The King Kekaulike boys paddling staff (left) turns their canoe in entrance of the Seabury Hall staff throughout a Maui Interscholastic League Division II race on the second regatta of the season Saturday at Kahului Harbor. Eli Pace/The Maui News
A new chapter in Maui Interscholastic League paddling started Dec. 13 at Kahului Harbor, as the game debuted a Division I and Division II racing format in the course of the season-opening regatta.
Previously contested beneath a single division, MIL canoe paddling now options two divisions following a league proposal that acquired unanimous approval from Hawaii athletic administrators. The format, which will likely be examined over a two-year trial interval, goals to higher align competitors ranges whereas increasing state alternatives.
“My whole avenue for trying to create a Division II is to be treated equal to other major sports in Hawaii,” stated Seabury Hall coach Paul Luuwai, who was pivotal within the MIL proposal to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. “It’s about respecting our sport a little bit more, so I wasn’t just advocating for our school, I was advocating for our sport.”
King Kekaulike coach Flo Michelier echoed that the transfer “recognizes paddling as a major sport” among the many different applications which have DI and DII championships, versus one event.
Many coaches really feel the new format additionally opens alternatives for extra participation on the state championship stage. According to the HHSAA, Division I’ll proceed with 12 qualifying groups throughout the state for the boys, ladies and combined races, whereas the Division II regatta will embrace 12 groups for the women race and eight groups for the boys and combined races.
The MIL will obtain two state berths from every of the boys, ladies and combined races in every division, rising event illustration from a complete of 9 to 12 groups.
“It gives the smaller school a lot more opportunity to get there,” Kamehameha Maui coach Robert Brede stated Thursday. “In the Division II, you have Molokai and Seabury that are very competitive, but it also gives a chance to other schools to step up a little bit more.”
At the opening MIL regatta in Kahului, King Kekaulike and Kamehameha Maui led the way in which throughout a number of DI varsity races. The Warriors captured the women and combined titles with instances of 4:39.89 and 4:15.13, respectively, whereas Na Alii powered to first place within the boys race with a time of 4:07.95.
King Kekaulike and Kamehameha have been runner-ups to one another’s wins, posing for an thrilling season forward. Lahainaluna was third in every race.
Brede knew that the primary regattas of the season have been going to method shortly, which is why he inspired his paddlers to “train early and start training hard” to develop and grasp method.
“(The regatta) came up faster than expected but the results were great,” he added. “I was so happy with our results. But, you know, it puts a target on our backs, so we can’t stop trying to thrive. … We can’t let our guard down and we will just continue to accomplish what we can accomplish every week at every regatta because our ultimate goal is to qualify for states.”
Kona winds blowing as much as 15 mph made for irregular racing circumstances on the harbor that Saturday morning, however Michelier stated later within the week that it made the flag turns just like what his paddlers expertise on the Lahaina course.
“Although there is always room for improvement, I am happy with the performance of all the crews from Kekaulike at the first regatta,” Michelier stated. “There is healthy competition from the other MIL schools, which is good. It helps us push each other to get better. We will continue to work on our fundamentals of paddling.”
After ending third on the state championships within the girls and boys races final 12 months, Michelier stated the targets for Na Alii stay the identical: “push to be MIL champs, qualify for states and most importantly have fun and promote healthy competition.”
Molokai began the season sturdy by sweeping the highest DII varsity positions in each the boys and combined races, whereas Seabury Hall claimed the women victory. The Farmers’ and Spartans’ instances within the boys race edged the DI chief King Kekaulike.
“We knew they were going to be a challenge this season,” stated Spartans coach Luuwai, whose boys and combined groups completed a detailed second behind Molokai. “We’re young, but you know, we’re going to compete and I’m pretty excited with the group I have.”
Seabury Hall has been one of many MIL’s most constant paddling applications, successful greater than 30 canoe division titles since 2010. The Spartans additionally completed as state runner-ups within the boys’ race final season.
Luuwai stated the main focus stays unchanged regardless of the new divisional format and having a younger staff this season.
“We’ve done well in the past decade and a half in the DI and DII, we’ve held our own,” he stated. “It’s always technique, that’s always the emphasis because it can save you in the long run in any sport. … We’re young, so just really going back to the fundamentals and it’s always a work in progress. The training is the same; the goals are the same.”
In addition to competing in separate divisions every week, the MIL has added a “bragging rights” race on the finish of every regatta, permitting the quickest varsity crews throughout divisions to line up collectively as groups put together for the push towards the state championship at Ke’ehi Lagoon, Oahu, in February.
Maui Interscholastic League Regatta 1
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025
At Kahului Harbor
Varsity Girls DI — 1. Kamehameha Maui, 4:39.89; 2. King Kekaulike, 4:47.31; 3. Lahainaluna, 5:05.83.
Varsity Boys DI — 1. King Kekaulike, 4:07.95; 2. Kamehameha Maui, 4:12.46; 3. Lahainaluna, 4:31.72.
Varsity Mix DI — 1. Kamehameha Maui, 4:15.13; 2. King Kekaulike, 4:33.48; 3. Lahainaluna, 4:36.75.
Varsity Girls DII — 1. Seabury Hall, 4:58.38; 2. Molokai, 5:13.21; 3. Kulanihakoi, 5:28.56.
Varsity Boys DII — 1. Molokai, 3:57.41; 2. Seabury Hall, 4:06.69; 3. Kihei Charter 4:28.77.
Varsity Mix DII — 1. Molokai, 4:23.88; 2. Seabury Hall, 4:35.47; 3. Kihei Charter, 4:37.17.
Maui Interscholastic League Regatta 2
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025
At Kahului Harbor
Varsity Girls DI — 1. Kamehameha Maui, 4:18.49; 2. King Kekaulike, 4:23.24; 3. Lahainaluna, 4:37.75.
Varsity Boys DI — 1. Kamehameha Maui, 3:45.21; 2. King Kekaulike, 3:47.03; 3. Maui High, 3:56.88.
Varsity Mix DI — 1. Kamehameha Maui, 3:58.08; 2. King Kekaulike, 4:08.99; 3. Lahainaluna, 4:15.38.
Varsity Girls DII — 1. Seabury Hall, 4:26.25; 2. Molokai, 4:44.91; 3. Kihei Charter, 4:47.62.
Varsity Boys DII — 1. Molokai, 3:45.83; 2. Seabury Hall, 3:54.28; 3. Kihei Charter, 4:03.30.
Varsity Mix DII — 1. Molokai, 4:09.11; 2. Seabury Hall, 4:12.56; 3. Kihei Charter, 4:24.03.
