outrigger races use escort boats to manage paddler rotations and open-water safety, per the same outlet's reporting.
OHCRA assistant race director Luana Froiseth said caution was the responsible decision after considering the complete operational picture. The organization also weighed the strain a race of this scale could place on Molokaʻi's limited emergency and community resources. OHCRA president Siana Austin Hunt said the safety and well-being of people and communities must come first, and the association announced the cancellation early specifically to give crews as much notice as possible.
A Rare Move for a 47-Year-Old Race
Weather cancellations are exceptionally uncommon for Nā Wahine O Ke Kai, which was founded in 1979. The race was canceled in 1980 and 2015 because of hazardous ocean conditions. It was also canceled from 2020 through 2022 due to COVID-19 and in 2023 following the Maui wildfires.
The Kaiwi Channel is a demanding open-water crossing. The race also represents a hard-won milestone for women in Hawaiian paddling: although the men's Molokaʻi Hoe began in 1952, women were barred from racing the channel for more than two decades over safety doubts. It took two 18-woman crews making an unofficial crossing in October 1975 to prove women could handle the channel, paving the way for the official race's creation in 1979, as chronicled by Hawaii Magazine.
Canoes Staged on Molokaʻi, Future Races in Focus
With the race canceled, OHCRA now faces the logistics of retrieving canoes already staged at Hale O Lono. The association plans to travel to Molokaʻi to safeguard the canoes ahead of the approaching weather and support crews with individual logistics, while also coordinating next steps with crews, vendors, transportation providers, and Molokaʻi partners. Registered crews are receiving detailed information directly from OHCRA.
Some of those canoes may not have to leave the island at all. The men's counterpart race, the Molokaʻi Hoe, is scheduled for October 11, and OHCRA noted that canoes remaining staged on Molokaʻi following the women's cancellation may be coordinated for use by men's crews, per Surf News Network's reporting. OHCRA is also arranging return transportation for canoes through Young Brothers for those that do need to come back.
Financially, the picture remains unresolved. Surf News Network reports that substantial non-recoverable race expenses had already been incurred prior to the cancellation, prompting OHCRA to conduct a full financial review before determining whether registration refunds or credits can be offered to participating crews.
A Costly Blow to a State-Backed Showcase
The cancellation lands just months after the race received a vote of confidence from state tourism officials. In July, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority awarded $1 million in funding to 10 signature statewide events, explicitly naming both Nā Wahine O Ke Kai and the state's marquee island festivals as premier cultural and athletic showcases meant to draw international visitors while preserving Hawaiian traditions.
The race had also been riding a wave of international prestige. In the 2025 edition, Tahitian crew Ihilani Vaʻa became the first Tahitian crew to win Nā Wahine O Ke Kai, finishing the 41-mile course in 5 hours, 51 minutes, and 4 seconds, according to The Molokai Dispatch. That victory broke a 20-year streak of Hawaiian crews dominating the premier women's championship. Nā Wahine O Ke Kai brings together crews from Hawaiʻi and around the world to cross the Kaiwi Channel from Molokaʻi to Oʻahu, celebrating women's strength and Hawaiian outrigger canoe traditions in what remains one of the sport's most storied international championships.
